Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-07-04

was on the stocks @ to supply II
place, and the wo:k,ncn said,it woalt
be completed in icss than an hour
Though made on tho same model a.
the old one, II promised more secnrl
ty to vovagprs, as It's timbers and
plank were new, It's seams trcshl,
caulkel and its exterior new y paint
cd. The two dozen passengers and
half a dozen trunks were divided in
to two relicls, as tie crazy old boat
was possibly unseaworthy. The riv'
err was very high,-at it's highest
point, it was reported, and tie cur.
rent was strotig. The writer was on
the first relief. 4 strong, broad cur
rent runs close to the southern shore,
across which the boat sped gallantly
When little more than half way
across, the boat struck sand-bar,
and 70. several rods it had to bc
dragged by main force, the ferry
men boldly treading the shifting
sands at our side. After crossing
another narrow current, the boat
again "soundcd." and was helped
along as before. Tho location Of
these sand bars cannot be predicted
day in advance. Tie tcrrymne
said that on the precise spots where
we were grounded on Monday, were
strong, swift currents on Saturday,
eight or ten feet deep.
At the place OF crossing, Cedar
Island divides the Platte into two I'M
equal portlons-the portion OF the
river on the north OF the island he
ing narrow and swift. At the time
OF crossing, the island was nearl y all
under water. At the half submerg-
ed landing, on the island, two farm
wagons stood ready to receive us
and carry us to the northern channel.
"A few cedars grow on the island,
but the timber which covers it
densely is mostly of the general
variety that shade the river banks
One OF the party didn't wait for the
wagon" but struck out independent.
ly, tloundcring along through |
water, brush and sand. The ways of
the world as well as of the island
were new TO HIM, and on being over
taken by the teams. he gladly accept
ed the proffered seat,--on the side.
board, edge.
Before the floating (:) scow' re.
turned to the south bank the new
boat was completed, and the waiting
inc passengers assisted at its launch
ing. The second relief may have had
a better boat in which to ride across
The sands ofthe Platte han the first,
but the assurance is emphatic that
their progress was no more regular OF
tree from fear of ultimately forming
the nucleus of new island. There
were no ladies' on the second trip, SO
that catastrophe might not have
been SO appalling as it would have
been on the first.
The Island House. is erected on
the north side Of Cedar Island, at
the point where the second ferry
transfers passengers to the man
land. The house is kept by for
eign Dutchman and his "vrow," who
dispense edibles and potablcs to
hungry travellers. The "house is
constructed OF rough boards and re-
sembles more suffers temporary
shanty than anything else the writer
can now recall to mind.
On the main land is the south
western terminus of the Omaha &
South Western railroad, and the road
in 4 high bank without
rn-table, or a depot building; a sim.
pie platform and nothing more
Here out crops from the bluff stra-
tum Of black substance, in thin Ia.
mine Of not over onc-eighth of an
nch thick-the stratum varies from
six inches to foot thick. The sub.
stance is very much like slate in gen.
eral appearance, though its texture
$ evidently mostly vegetable, with
some resemblance to peat, yet not
ibrous enough for that. 1t is lighter
n weight than coal. I believe it to
De partly vegetable and partly min
sral, yet am unable To account for
Is laminated structure.
A few miles farther down the riv-
er IS a quarry Of excellent lime stone,
light of color, with a sub st, alum of
blucish tinted stone. Here the stone
for the bridge between Omaha and
Council Bluffs was and is being OBJ
tanned.
From the ferry, down the north |
side of the Platte. and up the west |
side OF the Missouri, to Omaha. the
road ruas between bluff and river,
with very little farming land visible,
and few openings through the bluffs