Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-21
WEST OF US.
Facilities of Travel and Tides of
Immigration. HgH

the west of us, and tides Of immigration
are flowing freely into Arkansas. We
are told that few persons who have not
actually looked over the ground can form
any adequate idea of the growth of the
Western States at this time especially
of those west of the Mississippi river
Iowa and Missouri are laying the founds-
tons Of States which will shortly con-
tain the wealth, population and strength
of empires Not less than two thousand
miles Of railroad are at present con-
structing in the States Of Missouri, Kan
sas, and Iowa A continuous stream of
immigration is setting in that direction,
consisting Of both American, German,
and Irish laborers; and by reason of the
favorable nature of the soil, the growth
of agricultural productions of the area
within three hundred miles of ST. Joseph,
on the Missouri river, will probably ex-
coed in ratio that of any equal territory
in the Western States. There are now
new centers of commerce and transporta-
ton established, which viii excite as
much surprise to the next generation as
Chicago does to-day
CENTRAL CITIES.
The topography of the region and the
existing lines of railroad communication
enable us to determine with precision
where those central cities are to be.
West of the Mississippi river there are
four principal candidates for CONNER
cial supremacy, which have to-day equal
or nearly equal claims to prominence
St. Joseph, Omaha, LeaYenworth and
Kansas City Each has already become
an important railroad center, and all
have site on the navigation of the Mis-
souri, river. According to the Pacific
railroad charter, St Louis was provided
with connection with the Trunk line,
leaving the Missouri river at Kansas City
and uniting with the main line of the
Pacific road at its eastern terminus near
Fort Kearney. At the same time st.
Joseph. which at that time was the great
point of departure for all the region
west of the Missouri river was also pro-
vided with a middle fork TO Fort Kear-
ney. The Kansas City line did not
unite at the Tooth meridian as required,
but is pushing on to the Rocky Noun
tains by an Independent line. This
movement threw into the hands Of the
ST. Joseph line the sole and exclusive
privilege Of constructing the middle
main fork Of the Pacific railroad east
eFn connection The St. Joseph and
Denver Railroad Company are now
building the shortest and easiest line 10
Fort Kearney, and will. within few
months, have the line completed across
the Nebraska boundary.
MAMMOTH SPRING.
South of the east and west line between
Missouri and Arkansas, we learn from
the Railroad Journal, is a mammoth
spring, afording a water power which,
I If properly improved mlght supply yalu-
able mill-sites and water privileges for
manufacturing purposes in general The
water Of this remarkable fountain re-
mains at a nearly uniform temperature,
never freezing in winter On The 18th Of
December, 1857, the temperature Of the
air being II deg. Fahrenheit the spring
showed only 81 deg But the average
temperature. when the thermometer is
SINK deep in the spring will probably
be found 70 be 50 deg. The extent
n the range Of extreme low and
high water is but ibree to four inches.
50 thsi the variation ia The supply
Of water is very slight A large propor-
ton Of the wafer nov rms TO waste the
present mill only requiring a limited
supply: but IL il were al saved, which !,