Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1871-08-10
C0RRESP0ND ENCE.


TIE Agricultural Halssss.
hcuLTURAL GROUNDS AT st. LoUls-UNLlMTTED
HOSPITALITY OF THE WEST = YxRTfIIrY AND
BEAUTY OF INDIAN TERRrr0lY AND KANsAs.
Correspondence of the Commercial.)
DENVER, CoIoRADo, July 81.
My last was written you at St. Louis In which
gave hasty sketch OF the personnel Of our
party; aud now propose TO glance at the places
visited, instead Of troubling the readers Of the
TRIBUNE with repetition Of the old, old, story.
by detailed account Of each. Our party collect
ed in New York, on the 18th iust., at the depot
OF the New York and Erie Railroad, equipped for
about six weeks absence, and ~ the programme
states, "for visit TO tho Mammoth Gave, In
dian Territory, Kansas, Colorado, and the Parks
Of the Hockey Mountains
And here let me say that our thanks are espe-
peciAlly due to the various roads, who 10 kindly
helped us in every possible way, and from whom
We have obtained 30 much vanAble information.
Early OH the morning OF the 10th, We arrived at
Cleveland, Ohio, aud changed cars for the " Boo
Line to Louisville, Ky. The Gait House, at
the latter place, deserves particular mention, on
account OF its many excellencies, in fact some
thing more than what is usually termed first
class," rs 1t combines show with substance in
every respect The Louisville and Nashville
Railroad, over which we passed on our way to the
Mammoth Cave, runs through section Of coun-
try, naturally good, but terribly neglected In
fact. one wishes no better evidence OF tho utter
shiftiessness than is here presented.
At GLASGOW Junction, we leave the cars and
enter set OF rough. uncomfortable coaches
bound for the Gaze. This whole region appears
! to be ono mass Of limestone, and caves are not
unfrequently met with In various sections and
| should not baAurprised to hear Of even more
wonderful discoveries than the famous Mammoth
Care itself. A snort ride from the station brings
US TO the Diamond Cave" not pretentious In
Ia size, but exceedingly beautiful. We enter by
descending . steep flight Of steps, and each per-
son with lighted lamp, explore these subter-
| ranean caverns.
But must not linger. at this point. Arriving
| at the Cave Hotel" in the evening, we are
lodged in primitive and rather unpleasant style
the gentlemen all together on the ballroom
floor and the ladies' packed like sardines in one
| or two close, badly-ventilated rooms. em
afraid to describe the table, but never sat down
ground was not cleared and therefore no grass
| for the COWS no berries, (although there was
plenty close by in the tbickets) because the men
| sitting around smoking, had no time, &c, dc.
Here is type OF Southern life. pure and unadul-
terated. The 2lst was devoted to the celebrated
Mammoth Cave. a. it takes the whole day to see
/ it properly, will not go into the minutie OF
this wonderful natural curiosity, but am free
to say that was disappointed somewhat in my
| expections. Most persons have an idea of great
cavern with the roof supported by vast pillars,
&c. In the place Of which we saw only long
| tertuous way, sometimes wide and again quite
narrow whilst the height also very greatly varies
| in the different localities. 1t H. however beau
| tifnl and in some places really gorgeous but
the monotony of large portion of the way is to
| be regretted
The 22d found Ills on cur way to Louisville
detained some hours by an accident, and cOnse-
L. -.
city. Our ride from Louisville to st. Louis was
through the rich Prairie soils of Ill. with ey
dence Of thrift On all sides
The crops are looking splenddy, aud the i'm
| proved breeds of cattle grazing in the fields
| show concllsively that the system OF education
in this State is far preferable to that Of Kentuc.
| ky. Land in this region, that 20 years ago sold
Tor % cents to II 80 per acre, is now worth from
$50 to T75 per acre.
| Our visit to st. Louis was very pleasant, al
though rain is greatly needed, and the dust
almost unhHarable. Our whole party was con-
yeyed to tho celebrated gardens of Henry Shaw,
| Esq, where are collected together the most
beautiful trees and plants that will stand the
climate The greenhouse department is well
| organized and filed with rare collection OF
tropical plants. The collection Of Cacti, is con-
| sidered the finest in the world, and all manner
| OF grotesque forms combine to make them beduti.
| Iuf az Their ult.'ie.s. l could write ali entire
| letter on this place alone, but must hurry on.
/ The COMMITTEES Of the Agricultural Society,
having the matter in charge next escorted us To
| the State Fair Grounds. and here we were de.
lighted with features heretofore undreamed Of
| in place of this nature. Just imagine foun-
| tains, cascades, rock-work. beds Of flowers trees
and shrubs, vases, etc and you will have some
| little idea OF this model ground The trotting
| course il surrounded by large amphitheatre
capable OF seating twenty thousand people. In
the centre OF the circle is tower with winding
| stairway, from the summit OF which We have q
view of the surrounding country for many miles.
All the buildings, and they very numerous
are erected in a tasteful manner planed and
painted. A large herd of deer was q pleasant
| feature, as were the watcr-fowls. etc. Our com
pany were then provided with abundant refresh
ments. and, after few formal speeches, We ad
journed to our hotel, well pleased witch our visit
On the evening of the 18th we again entered thu
ears Tor ~ our visit to the , lndial
souri, Pacific Railroad. when we branch off on the
Atlantic & Pacific road. which is the object of OH
visit The kindness and courtesy extended lis Oh
this trip is certainly deserving of great praise
aud Western hospitality outdid itself. Gov. Sew
ard once said that e the people of Kansas were
the most industrious. the most virtnous. and the
bravest on the face Of the earth" We pass ovel
magnificent country, all manner Of vegetation
presenting luxuriant growth. and as we neal
the Indian possessions, everything increases, il
that were possible in beauty and growth. On til.
2lth we again entered the Missouri Pacih,
Railroad for Leavenwurth, Kansas. The land o
Kansas is peculiarly adapted for agriculture ant
fruit culture, and the Industrious man of limitet
means will have an opportunity Of establishing
home with a very small outlay of money. A
Leapcnwoith, where we first have an opportunit,
of judging for ourselves, attention is attract
ed to as tine thrift y peacli and apple trees, a,
well as grape vines as we have ever seen.
Delaware must look to her laurels, for tn,
Peach trees at this place were breaking dow
with the weight of beautiful, highly-colored fruit
We saw one vine Of Concord Grape, that hat
| 4i0 fine lunches on it, Our party was met al
the depot by Com. Of the State Ayr. Soc. ant
| escorted to the Planters Hotel, where a CRANE
banquet had been prepared and so the night wa,
passed in the usual speech-making, &C., unit
morning approached, Next day We were driver
around the city, and the finest places visited
This is decidedly 'land of plenty" Again vi
were the guests of the transportation companies
and this time the Kansas Pacific II. r. did tn
honors. Still no change in the customary cour
tesies, and the kind favors were continual,
sbowered upon us. A more extended accoun
either Of the soil or advantages Of the State
might lay my statements open to the charge o
prejudice but in fact have been converted
and greatly against my expectations too. hav
thus hastily ran over enough ground to hav
filled a small book, instead Of crowding the sam,
into single letter, but hope in my next Il
give You detailed account OF what saw &c.
in tho Rocky Mountains, and in camp-fe. I'm
til then am, as ever,
| Truly Yours j. H.