Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-11-23
TRIP PROM CHICAGO TO JACKSON,
MISSISSIPPI,

EDITOR CHRONICLE:-AtIO o'clock
a. m. we left Chicago on the Illinois
Central R. R., with a feeling Of relief
that we had escaped from the most
ungodly city in the world, and our
morals had not been contaminated
while in that modern "Sodom." But
we must confess that We tTembled for
Mrs. ", for until we were fairly out
side Of the city &mits our desire to
apply for divorce was almost uncon-
tr.lable.
For some time we ride within sight
of Lake Michigan, whose waters lay
shimmering in the sun like molten
silver, and continually singing a
reuuiem to the memory of the i'm
mortal Douglas, whose mortal re-
maius lay upon her shores.
The roJd itself is a miracle Of safety,
having transported one million four
hundred Thousand passengers in the
last twelve months, without injury to
a single person. For about 800 miles
il passes through what is truly the gar
den of the world. All along the line,
and as far hack as the eye can reach,
with an occasional break, the road Is
skirted with cOrnfields that would
drive a Pennsylvania DutChman"
wild with delight. and we almost
wished that We were ''bleating herd
or lawning cattle, " just for the fun OF
being fatieued. But there are still
hundreds of acres OF land owned by
the road, in its natural state, which
can be bought for twelve, fifteen and
twenty dollars per acre, and the only
wonder is that any sane man will try
to eke cut an eXistance in some of the
eastern towns, working a day here,
an hour there, trying to keep the wolf
from the door. when these lands are
offered for sale on easy terms, and one
crop will pay for a farm and make the
purchaser independent. This road Is
surely a magician, and it has waved
its wand with wOnderOus effect
Where, fifteen years ago, the hunter
chased the fleet footed deer and bagged
the luscious chicken, now stands
populOus cities. One has only To look
at Kankakee; fifteen years ago il
could hardly be called a village. 1t Is
now large and populous city, lying
on both sides of the kaukakee river,
with its mills, its ware houses, it,
schools and its palatial residences -
And this Is only one of 4 hundred
towns that have sprung up on the two
sid,s Of this road as if 10y magic.
At ten in the morning We arrived
at Cairo, and it would lie a grand
{ thing for the credit of the State, If all
strangers should pass through said
/ tOwu ia the night time. IL Is ssituated
on a sandy point OF land, at the juno
ton ofthe Ohio and Mississippi rivers,
each of which has been trying ever
since the world began, To force the
other back so that il may have the
/ credit of sweeping the uu~iEhily thing
! into eternity. But il still remains IL
/ a monument of tie ubstiuacy Of these
/ two great rivers, and with the eXcep-
/ tiOn of Hdke's corners, there is no
place in the known world where a
i man could take his departure for that
/ dreaded unknown" ." with fewer feel
ings Of regret at his going, than from
/ Cairo.
At half past two we were transferred
to the steamer Arlington" aud for
two hours we driIted upon the restless
bosom of the Father of Water y
]
/ except the continual moan Of the ell
gine and an occasional challenge Of
some boat as il struggled against the
current. At Columbus, KY, we
were transferred to the Mobile & Ohio
r. R., which is the grand artery from
the Gulf t. the Great North West,
aud 10y far the best road in the South.
We had Just settled into quiet slum-
bpr when we were awakened 10y the
words, tickets gentlemen" and were
glad to recognize in the form OF the
conductor, Mr.. Robbins, formerly OF
Warren, who, by the way, IS the oldest
conductor on the road, and one OF the
best r. r men in the South. After
being duly punched We proceeded on
our way, glad to find such agreeable
company, and should any of your
readers contemplate going South, our
! advice would be, 90 by the Nj. x D.
Road, aud our wish, that they may
strike Robbins train.
One feels while travelling through
X, that they are away from home,
the face of the country looks ragged.
The inhabitants have apparently for
gotten to take their chimneys in and
there they stand at the end Of the
houses, looking like smoke stacks u
saw-mills. AT 10 a. m. we reached
jackson, Tenn, a thriving town, and
the home of the l4th Ohio battery
for nearly a year, and Judging from
some remarks we heard while at the
depot, notwithstanding the good eX'
ample set them by said battery, they
are not thoroughly loyal yet.
We took dinner at COriuth, which
/, is quite a city, aud only fourteen mile:
from the battle field of ShilO, where
on that memorable 9th of April. the
thunder of the cannon snapped the
heart-stIings of hundreds Of OhiO''
fairest women; and whose echo:
reached to that eternal city, whOs'
+ walls are of jasper" and made th'
: yates uf p 'arl" to backward swing
, Mhile our praye bows who had laiS