Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-11-11
THE FAR WEST EXCURsION
tFrom the ohio state Journal)

It's organizers and conductors were capt.
David Taylor, Ir.. of Columbus, and
John G. Hill, Esq. the popular General
Passenger Agent of the Mis-
souri Pacific Railway. Gathered from
nearly all parts of Ohio, and from
States, the party filed one
large special train, which was superin-
tended by Capt. Taylor, and overhowed
into the regular train, which, accompa-
MED by Mr.. Hill. followed the special
train via Piqua and Richmond to In
From that city, which was
reached on the morning of the 10Th, the
party proceeded by the Vandalia route
to St. Louis. This is a new air line, only
completed In June last, and is now used
in common by several converging lines
of railways. 1t is a model of smooth
ness and substantial construction.
The excursion parties, under the inn
mediate superintendence Of Messrs.
Taylor and Hill, arrived at St. Louis
during the afternoon and evening of the
10Th, and were joined by additional de-
tachments from Cincinnati, Louisville,
and other points, making the entire par
ty above nine hundred strong. Captain
Taylor's party, embracing the main
body of this army, moved forward with
great expedition, arriving at Kansas City
on the evening of the 77th. Ours, with
Mr.. Hill, pursued its way more leisure
", and late Wednesday evening saw the
Mound City reflected in its myriad lights
from the broad bosom of the Father of
Waters. Transferred from the cars to
the ferry, we were smoothly, almost i'm
perceptibly, borne across the great
Mississippi, the mirrored stars sparkling
like diamonds on its rippled surface, and
the long lines of lights which mark the
city's wharves, dropping ike illumina-
ted colonnades far into the depths Of the
noble river. A few months hence this
quiet episode Of the westward journey
viii be no longer experienced, for the
great bridge which Capt. Eads IS build
ing, will have leaped across the maJes-
tic current, and the traveller will be i'm
mediately delivered from the cars into
the rattle and roar of the city.
A night at the Planters, and the next
morning, while the golden sun of a gold
en- autumn illuminated the hills and val
leys, we resumed, by the good offices of
the Missouri Pacific Railway, our breezy
march toward the occident. Across the
great State of Missouri, from St. Louis
to Kansas City, the distance by rail is
two hundred and eighty-One miles-a
long Journey, certainly, but one which
the admirable appointments of the Mis-
souri Pacific, with its accommodating
and careful management, render swift
and comfortable Every mile of this
great road, extending from St. Louis to
Atchison, Kansas, was built by T.
McKissoclz, Esq, its present clever and
efficient Superintendent. With such ex-
perienced and accommodating officials
as McKissoclz, VIM B. Hale and John
G. Hill-the latter not only an attentive
officer, but a very prince of good fell
lows, whose efficiency and popularity
have done great things for the
road-Yith such men as these to con-
duct its affairs, this road could not be
otherwise than a safe and pleasant one
to travel over.
For the first fifty miles from St. Louis
the railway passes through country
tolerably broken, but well cultivated,
particularly along the valley of the Me-
rance river, which it follows for a time,
then crosses, and ascending a dividing
ridge or watershed, declines again to the
Big Muddy, which it strikes at Labadie,
and whose tortuous course It follows as
far as Jefferson City. For a hundred
miles the railroad is hugged between
the river and the bluffs, which, together,
make up a sort Of medley combination
of scenery, In which there is nothing
very bold or striking. There are some
bold cliffs and charming views, but the
Missouri is forever the same dull monot-
ony of low crumbling Islands, shifting
sandbars and muddy water.
At Hermann, a German settlement,
the river hills present the aspect of IN
usual cultivation, and the neat dwellings
of the thrifty vine-dressers shine cozily
on the green slopes back of the village.
AS soon as the train stops, troops of Ger
man children pass through the cars
vending the native wine and fruits, for
which there are always plenty of pur-
chasers. Hermann has become famous
for its wine, and the culture of the grape,
here first successfully established, is al
ready one of the leading interests oi
Missouri.
At Jefferson City the railway leaves
the river and launches outinto the splen-
did prairies of Pettis. johnson and Coop
er counties. This part of Missouri was
much devastated by the war, but IS now
rapidly making up for the injuries thus
inflicted. Settlers are pouring in and
the conservative, secession hunkers are
being replaced by a progressive, enter
| prising population. From Sedalia, one
| of the most aourishing towns in the
State, the Missouri PaeiGe Company are
now constructing. and in four month:
will have in operation a branch of theil
road to Fort Scott, in Southern Kansas
This will be a very valuable tributary tC
the trunk line and is undoubtedly a gooC
thing for Sedalia.
! Thursday evening we reached Kansa:
City, only to find that the main body o
| the excursionists had arrived many hour!
in advance Of US, and had scattered il
all directions ia pursuit of business o.
| pleasure But few still remaining be
hind had determined to go through tC
! Denver, and this determination held {
faithful band together. Accordingly
they set forth on the following morning
and were soon spinning breezily along
the magnificent Valley of the Kaw.-
A drenching rain had set IN the Previou:
night, and had now degenerated into {
dull, misty drizzle, which gave discour
aging indications of indefinite prolonga
ton. Those splendid pyrotechnics. the
prairie fires, were certain to be complete
ly spoiled, and the scenery wore a som
bre and bedraggied aspect. Neverthe
less, the fine country along the Kansa:
Pacific still had its attractioRs-it alWay:
has-and then we had the great Plain:
and the grand old Rockies in the dis
tance. SO why grow melancholy ovel
a little rain
Sweeping past the pretty towns O
Lawrence, Topeka and Manhattan we
reached Brookville, in Saline county, or
Friday morning and there acquired the
luxury of Pullman palace car, in the
enjoyment Of which there was no diff
Guilty in defying the elements as well a:
other unfortuitous circumstances of trav
ell. Let none lament the fortune of hin
who in any weather voyages across tht
plains in one of these splendid ships o
the desert. What Watts has done fol
speed Pullman has done for comfort anc
it would be ungrateful to belittle the
achievment of either by an invidiou.
comparison.
All through that dismal Saturday the
rain beat drearily against the car win.
dows and the wind howled fercely
around the train like some wild fend ot
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