Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-09
A TRIP ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

valley on the 18th of December, during
chilly northeast rain storm. Nothing of spec
ial interest occurred the first day and we
reached the club Of the Universe" that even
ing. We stopped over one day in Boston and
On the 18th left that city via the Boston and
Albany road. The ride out from the city for
a distance of twenty miles, lay through the
suburban towns that cluster so near together
as to seemingly form one continuous village
The neat villas surrounded with gardens and
trees, and the river Charles winding in and
around these towns, served to make it pref
ty and interesting scene. We passed through
the large cities of Worcester and Springfield,
the latter after dark, and consequently were
unable to obtain a view of the place. We
soon encountered a brisk snow storm, which
continued until we arrived at Albany at II, P.
NJ. Here made my first acquaintance with the
PALACE SLEEPING CARS.
There are three different patterns, -Wagner's,
which are used on this road, Pullman's and
the Silver Palace. There is not much differ
cnce, however, excepting in few minor
points, and that they are built by different
|
the tasty style in which they are made, and
the regulation of the heat. Pullman's are
considerably heavier, but all appear to run
with the same ease. They are heated by
steam produced by generator in each end OF
the car. 1t is conducted through the car in
pipes placed under the seats, which enables
passengers to enjoy the comfort of warm feet
They are supplied with everything that will
tend to the comfort of the traveller, who can
but enjoy a trip in these truly palace cars.
Our train left Albany at midnight, and 1
'turned in," and had the pleasure of a good
nights rest. The next morning dawned clear
and pleasant, and the ride to Chicago over the
Lake Shore road was delightful. 1t runs
along side Lake Erie, through many large and
handsome cities, and altogether is regarded a
favorite route. We arrived in
The GARDEN CITY,
Saturday morning, the 18th, where we remain
ed over the Sabbath. Although this com
paratively young city it promises to pass in
splendor everything else on the continent. Its
streets are very wide, most of them or 5
miles in length, with endless room for stretch
ing out, forming strange contrast to the
crooked streets and lanes of some of our
, larger cities. The business centre of the
club" looks almost prison-like when COM
pared with the generous breadth and snowy
palaces of the Lake Shore metropolis. The
f streets are paved with wood called the "Nichol-
son pavement" and prevents such confused
noise as heavy teams produce on the stone
pavement. The hotels are excellent, large
and commodious, among them may be men,
toned the well known 'Sherman." The
churches are of fine architecture built of
brown granite, but not equal in beauty to the
Hallowell granite. Michigan Avenue is one
of the finest streets in the city. 1t is lined on
both sides with great many fine dwellings
and surrounded with ornamental gardens of
shrubbery and trees. Chicago is growing
rapidly and should it equal the population of
our largest cities, will be considered the hand
soonest place in the States. On Monday we
again resumed our journey. There are three
routes leading from Chicago
To THE MISSOURI,
viz, the North Western, the Rock Island and
the North Missouri roads. We chose the mid
die or Rock Island road and found it to be first
class in every respect. The cars are the very
best, the employees of the road pay every at
tention to the comfort of their passengers, and
we take pleasure in recommending this route
to the travelling public. Its terminus is at the
foot of La Sale street, in the large and i'm
posing station erected and occupied by this
and the Lake Shore road. Prairie lands ex-
tend on either side as far as the eye can reach
nearly the whole line. This is great corn
section, and the corn-stalks left standing in
the field showed us what an immense quantity
of this article is raised in these States. We
crossed the Mississippi at Rock Island over a
long and substantial bridge to Davenport on
the opposite side. These are large and -four
ishing cities and present the most interesting
scene on the road The next day at noon we
reached Council Bluffs. The usual convey
ance is by big ferry, but at this time the broken
ice had frozen sufficiently to allow us to walk
across. Boards were laid along in line, and
but few were permitted to cross at once for
fear of breaking through. The weather was
bitter cold, and this slow process gave us
good opportunity to appreciate the tempera-
ture. At last all arrived safely on the Omaha
side. The Union Pacific Company are now
building an iron bridge between the sister
cities, which is to cost nearly two millions of
dollars. This will be convenience that has
been needed since the road was opened, and
when it is finished there will be an unbroken
line of railway between the two oceans.
We again embarked, and were whirling
Across THE PLAINS,
and as we sat in those luxurious cars, taking
our case, we could not help recalling to our
mind the time when the emigrant wagons slow
ly wendell their way over these same
plains, and the early pioneer was ever on the
watch to guard his family from the sudden at