, 1874-06-28

To the Editor Of The CHICAGO Tribune:
61R: 4 trip across the great central belt OF
our domain, from the Great Lakes to our Western
"Coast;" is OF absorbing interest and Of wide
suggestion. Let it bo understood that the
"Coast " absorbs that vast stretch OF country
between the crest Of the Rocky Mountain range
and the shore-:ine Of the Pacidc Ocean; there
fore, when the Western-bound traveller reaches
Sherman Station, on the Union Pacific Railroad,
though 900 miles from the Pacific. be ID On the
"Coast."
There is bu. one thing to be said OF the crop
prospects. All the way from this city to the
frontier the outlook is unusually good. This
is true alike of every product. Though corn in
many localities is small, Jet it has good stand.
and good, healthy color; and tue ground, as
rule, is IN fine tilth and free OF Weeds The late
rains were abundant from the eastern base OF
the mountains to this city. and, With one good
rain in July, tremendous crop Of this
staple will be insured. 1t ia not wise, per-
haps. to discount the future, but, unless all
signs fail, Providence ia about to unlock HIS
storehouso Of golden grain, snd pour 1t forth
until there is no room for storage. This pros
pect and this hope are sure basis Of faith to
nerve the failing heart OF tho business man as
we'll az tho farmer.
The silent and su11en Missouri pours its rich,
yellow flood, of the consistency Of porridge,
through broad interval gouged $50 feet deep
through pompous bluffs. Its mission as 3 highway
OF commerce has closed. out it still performs the
high function OF supplying the gfest City OF st.
Louis with an abundant supply OF pure water,
and the Gulf Stream with sediment sufficient to
change the batance Of Earth's gravity It i'm
presses me as tho grandest river Of the Uncut;
10 fta nF Nat in
OF this Monarch of Rivers, takes on nobler
mold, and the contour Of the landscape. as It
spreads out, through the valley OF tue Platte,
away to the Rocky Mountains, ID of majestic
type The Missouri River is tho western limit
Of the great American grauary,-substautiall
at least. for generation to come.
Tho vast domain lying between the Missouri
aud the base OF tha mountains, aud the Gulf aud
the ''isothermal illus" OF jay Cooke (belng
about 750 miles east and west by $500 Mules
north and south) IL the great natural "Beefery'
Of the Republic Nature has been even mora
prodigal with her acres horeaway than even q
prohiEate Congress with = heart gushing with
sympathy and subsidy. Here are the peoples
great pastures, With beef-capacity equal
to the prospective wants OF the world.
It IS matter OF surprise to the
traveller that the Platte Valley is 30
little used for either culture or herdlng: 1t is q
grand interval, so to so miles broad, well grassed.
but treeless; but it's alkaline waters render mcst
OF it valreess for such purposes, The Railway
Company furnishes wholesome water free to tho
dwellers at stations along the line OF tia Union
Pacific Road. This is true also OF the Central
Pacific, on tho alkaline plains OF Nevada. The
moment you roach the bluffs, the water IS
very puro and wholesome. It occurs to
me that the Reasonable explanation Of the
bending Of tho climatic lines away north
on the meridian Of tle Plains is found in the
fact that these vast plain surfaces radiats SO
much more perfectly than a bully or mountain
ous region, presenting oblique surfaces to tho
suns rays We see the equivalent OF this pr7n-
ciple illustrated on the Continent OF Europe,
where the lsothermal line is pushed far north by
the hot blasts generated BY the vertical radiation
On the great deserts Of Northern Africa This
in = stray thought, aeeking explanation for this
singular aud important phenomenon.
The ascent Of the eastern slope Of the noun
taius is accomplished BY 30 easy grades that.
when VIC reach Cheyeuuc, 6,200 feet above the
sea-1evel, it is without noticeable grade. Two
engines are required from here to draw the train
up the only really heavy grade Of the road, to
Sherman, reaching the highest altitude on tho
line OF the Union Pacific, being a,2O0 feet over
the sea- The descent to the Plains Of Laramie
ushers lis into the very heart OF the Rocky Noun
tain ranges. These plains are OF large e1tent
aud a1s clothed with sweet putf;tions. etumpy
grass On which stock feed with delight aad
profit at all scasoos OF the year.
The grass on all the Western plains is reputed OF
1ofo 11,Su in