The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-13

occurred in the history of Alton, happening |
as it did at 50 carly period, the thing
which the people of Alton are particularly {
sensitive upon and upon which they pre-
dictate much of their misfortune as q city,
that which came like II thundcrbolt and
has hung like a cloud over the city for
years, is the disgrace which attaches to
mob violence, which occurred in her streets,
sprinkled as they were with the blood of
Lovejoy. have been pointed to the exact
place by an eye witness to the scene and
the resting place of the noble martyr.
Surely such deed as this is enough to
curse generation of those anywisc rcspon-
siblc for it, and the curse has fallen upon
Alton, whoever was responsible. 1t was
not enough for Alton to disclaim it, the
natural presumption attaches until the
contrary is proven.
Alton is situated at the foot of and upon
the first bluff upon the immediate bank of
the Mississippi river These bluffs are near
300 feet high, and they continue up the river
at greater or less height, while the Amer
lean bottom lands" commence here and
extend five miles in width for hundred
miles, at least, down the river The bluff
upon which this city is partially built APP
pears to have been thrown up by some
CONFUSION of nature, presenting an irregu-
lar surface overlaid with ten or twelve feet
of reddish clay soil To the river it pre-
sents broken, fragmentary face, bold,
perpendicular precipice. | am told there
is but one place for a long distance where
the bluff rises higher than the one upon
. which stood to-day Consequently in
, fer that | have had one Of the most extern
svc views, if not the finest which is to be
!: had upon the banks of the river. | have
: not room for adjcctiyes, but it was GER
$ tainly very fine and interesting to me. 1t
$ was here that the first horiculturist in the
y State (Dr IIall), | found had selected for
c improvements and the dense forest of peach
h es, pears and apricots with endless variety
IT of grapes, etc. seem to attest TO his good
!. judgment. / only vouch for the Catawba.
II The soil hereabouts seems to be nicely
= adapted to fruits, and for the most part
'. finely improved. There are many fine
7, streets and residences here of course. but as
n whole, Alton, as IA city, is a failure
N Nature had hardly calculated on streets.
G. that is, compact streets. Here and there a
fine residence upon the numerous hills Oh
elevations, with streets or roads winding tc
reach them would have been picturesque
indeed. But to plough and cXcavatc these
hills from five to twenty-five feet and fiji
the rayines and CULTS corresponding deptl
for the purpose of making the streets
straight, was Il mistaken policy. II fata
blunder.
Alton suffered much from the reccn
rebellion from her proximity to the excl
ting scenes and hotly contested grounds.
The old penitentiary stands here yet tina
swarmed with rebel soldier prisoners, and
cemetery filled with the rebel dead is here
all pointing to scenes too familiar and I'm
pleasant to recount.
The great redeeming feature Of Alton
the character of her people, the principa
part of her cntcrprising bushes
men being from the east. They al
solid business men, and are kind
cultivated and social, and take especial il
terest in their eastern cousins and friends
and never fail to make them entirely
home ana at east.
Among the first of the names whic
will be recognized as of eastern origin al
zen the Topping Bros, an extensive hardwai
firm, who, in spite of all obstacles. i
their genial affable, social qualities, con
bined with their skill and matchless il
tegrity, have won and now command Il
patronage of large section.
Another is that of DR.. Pierce, who is
well known to many of the first men
Vermont, from the Governor down, al
who takes frequent occasion and unto
pleasure in visiting his old acquaintanc
and friends in Vermont. The doctor is IL
one of those who carry the skull and Gro
bones as a sign of his profession, but
IS one of those who insist that the count
is an unhealthy place of resort, and t
records of mortality attest his success.
is beloved by all and worshipped by man
1t is quite warm here, and Alt
is doing its best, and in fact loo
beautiful lower view from the rive
but it is somewhat deceptive on near a
proach-deformit is diminished by d
tance
In my short absence have visited ma
places of interest in several citics-Euc
street or avenue, in Cleveland, Waba
avenue, Lincoln Park the famous wal
works, cemeteries, &C., of Chicago, Ill
wise her hotels the hotels, Shaw's Gardt
Tower Grove Park, Mercantile Libral
including the wonderful works of a
Beatrice, Cenci, and Alceo1ae, Miss ii
mer sculptures, and many notable pub
was buildings, &C., in St. Louis, either
!. of which would take columns to describe
ting of which | leave Just as | found the
read lest in the attempt to magnify | mar til
wing beauty by an unsophisticatcd and ,
tory polished pen, and content myself wit
wing few lines descriptive of this place,
,ntle frequented as are those other cities by p
ongs fessiona correspondents and critics.
,ent. stem the current of the grand old Mis-
,oat- sppi to-day. KEEP Cool
I, 10 Written for The Rutland GLOBE
n In VILLAGE AFFAIRS.
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