Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-04

"A - -. - - - -
AT .! Wednesday morning, our
tsalnmoved across the bridge, bearing
no~ about 230 ladies and gentlemen
OF, the Press of the State, and
then sped over the road to Bloom
field, where large throng had gath
cred to greet their friends Of the
"Iowa Press" with music and loud
huzxas. At Kirksville, No., several
hundred printed circulars were
thrown into the cars, bidding well
come to the "brains and beauty" of
Iowa, and wishing happy progress
to the Excursion. At Macon, the
people were out in large numbers at
the depot, and met US with cheers.
A dinner was in waiting for us, pro-
vided by the r. r. Co., at the hotel.
At Noberly, Mexico and Montgom-
cry the party was cordially met BY
crowds Of citizens, eager and enthu-
siastic in their manifestations Of joy.
A brass band was on the platform at
Warrenton; and after music and
cheers the citizens introduced p. p.
Stewart, who in their behalf well
coined the representative of the
Iowa Press to the State of Missouri,
and by his wit created great fund
of merriment. a very compliment
ary address Of welcome was thrown
into the cars at Wentzville.
The crops in the northern part Of
Missouri were observed to be very
light, on account of drought. From
Macon down we remarked quite an
Improvement in this regard. But
little fruit was noticed in the Or
chards. A great deal of good land
remains unoccupied, and on some Of
this the wild grass had become 80
parched that it was being burned off
to permit the growth Of new crop
for late feed. Good buildings and
good farming were prevalent, and
the towns were apparently thriving.
Some Of the block-houses and other
military works which we saw in 1862
on this railroad built for the protec-
ton Of the bridges, still stand as
reminders of sad past.
The Committee of Reception from
st. Louis, among whom were Gen.
Cyrus Bussey and Stilson Hutchins,
both formerly of Iowa, were await
ing the train at st. Charles when 1t
'Ar1sved, about SyOeclUck. HeYU ynU
cars and their living freight were
ferried across the Missouri river, In
alarge steamer built for that purpose.
A bridge is being built, under great
difficulties, and will be finished in
about twelve months, il no new mis-
fortune should arise to impede the
almost insurmountable work.
Col. COlman, Chairman Of the
Committee, made speech on the
part Of the citizens of st. Louis, and
extended welcome, and the hospital
tiles of the city to their visitors from
Iowa.
Arrived Mt st. Louis about 12
O'Clock at night, and found omni-
bnsses waiting at the depot to convey
all to the hotels. We had ridden iii
n cloud Of dust al day; and having
been 50 agreeably cheated Of our rest
at Ottumwa the previous night, all
were glad to find repose rs quickly
as possible.
Thursday ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
st,-'busses to the wharf-boarded
steainer--music,- moved down the
river hastily reviewing Bloody Island,
the great bridge now being built,
with its forest Of derricks, spars, &C.;
the Marine Hospital, the Workhouse
quarry. the Arsenal-where salute
was fired as the boat passed; East ST..
Louis, with it's innumerable spires,
palatial homes, 0rnaInented grounds,
and romantic natural scenery. Car
rondelet, now become a part OF the
city, was all hustle; long trains were
coming in from Iron Mountain laden
with ore for the many furnaces whose
blaze-crOwned towers gave strange
aspect to the view. Our boat landed
at one Of these furnaces, where all
went ashore and witnessed rum Of
iron, or saw about sixteen tuns Of
molten ore transformed into pigs
A pig is bar of crude iron, about
three feet long, and weighs probably
100 pounds. Each OF these furnaces
makes three such runs per day. 1t