Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-07-02
Original Corresroadepce,)
ST. LorIs. Mo.
June, 1874.

Mssrs. Eii,ogs 1t is now a little
over n century since the great fur trader.
Pierre LaclcAe Lirnes.. with his little
Hand. wandering through the dangerous
ana almost impassable forests OF the Wes-
t-Ea World. halted upon the banks Of the
Father of Waters" and there laid out
III. plans Of town which he named st.
1.ou's. in honor of Louis XIV. the King
Of France. Though sbrewd aud calcula-
ting merchant. little perhaps did be dream
that hc was planting the germ Of the great
Wes,crn metropolis. The wild. red men
"f The forest. jealous Of the incroachng
fs-ets,cps of the white settler. were the only
Witnesses. besides the party, Of this
meMoIablc cornerstone layiag. Gather
iag around in silcn, wonder, as well a.
with feelings Of hostility. they alone read
its Que great import-their doom.
To-day let u view this old settlement
A few minutes will suffice to go over what
were oucc the boundaries OF I.aclcdc. No
landmarks remain. bu; few harrow streets,
so tell the story,
Large blocks of lofty buildings. filed
With all the varied wares Of an extended
commerce, now lcom up instead.
The very spot upon which the great
founder built his residence and store is
now the foundation OF Baruum's spacious
Hotel A busy hum and stir is all
around.
This little town, far removed then in the
Western wilds. grew slowly aud attracted
but little attention.
Indeed bu, comparatively n few years
ago it vas spoken of As in the far West !.
But times have changed.
This is an era Of progress and enlight-
enmcnt! What were the wild and unset
tied prairie lands of = quarter Of a centu-
rs ago, is now the abode Of thrifty pop
ulation-thickly inhabited cities and pros
rerous towns-in short, the "Granary OF
the Continent ~
The Railroad and Telcgraph-moving
powers of the age. have carried civiliza-
iiun and prosperity into the utmost parts
Of the land.
Distance has been almost practically an-
initiated. For instance the traveller who
visited these regions before the coming ofthe
railroad. performed fatiguiug journey OF
understanding hardships Of every
kind.
Indeed. Il vas like the long Oriental
jcurneyings. But to-day how different
lie comes in Palace Car"-timc forty.
eight hours: surrounded BY almost all the
comforts Of home. On every hand wild
and picturesque scenery and beautiful
well.,il!ed fields greet the eye.
II is almos, like the working out Of the
marvellous 6ctions Of the Arabian tales.
Aiaddin's Lamp. lighting the wilderness
In the published diaries and records ol
travellers TO this section. a short time be-
fore the days Of railroad transit. St Lou.
!. is frequently spoken Of as "ncar Alton,
(small town in lll)
Bu, i, is equally surprising a well as
-fat,sring. that one meets many here at
this day who tell Of the time when most
of the spacious aud busy thoroughfares
were the hauuts Of the fox and the wolf To
these who have watched its rapid growth
aud progress. it must present y striking Z
picture.
From q small inland town little over =
quarter Of century past. there has sprung
am'eh'y city with nearly half million
population!
This point itself commands great city
Situated IN the centre Of the Continent
IN the heart Of the mos, fertile valley in
the wor,d-ncar the confluence Of two OF
the largcs, tributaries of the Mississippi,
nature herself uni;es to make her, as Gen
Wise has admirably said, the Queen
City of the Interior" These things NAV
seem romantic. bu. the facts are plain to
sahstansiate 10.
The climate Cor salubri,y will compa re
with any in the Union. The vas, area Of
the city Is enormous. Viewed from the
Hottest ohservatorics. one hehclds only the
exact extest Of its limits Stretching up
and down the Mississippi banks for near
ly ten miles ana westward four or Eve, is
eompac. range of houses. Broad and
spacious streets extend from the river
westward, upon which are to be seen
handsome and neat residences-many o.
slem magnificent aud surrounded by beau
iiful yards OF Eowers aud shrubbery that dc.
light the eye. All Of the older s,yle Of
architecture viii be succeeded by these iu
fcv years.
The condition. however. Of the street.
has been much neglected, to the displea..
are a. yell - discomfort Of every one. -
The peculiar limestone used produces 1