Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-19

i Commerce from ocean 10 ocean, ana iron
the Lakes to the Gulf. In short, she i
the great center, geographically and
commercially, of the Union; and | hav,
never been at any point from which i
seems so convenient to go any where, q
from St Louis.
In my limited stay here, l have haC
time to visit only few of the moe
prominent objects of interest much lest
to describe them. Walking down on the
wharf, or boatslanding, which extends
for miles up ard down the Mississippi,
and at which may sometimes be seen as
many as two hundred steamboats,, the
first great object that attracts attention is
the EH
ILLINOIS AND ST. LOUIS BRIDGE,
| now being constructed across the
great river at this place. 1t will be one
and half miles long including the
approaches at each end. Height above
high water mark so feet. The bridge
! viii be built of the most cold and enSur-
ing materials, the principal of which arc
sandstone, gray and red granite, magne.
sian limestone, iron and crucible csststeel.
The sandstone is brought from quarry
in Missouri, near the river, Go miles be-
low the city; the gray granite from near
Richmond, Va, and from Maine; and
the magnetism limestone from the Graf
ton quarries, Ill. Just think, of bringing
rocks from four different States to build
the piers aud abutments of such coles
sal bridge as this will be, and you may
have s faint idea of the very
apn Of hn
bridge. The total cost can't now be
known, but it will not be less S., 900, 600.
The bridge will be double, or two story,
the lower for railroad trains, and the up
per for wagons, carriages, etc. The city
of st. Louis has recently voted a tax of
$500, 900 to open up and widen the sew
ersl streets running 10 and from the west
ern terminus. When the bridge, with
the streets, ETC., shall have been finished
it will be another enduring monument to
the skill, ingenuity and indomitable en-
ergy of man, as well as great public
and private convenience to st. Louis and
vicinity, end all the railroads crossing the
river at this point. The Chief Engineer
of The bridge is Mr.. James =. Eds, of
ST. Louis.
PUBLIC PLACES.
From the bridge went to the Southern
Hotel, gigantic structure of six stories,
having 400 rooms, all finished up in
handsome style, and furnished in q man
ner to correspond with the liberal and
elevated design of the projectors. 1t is
smaItly larger than the Maxwell House,
of your city, has central location and is
doing a good business. There are about
a dozen other fiTst-clssg hotels here-all
doing a profitable business. Next, went
to Lafayette Park, pretty, pleasant
place of resort for walks, fresh air and
retirement from the din and dust of the
city. There are two bronze
STATUES
erected in it-one of Washington, and the
other of Benton. That of Washington
has no inscription, except his name, while
that of Benton has his name and the QUO
tatiOD-"Tnere is the Esst-there is
lndis'-frOm one of his great speeches
in behalf of the construction of railroad
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
The far reaching ken OF 'Old Bullion"
and the apparently visionary speculations
made by him concerning the influence of
the Pacific railroad upon the commerce
of the world, are now acknowledged by
al; for much of the commerce of the
East now comes by way of the West.
The statue was cast by "Harriet Hosmer,
Sculpt, Rome, 1861" and uncovered
here last year by Mrs. Jessie Fremont,
daughter of Benton. A worthy tribute
TO worthy public servant.
From Lafayette Park went 70 Tower
Grove Park, better known as
SHAW'S GARDEN,
in the southwest part of the city, and
containing about IS acres. Il is a botau-
ical garden, aud includes in Us collection
specimens from every quarter of the
glObe-fr0m the fora of every land The
CEDAR of Lebanon ami the Baoyan tree of
The East, with the palm of South Ameri.
ca, and the cactus family of Mexico, be-
sides multitude of others from all parts
of the world, may be seen here growing
lUxuriantly, and arranged and cared for
with the greatest skill and taste. 1t can't
be described. DR.. Stafford, with
all his knowledge of botany,
could not describe it in work
as large as his Geology of Tennessee"
But if ever you come to ST. Louis, go and
see ''ShsW's Garden and Museum" NJ.
Shsw is q wealthy old gentleman, unmsr-
ried, and has residence in the city, SIS
well as this magnificent estate in the
suburbs He it is, as you will remember,
who was sued by Miss Efie Csrstang,
some time since, for breach of alleged
marriage contract, assessing her damages
a. the modest sum Of 100000. The
court found for the defendant, AID go
Miss Effle failed to realize. Next l went
to the
GEsEGVOIR
and Wa;erworks, which are about seven !
miles apart. The reservoir is ten acres
square, and holds over fifteen hundred |
millions gallons. The engines at the |
waterwoTks are massive, having a power |
equal to LOCO horses, and forcing daily |
more than fifteen millions gallons water |
through three feet in diameter pipe for |
a dis auce of seven miles! Think of the !
pODderous fy-wheel, thirty two feet in |
diameter, and weighing thirty-two tors |
running day and night, TO supply the city |
with water from the Mississippi There |
are about thirty churches in the city, but /
TO walk down South Second street, as l |
did to day, and hear the singing and talk
ing, and see the drinking and eating, and |
the sporting of the children in the streets,
one would think the preachers are ali |
absent, taking their ease at Long Branch, |
or elsewhere, like our itinera1t President. |
l am OS the opinion that the beer gardens |
of St Louis claim greater share of the |
people on Sundays THAI the churches. |
Some Of the people drink more beer Than
water.
| had intended to visit the iron works |
south of the city, but nave not tine.
There is, l am informed, an increasing
interest in the iron business, and eastern |
capital is rapidly changing from Penusyl- !
vsnia and elsewhere to Missouri. This is
destined to be controlling interest in the
West before long, and Missouri seems to |
be taking the lead But | must close.
OBSERVER.