Worcester daily spy., 1871-08-15

who have studied the subject claim that it viii,
be in coming time. 1t now extends twelve miles
along the river, and back about five miles
counting within these limits over 800 900 people
The ground already covered with buildings is an
easy, graceful slope, neither low, as at Chicago
nor "bluffy," as at Cincinnati, nor an island, as
is New York. These are advantages for drain
age, for health, for trade, not easily estimated
As we drew near on the ferry boat the gentle as
cent of the ground was apparent from the aver.
age gradual incline of the area of roofs. But
over river and shipping, steamers and barges
lying at the leyee, and floating cloud-like away
over steeples and chimneys, were the smoky,
sooty clouds, drifting, scudding, playing with
the Winds So it is over every western city, the
constant accompaniment of this smoochy, btu.
minous coal. No other coal but this west of the
Aleghanies yet known. Strange that it couldn't
have been an anthracite, just little harder, and
then these towns and cities would not be the
soiled, blackened, begrimmed, smooched, negro
sort of places that they are.
They are more African than Caucasian. No
matter how fine, or beautiful the building ma
terial-as that of Chicago (the Joliet stone) is
yet in thirty days after it is up, it takes on an
ebony hue from the oily, blacky smirch floating
almost invisibly in the air. The only advantage
we can see in it is, that it makes the laundry
business excellent. Go out of a misty, wet
morning with immaculate linen, and by noon it
looks as though it had been held over a smoky
kerosene lamp. Attempts have been made TO
burn the smoke, or otherwise get rid of it; but
they seem to have, thus far, failed. We learn
that the Chicago city government is making ex-
periments in burning it, with view to ordering
it burnt by law, under heavy penalties for not
doing it. 1t seems as though science and inven-
ton ought not to say that it cannot perform
this feat. They have done greater things than
this. We believe that eastern cities would have
been rid of this disgusting nuisance long ago;
and if westerners wish to make their places de-
cent and winning to strangers, they must stop
the Sm0Och.
As soon as one enters the streets it is ap-
parent this is place of southern antecedents-
that slaves formerly breathed the air of bondage
that swept through them Far easier to ap-
preciate the difference by seeing than to de-
scribe it. The buildings and avenues have not
that cleanly and sprucely look; the shops lack
that tidy, attractive and tasty appearance;
goods in them are not so orderly and appro-
priately arranged; there is a h1tddled way
about them betokening the confusion of chat
teliSm. 1t fingers yet, though a decade has
gone since bondmen obsequiously trod these
pavements. The relics will remain another ten
years or more, the sins of the fathers passing at
least unto the ne1t generation.
The thoroughfares indicate new and better
life-that this metropolis is already on loftier
and more prosperous career. In this respect, it
seems as though it outdoes Chicago and Cincin-
natl. At present there is more rapid growth
than in either of those. Missouri, Kansas,
Colorado and other states and territories are
populating at high pressure rates, and the tide
of immigration and trade sets through here as
waters through tidal mill gate when the ocean
ebbs. Travel and traffic are enormous. By
and by the currents may change, for they are
somewhat spasmodic, though we can see no
reason why the march of empire should not
grow broader and denser, when the bridge is
complete, and the country westward and south
westward has larger population. There is the
land, productive, waiting only tillage; railways
are cutting it in many directions, and the old
world peoples-crowded and poor-have got ear
of it; these states and territories are helping
them over. What can prevent growth? Why
should it not enlarge beyond all precedent? We
rejoice that some New England pioneers have
planted our institutions hereabout; that their
best ideas are taking root and fourishing; that
transplanting has improved them, in some re-
spects-they are about all that is wanting in
abundance. Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin and Others
have been shaped and controlled by them, con-
tributing immensely to make them the proud
and successful commonwealth that they are.
At present, st. Louis has less attractive ex-
terror than Chicago The avenues are narrower
and more irregular. There is not that trimness
and neatnesS in the stores and dwellings, that
her lake rival has. Her parks are fewer and on
smaller scale. But one is being planned for
the future on the west side, through which will
run spacious boulevard, commencing above
on the river bank, north, and running in a semi
circle clear round to the river side again, south.
The plans are in definite shape, and it will
form colossal driveway. This boulevard
style is becoming the modern favor
lite. There are money, pleasure, beau
ty and convenience in them. Maybe the
"Heart of the Commonwealth" will be large
enough to warrant one there. In these days of
rapid growth and metropolitan attractions the
city that would keep with her sister rivals must
"keep up with the times" This law works as
surely as gravitation.
Some thoughtful men (whose opinions are
predict that st. Louis will be the
future great city of the world. We are neither
a prophet nor the son of prophet, and there
fore venture no divination on the matter; but,
in justice to them, and as a matter of interesting
and just speculation, we subjoin their chief
reasons, viz: History shows that civilization and
the largest populous centers have moved always
westward; hence that fine phrase, Westward
the star of empire takes its way" But it must
stop somewhere, or else it will swing round the
circle and arrive at the point whence it started
new cities on the sites or near to those of the
ancient. This is improbable. The stop will be
on this continent, not on its eastern side, not on
its western Pacific slope, for arid wastes and
fastnesses intervene and prohibit The
Alkali plains or great American desert the
Wasatch, and Rocky and Sierre mountain
ranges constitute natures prohibitory law, en-
forced without any state police.
This is an interesting field for theory and cal
culation, and especially for real estate men in
choice locations and corner lots. We outline
these arguments for their worth as a fair
marked valuation, only venturing the prophecy
that here will be large city in time; but when
that time will come no man knoweth Probably
no investor will lose on a corner lot, even now.
'Tis pleasant to see what these pioneers have
been doing here these past twenty years. They
have builded better than they knew. Great
credit is due them. st. Louis has excellent pub
lie schools, two well founded and promising
universities, some incipient art. We fear that
the climate is too warm for that magnifcence
and high culture her enthusiasts foretell.
Climate is wonderful help or hindrance in
these matters. In these August days thecoolest
place we can get into the mercury registers 9Ol
Old residents tell me this is an average. Whew!
Think of Phidias sculpturing; Socrates philoso-