The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-07-27
A Trip to the rac ific.
Correspondence OF the j Journal.


Fourth" and rs far us was concerned,
with Il most inglorious headache. We
found ourselves in the midst of Fourth
eft July celebration, and noticed that
many were celebrating with SO much
spirit, and were so ardent in their feelings,
that they became very weak and tired
long before night. There was very
large collection ON the common to wit
ness the ascension of Il balloon, which
went out of sight through the clouds
(Which We're floating low in about two
minutes after il left the earth. We left
for New York the same evening. so we
had very little time for 4 daylight look AT
the country through which we passed
The corn, grain and potatoes which we
saw looked very fair but small, having
been planted and sown late. The hay
crop viii he light in consequence Of the
drought of last year and the hard winter.
We were obliged to stop in New York
through The day, so we spent the time in
4 visit to Central Park, very much to the
satisfaction Of the younger portion of our
party. which now numbered fifteen, three
having been added in Boston. New
York, although in my opinion Il very
wicked city, has in a manner redeemed it
self by furnishing for its people such 4
resort As Central Park. Here all can be
seen and enjoyed by all classes as free as
thc air they breathe, and nowhere within
my knowledge can so interesting Il spot
be found. Order, which is ''hcayen's first
law here reigns supreme. Whatever
disorder there may be in the city or else
where, this place, where all the senses
may be graticd, is held sacred from the
touch of the spoiler. The collection here
of ''bcast, bird, fish and insect is per-
haps the best ON the continent.
Our way from this place was through
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, over the
Allegheny mountains. The crops in this
section are not quite as good rs last year,
having suffered somewhat Tor want Of
rain in the early part OF the season The
railroad over the mountains is quite Il
curiosity After turning a short curve
before ascending the highest Fart of the
mountains. the cars are forced up a grade
OF 90 feet IL the mile, for l. miles, 10y
two engines. Then comes a tunnel I'M
der the highest point, of one mile and
one EIGHTH Then u down grade of "a
miles To the same level There are two
tracks on this road, all the way through
from Philadelphia 10 Pittsburg, hallasted
with broken stone, and IS very Tree from
dust The length of time run without
stopping 10 take water, caused me to
make inquiry, upon which was informed
that water was taken rs we went along.
This was done by shallow trough being
laid between the tracks, and a sort of
scoop being let down from the engines at
such an angle that the velocity OF the en-
.tines caused the water to rise high enough
to lac taken for use. The scenery over
tine mountains is thought by many to be
very fine thought it very coarse.
West OF the mountains and through
Ohio. the crops are very abundant, cs
pccialiy the wheat Here we pass through
line Great coal region. At Pttsburg we
Stopped lone enough to get a smell OF
tue everlasting fires that are neYcl qucnch-
r,! and see the clouds OF smoke that 60
up continually, and shut out the sunlight
from the people. | asked how they could
endure all this, and was answered that
they had become so used to ii, that they did
NOT notice it, l thought they must have
been very tough not to die before getting
used 10 it. The soil through western
PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio, | should think 10
In, very GOOD. Here | saw the best fields
.ot wheat ON the route. The harvesting
was nearly over. noticed that the crop
WAS rs good on the tops Of the hills and
mountains rs nj the base, which is not
the case generally in the New England
states.
We passed through most Of Indiana in
the night time. The portion we saw was
low and flat, as is Illinois about Chicago.
This place would be very bad one for
those who think our little planet is in con-
slant danger of being tilted out of place
by comet or by some other derange-
mcnt of the heavenly bodies, rs the waters
of the large lakes at the north would very
easily come down and Submerge the whole
country and there would be no mountain
to which they could flee We stopped a
few hours ut Chicago, the great railroad
centre. and were very glad to get away
from so much noisa and confusion.
The lat prairie land extends for quite
A distance west Of Chicago. Then comes
the rolling prairie where were the finest
corniclds | ever saw or of which | had
any idea. 1t seemed rs though more than
onc-haf Of the whole surface of the coun
try through Illinois and Iowa was plant
ed with corn, and nowhere in those two
States do think there can be failure in
the crop. Wheat and Oats in many places
looked rs though they had suffered for
want of rain, and nowhere did see as
Good fields of wheat as in Ohio.
From Chicago to the Mississippi river
are 50 stations of more or less import
ancc. Aurora containing 1900 inhabi-
tants. Galesburg IA, 900. and many others
from ,. coo to 1000.
After crossing the famous iron bridge
over the Mississippi river, we arrived at
Burlington, which is place OF consider
able business, with 10000 inhabitants
There are some half score OF steam mills,
where the logs that are tloated down the
river are manufactured into all kinds OF
lumber.
From Burlington to the Missouri river.
through the State Of Iowa, there are forty
stations, at some of which are fine villages
containing from 1900 to 5000 people.
Council Bluffs, containing the latter num-
Der. on the east side Of the Missouri
river, and we'll situated. is n very thriving
place Across the river we come 10
Omaha. This place is bound to be the
great city of the west, no other being so
we'll situated in every respect for growth
and trade The land rises gradually from
about l. GOO feet at Omaha above the level
of the sea to upwards of 5000 feet at the
west line of the State of Nebraska, dis
lance of ALB miles. There is very little
waste land in the State, and the soil is the
very best in the country, being of that
nature that sharp drought does not
seriously affect it, OF heavy rains stand
long on the surface of the ground. The
western part being at SO great IN cleva-
ton causes it to be one of the best graz
inc sections in the country.
Immense herds of cattle, sheep and
horses are put upon this land, under the
care of herdsmen who spend their whole