The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-02

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MsssRs: EDrrohseI believe promised you
one or more letters from here, but really my
time is SO taken up with sightseeing and the
business Of the Grand Lodge that the best can
do will be to write you very hssty letters. and,
perhaps the best you can do will be to put them
in your waste basket
Our excursion-of the Grand Lodge Of Odd
Fellows-really began at Omaha, and will on.
~ say, that those of us who went rsa G. r. ]. &
P. R. R., found the road extremely rough, west
Of Davenport, and those who took the N. W.,
found part OF that road under seater, and made
worse time than We did.
In completing what have to say, at this time,
Of the R. Roads will add that the great Pacific
r. R.. from Omaha to Promontory, equals. if not
excels, any other I ever rode over. The most Of
the way the road was 50 smooth that I could
write without difficulty. and did write letters
home every day. From Promontory west, the
road is rougher, but still is not bad, in fact, is
no worse than the Rock Island. Trains now run to
Alamanda, just across the bay, and this route is
the one usually chosen, believe, though, for
myself, would much prefer to.come down from
Sacramento by boat.ss
At frequent intervals along The route are first
class eating houses, where much better fare can
be obtained, at from ono dollar to one twenty.
five, than can be had at eating houses in "the
States" No one should be deceived by the ap-
pearacne Of the buildings, for although some Of
them look Insignificant enough, the most sgrees-
bic disappointment and astonishment awaits him,
who sits down at the tables. Travellers, however,
who come this way, will be wise to take lunch bas-
kets. for although the eating houses are good
and as numerous as one could expect. yet he
who depends solely upon them will have irregu.
lar meals, to say nothing Of the lessened expense
Of the basket dinner.
Currency will go" from Omaha to Sacra-
mento, but it is decided convenience to have
coin while passing through Nevada and Califor.
MIA In the cities here coin is indispensable, but
legal tenders sell readily at about 75cts.
Ipresume many of your readers will not be
interested in what occurred 10 us % Odd Eel.
lows, and / will only briefly say, that beginning
at Omaha, we were received and teted, 1t various
places, with all possible hon ors and attentions,
until TO tell you the truth. ] began to DO . lii.
tie tired of it and would have been glad to have
dropped the dignity Of 9rand Representative for
awhile, at least. reserve for a subsequent let.
ter an account Of our reception and the attentions
shown us here, for these we're something far sur
passing anything ever Lsiore witnessed, much
less participated in.
Passing away from through the Platte Valley,
all were delighted with the country. The scenery
without being grand was beautiful, the soil sx.
tremely fertile and the crops, wherever any were
seen, were excellent. Very much of the land il
of course, unculhvated and can be obtained for
nothipg-as homestesds--or at government price
in larger quantities. As soon as emigrants can
feel secure from Indian depredAtions, this land
will be rapidly taken up and splendid farms will
be seen, and beautiful and prosperous hamlets
and cities will spring up as if by magic Those
who are toilng year after 'barely making both
ends meet" and the thousands Of idlers in the
larger cities should remember the Platte valley
and the almost certain competence if not wealth
which waits, and invites them there.
We passed out Of the valley while was sleep
ing as soundly as If at home, and awoke in the
morning in the midst Of country, sterile and
barren of every thing but sage bush, and seem.
ing to be fit for nothing whatever. am one Of
those who have strong faith in the future, and
hence believe that this country, as well as the
still more desolato region beyond Sherman and
the mountains, will yet be available for some
thing, though what, have no present idea, unless
it may be that some plan viii yet DO discovered
TO make these barren lands fertile, or possibly,
here may yet be the glass factories of the world.
Omitting all attempts at description Of many
miles of on. route cannot refrain from abiding
to Echo and Weber canons, both Of which then
thought could not we'll be excelled in grandeur
and sublinity.
At Echo canon the train was stopped and he.
ing Sunday services were held by the Grand
Chaplain.
had climbed half way up one Of the noun.
tain sides in order to obtain better view, and
while resting to obtain breath and give my rap.
idly beating heart a chance to pulsate more reg.
ularly and naturally, my ears were greeted with
the solemn strains of the Gloria IN enehcis. I
hastened down, and was just in time TO partioi-
pate in the beautiful and impressive evening
services of tho Episcopal Church. always Chris.
tian and beautiful to me, but never half SO much
as now. when Swallowed by the precipitous sides
of the majestic mountains-under Us it were
''the everlasting hills" our party had gathered