The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-07-09
THE CELEBRATION AT sTREATOR.

| THE CELEBRATION AT STREATOR.
In company with some two or three hundre
others, we found ourselves at 8 o'clock at tn
corner of Madison and Walker Streets intent Oh
taking passage on the excursion train for Strea
tor The train had been extemporised for tn
occasion, and was the first attempt at carrying
passengers over the new road. We got seat O,
a soft plank on coal car. Promptly to time
the train moved across the new bridge with it
precious freight of human life, and many helt
their breath until it had safely crossed, though
there was occasion for fear, as the entire safety
of the bridge with triple the weight is unques
| tionable. We found the road smoother and il
better condition than We had anticipated. Thu
country over which it passes, with occasional
skirts OF timber, is rolling prairie, all fenced and
improved, and though showing, in grass ant
small grain, the effects of the drouth, is dotted
with splendid fields of growing corn, and look.
thrifty and prosperous. Our train, in com
mendable spirit of accommodation, stopped at al
the cross roads to take passengers for Streator
yet in spite Of these detentions, in less than an
hour after leaving Ottawa, the suburbs of the
rising young city were in view, and in few
Streator.
1t was our first visit since Streator has name.
A few years ago, the present business center was
occupied by blacksmith shop and hamlet or
two, remembering which, the scene to-day is
truly marvellous. Fine brick and wooden struc.
lures, radiatlng for half a mile to two miles in
any direction from that centre, indicate the
rapid growth of vigorous young city Indeed,
SO rapidly have the houses gone up that the PEG.
pie seem not to have stopped to clear away the
brushwood, and Streator to-day is perfect re.
alization Of rus in ude-a city in the woods.
As to the celebration We had come to see, we
found it under full Roadway. Crowds of people
were everywhere. The sidewalks in the business
centre were wholly impracticable for locomotion
on account of the jam. All S,reator seemed to
be in the streets with all her neighbors and
kinsfolk for many miles around At II o'clock
procession was organized, which, preceded by
band and wagon conveying 36 ladies in
white to represent the 81 states of the union,
proceeded to grove near the city, where the
celebration" proper took place. The exercises
here consisted of music by 'The Miners Brass
Band patriotic songs by the Streator Glee Club.
a prayer by Rev. Mr.. Woods, reading of the
declaration by DIR. Wood, and speeches by diff.
ferent individuals. The orator of the day named
on the bills was Judge Eustace of Dixon, but he
having f.,iled to come to time, our brother Quill.
driver OF the RepuJlican, Mr.. Radcliffe was per.
suaded to take his place, which, under the cir
cumstances, he did very creditably. He alluded
briefly to the discovery of America by Christie.
pher Columbus, gave rapid sketch of the war
of the revolution and of 1912, alluded felicitous.
ly to the ''late unpleasantness," and then went
in heavy on rogress-progress, mentally, moral.
ly, physically and religiously, winding up with
an eloquent apostrephe to the dominant goddess
Very good short speeches were also made, in re.
spouse to toasts, by Mr.. Dalton, of tho Streator
Monitor, and the Rev. Mr.. Woods.
After the celebration" we proceeded to
"leading hotel" in the city and dined sumptous3
off plate of beans and new potatoes, and then
began to look around for the train that was to
take us homeward, which we found in due sea.
son. The run was made back to Ottawa-lS
miles-in less than an hour, in spite Of numerous
stoppages at cross roads and we got home Just
in time to see the goose race.