New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-27
FROM NEW ORLEANS TO NIAGARA.

FROM NEW ORLEANS TO NIAGARA.
Sights and Impressions by the Wayside-
The Route-The Illinois Central Rail-
read-A New View of Chicago-Detroit
Made Matches-Riding Through Cam
ada-Cool Weather and High Prices Mt
the Falls, Etc.
Correspondence of the Republican.
NIAGARA. FALLS, June d. 1871.
To vary life left New Orleans in the
early part of the present month"; intending
to examine some of the great improvements
in localities where the summers sun is not
as fervid as with US at home. About the
first subject to be considered was the route,
and now that l speak of it l will, for the in
formation of other excursionists, make short
notes of my travelling experience.
A pleasant ride over the great Cbatta-
nooga road left me in Mobile just in time to
and Ohio road ready to start for Louisville.
By chance / secured number in palace
car, and was at once quite as comfortable as
at home. All the appointments are thor
oughly. complete, and the managers decid-
ly aware of the needs of travellers. Speeding
along smoothly through Alabama, Missis-
sippi and Tennessee, the general appearance
of plantations was not encouraging. Too
much rain had nearly ruined corn and cot
ton fields, so that it is quite certain that
barely half crop of either product will be
made; Tennessee promising the best. Ar
II, II al,
left the Mobile and Ohio road, taking fine
ferryboat Tor C.a.;-a, unfortunately arriving
at midnight, in Egyptian darkness. Here
was waiting train of cars on the Illinois
Central road, ready for living load for
Chicago 365 miles distant, which space was
annihilated in about no time, that is, from
half past one in the morning until five o'clock
in the evening.
This road, so rich and powerful, neces-
sarily furnishes its patrons with all that is
desirable. Cars, track and all the appur-
tenances are thoroughly complete for
travelling and freight. Its employees are
constantly alert, ready to avert any calam-
ity, although the chances for disaster are
few. The assurances given me by Mr.. j.
T. Tucker, the general agent in New Or
leans, that l would be pleased with the
route, were more than verified. The line
from Cairo to Chicago is full of interest,
especially at this season, as farmers were
cutti1g golden fields of wheat. Every
mans thought was centered on moving
machines, reapers, threshers and similar
10 SaUinu irnpIanaptc Thaca articlac
were visible everywhere, in active requisi-
ton to produce grain which shall feed
hungry mouths thousands of miles away.
Grain is the reasonable hobby ridden by
all resident in this section. Corn is but a
few inches high, but promises we'll. So en-
tirely devoted are the people to grain, that
they neglect most other branches; cOnse-
quently their homes wear a desolate look.
Houses are mere shells, unadOrned, un-
cared fOr-bleak. A trifing fence, a scrub
by tree or two, and scarce sign of garden,
do not comport with our ideas of a country
home. But look at those broad fields SO
vastly rich in harvest, more than compen-
safe for the lack.
Small bits of Chicago are visible before
reaching that peculiar city. / had often
been told by visitors that our city has many
singularities, but New Orleans is slothful
faubourg in comparison. As l saw Chicago
last Saturday evening, and during Sunday
l made up my mind that the city resembles
rocket-it went up in beautiful flight,
but will come down like an uninteresting
stick. There are many magnificent looking
buildings; magnificent in looks only, for
Notwithstanding their splendid, and even
massive appearance, they are in reality
cheap. Some present regal fronts, while the
rear portions are squalid, rickety. In fact
most of the large editices are so constructed
that in a few years the finger of time will
crumble them they are solid only in appear
ance-cheap. Of the residents personally,
they are rather pleasant, tOlerably good
hammered, and neat, but not stylish The
male population are seen in the cen
tral portions of the town; devote
large portion OF time to
| billiards, base ball, cigars and ale tippling.
Much capital is invested in catering to
| these tastes. Saloons for billiards, smoke
| and ale are fitted up expensively, and are
| extensively patronized by a class who, to
| say the least, do not bear the stamp of hon
| est or industrious men. About every fourth
building contains rooms for one of these
| questionable diversions. Beyond this there
is an enterprising manufacturing spirit
which furnishes steady employment for
! skilled labor, and here is one great source
| of Chicago's singular success, but the spirit
| is not based on solid foundation. Almost
everything seems a shell, looking through a
pair of New Orleans eyes. However, rail
roads and railroad interests are exceptions,
as they are as solid as their cars and tracks.
| With all the attractions and benefits per-
! tanning to Chicago, give me single munich
pal district in New Orleans in preference.
Mean vices find foothold and recognition
in Chicago, such as are quite unknown in
the Crescent City. My estimates were
formed hurriedly, and may possibly be
wrong l think the placeis incorrectly
named. 1t should be called Incongruity.
Starting for Niagara Falls brought relief.
On the route 1 found much TO interest.
When left New Orleans placed box of
matches in my satchel, and as the car con-
ductor called out Detroit, had the box in
my hand; on the cover was printed square
matches, manufactured by Richardson, De
troit, Michigan" Suddenly those little
sticks of embryotic fire caused me to reflect.
These simple things, manufactured here in
this decaying city, had been shipped more