Worcester daily spy., 1872-06-15
TcoRREspovDENcE OF THE DAILY SPY
GRAND HOTEL, SAN Francisco,

| NkAND IlOIEis DAN IRANNiSNOrt
June l. 1872.
| On pleasant, summeTy morning in May, we
started on a second journey to the beautiful
shore Of the Pacific, TO renew our acquaintance
with its lofty SUBMITS, wide-sweeping and fertile
valleys waving with golden grain, and spanged
with luscious, cleaning fruit. Sopleasant were
the experiences and lingering "reminiscences of
the former trip, that the temptation to repeat it
was too strong to resist when warm spring suns
began to green New England fields The pas
lures and buds were just beginning to be tipped
with new verdure around Worcester, but as soon
as we passed over the Berkshire hills that serve
as breakwater to the chilling waves of east
winds that sweep in from the stormy Atlantic,
delaying the growth of foliage, plants, and
grasses, the meadows were ripping, and the
trees futterng in their young garments.
On the train was party of twelve from Wor-
cester, and another of the same number from
Boston, both bound for California for health and
recreation. The scenery along the railway to
Albany loses none of its charms with age while
the cities and villages of western Massachusetts
are busy, improving and prosperous, seemingly
keeping pace with those nearer the club" The
first stop was at Syracuse, counting now its
fifty thousand inhabitants, having gained about
ten thou and in the last two years. Its Gnvirons
are spreading in every direction, and substan-
tial and elegant business blocks are lengthening
its marts of trade. The traffic of the Central
railway increases, and the wonder is where the
freight and passengers ofalmost incessaut trains
come from, and are going to. Ere long, there
must be third track between the termini
| to accommodate the business and do it safely
and promptly. AT the falls" the hotels had
Just opened their doors for the season, and occa-
siona visitors were the drops preceding the
summer showers that annually go to Niagara.
Some half-dozen are the number of our visits to
this water wonder of the continent, and the last
was as gladsome as the first The power and
grandeur are the same as of yore. The roar and
the foam, the spray and the intermittent rain
bows seem constant and eternal-varying not
even with the changing seasons. More atten-
ton is paid TO the comfort and convenience of
yiSitors-less quilting and extorton.
From the falls westward via the familiar and
favorite route of the Great Western and Mich.
gan Central-among the best managed aud
safest railways on either contnent--and both
well equipped with the Pullman parlor and
sleeping cars, each paying scrupulous regard to
its patrons.
Of course every one knows the story Of Chica-
! go, and we can say nothing of interest," except
that the rebuilding of the business portion is
going forward with great rapidity. But few
dwellings, save temporary wooden structures
Il Iaa Al,
the historic cOnfagration. Proper and ordinary
precauton, adapted to the circumstances, would
probably have prevented it. The fire never
could have got beyond control had the city au-
thorities, or more pertnently, the city thieves,
given as much attention to their municipal
duties as TO their private houses On the west
side near where the COW kicked over the memo
rabe pail and committed arson, was the reser-
voir-built of wood. Simply a huge cstern
made of large slaves standing on wooden tim
bers. This water tinder box wasl the first to
| go down, and then no resource but the
| pumping works, on the lake shore, over two
miles away. Let it be repeated; proper and or
binary precaution would have had at least three
stout reservoirs, indesractbe by fire, on the
west side alone, built on high foundations with
radiating hydrants specially for FIRE purposes /;
so that, it engines failed streams could have
been thrown upon any quarter But no, both
water and engines gave out early and therefore
the fiery monster Travelled as long as the show
ers did not wet him down. Why insurance
companies, deemed safe, like the Peoples, put
all their eggs into such a finder box as Chicago
was, and is to-day, is a mystery, unless we re-
member the desire to do a "big thing" no mat
ter what the hazard. A city of 300, 900 souls
and 81 900 100000 of property was left by may
or and aldermen and common council at the
mercy of half dozen steam fire engines and a
few drunken fremen.
People are puzzled to understand why the
fire was unmanageable. The puzzle to the
writer is-and to all who know the facts-that
the place was not burned sooner, with practical.
ly no protection against flames and these prairie
and lake winds blowing a moderate gale for
at least, three hundred days in the year. The
wisdom and foresight of insurance companies
ought to be at a discount. No insurance com
pany ought to put a dollar of investment into
Chicago, and take out as soon as possible thai
which all of them have there, until the city
builds several reservoirs high enough to give {
good head, especially for use against fire. Wher
this is done it is morally certain that large
confagration could not occur. Nature ha,
given an ample supply in Lake Michigan; lie
men protect their families and property in thu
same proportion.
wishing that the suggestion might be needed
we depart from the mourning and desolate me
tropolis, through northern Illinois and centra
Iowa, by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincl
road that makes the quickest time and safes
speed OF three competing lines to Omaha, civ
ing the tourist glimpse of several oil the small
er western cities.
AT Council Bluffs, on the east bank of thu
Missouri, change of cars is made to those o
the bridge transfer company, passing over
firm and elegant iron bridge, just completed, t.
Omaha. There is a controversy pending be
tween the railway corporations, terminating OF
the east and west banks as TO which side tn
broad and muddy stream the change of passen
gers and baggage shall be made. II is an un
necessary and unpleasant annoyance to travel
crs, causing much bother and delay some twt
or three hours. All must change twice. Bu
terminus, and the bridge company makes
good thing out Of it by charging fifty cents pc
passenger for crossing Public convenience
ought to step in, under the constitutional claus,
regulating commerce, and through the court
determine the side on which the change shoulC
be made. Clearly, this is at Omaha, where thu
landing is excellent and near a growing anC
prosperous city, where travellers can Hnd ac
commodations for laying over. At Counci
Bluffs the town is small and some four mile
distant. No one is satisfied at present, an,
many are the grows and unfayorable comment
that meet the ears of conductors and baggag
men. 1t is a cooperation quarrel that damage
all concerned, and ployokes good deal of ba,
temper very justly. The interested parties, 70
their own good, should join in a union station
on the west bank.
From Omaha, for some 800 miles the wa,
runs through the prarie.like valley of the Nortl
Platte, among the finest and most fertile 0
river bottoms. The settlements are sparse
For miles there are no habitations The entir