Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-30
Treasurer George Hyer, of the oshkosi,

Chippewa Herald. Vim. D. Merrell. of the
Prairie du O hien Courier, Samuel S. Bran
nan. of the Portage State Register,
Thanks were returned to the citizens
of Prairie du Chen for their kindness,
courtesy and hospitality, SO generously
extended 10 the Association. No effort
was spared on their part to add to the
enjoymen. of the editorial party, and
make the visit with them pleasant one /.
Good bye words were spoken and we babe
them adieu with the usual cheers.
The good steamer Minneapolis, which
was to convey the excursionists down the
river, arrived early in the evening and
the party--oyer two hundred in mum
ber--took passage for Clinton, Iowa, -
The trip was most delightful, and
every one of the party seemed to enjoy
it mos. thoroughly. Capt. jerks and
his subordinate officers paid every posi-
bic attention TO supply the wants and
add TO the comfort of the legion of pas.
sengers in their charge.
Arriving at Clinton just before noon,
and nearly five hours ahead of the time
for our special train, an opportunity was
afforded any one who could endure the
scorching heat ofmid.day sun in mid-sum-
mer, to look about this thriving, pros
porous and rapidly growing city. Five
years ago it was an unpretentious river
town numbering less than 500 lnhabi
tants, now it is one of the principal cities
on the Chicago & Northwestern railway,
contains upwards of 5000 people, aud
is increasing rapidly in wealth and
importance. This shows what rail
road can do for a town.
As the time approached for our depar-
ture our party repaired to the depot
where a special train of six elegant Pull
man palace cars were in waiting to con-
yey US over the broad prairies of Iowa
to the twin cities of Council Bluffs and
Omaha. The cultivated fields, covered
with a sea Of waving grain and rustiing
corn, stretching away as far as the eye
could extend, fully attested the truth of
all Wa have heard about the wonderful
fertility of the soil of Iowa. Never
could the eye weary of the simple beau
ty of the ever shifting scenes of this pan.
oramic picture--changing continually as
we passed nc ilestone after milestone yet
preserving the same general features Of
western prairie scenery--always alike
but never the same.
But little timber is seen along the
route except a few prairie groves, and
the wooded banks of an occasional
stream. 1t is, in reality, prairie
country. Without timber it is true, yet
within its bosom lie inexhaustible beds
of coal that will furnish the world with
fuel for ages TO come.
When the mantle of night shut the
landscape from our view we were sur.
rounded by all the evidences of
civilization. Neat farm houses,
well fenced fields. herds of cattle were
on either hand; school houses and church
spires here and there; thriving villages
and busy cities all along the route. AT
day break next morning we were $50
miles further west, speeding over a
lonely prairie where settlers cabins. like
angels visits were STEW and far between"
No church spires pointed to the "prom-
ised land" and the villages and cities of
yesterday, were but railroad stations to
day. We were between the two great
waves of ciyilization--west of that roll
ing from the Mississippi river, east of
that coming up from the Missouri. Soon
the country appeared more thichly set
tied as we entered the valley Of the sec.
ond great river of the west.
Between seven and eight o'clock
Thursday morning our train entered
Council Bluffs aud the excursionists soon
found rest and refreshment at the Pacific
House. The time allotted for their stay
did not permit the party to partake of
the Inequalities of the citizens of Oma
ha, though we learned that delegation
of citizens and the irrepressible Geo.
Francis Train, with a large number of
carriages were at the landing awaiting
our arrival. During our brief stay some
of the party went across to Omaha, pre-
fering to take the regular train at five
P. NJ, and join the excursionists again
at Des Moines, rather than take the ex-
cursion train at one P. NJ, and miss Wis
iting the city at all. Others climbed the
high bluffs and contented themselves
with birds eye view of the Central
City of the Republic"