The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-04-10
Letter from Iowa.
Correspondence Of tAe Democratic Advocaie,



CouSon BLuFEs, Iowa, March, 30, 1875.
Messrs. Editors of he Adrocate ION the
very cold morning OF February 23d ! lelt
my parental roof in Carroll, 10 Gil proffered
position in this city, where arrived safely at
the conclusion Of seventy.two hours ride,
trayersing distance of about sixteen hun
dred miles. The very elegant and expensive
sleeping and dining coaches attached to the
regular passenger trains nowadays, prove
to be very great accommodation and luxury
to the appreciatiye travelling public; in fact,
the advantages and comforts IN travelling at
present are so superior in comparison with
the facilities Of few years since, that trip
Of the distance just mentioned is nothing more
than pleasure ride | came by way OF Har
risburg, Pittsburg, Chicago and Burlington,
and If | should attempt TO portray the mag
ni6cent scenery, ETC., along the way, my IN.
tended briefcommunication would necessarily
be a yoluminous descriptive catalogue Of the
portions Of the six States my route compelled
me to pass over but suffice il to say that all was
life and animation, and not sign Of that
ethargy which is so apparent in many portions
Of our noble little Maryland and since am
speaking Of Maryland, beg leave to mention
the fact that she is strongly represented in this
State, here, in the city OF Council
number Of Marylanders,- some who left
there years ago with nothing save their energy
and good health to depend on, and are now
numbered with the useful, influential and
wealthy men Of the State. am also happy
to say they still retain that warm hospitable
manner so characteristic Of the true Mary
lander, Washington county, particularly, is
strongly represented here, her citizens having
nearly settled whole county, and named one
Of their railroad stations Maryland, in honor
Of their native State.
And now few words in reference TO this
thriving little city, which is situated along the
western base of the Bluffs" from which it
derives its name, and nearly extending to the
eastern banks of the Missouri river opposite,
and distant four miles from the notorious
Omaha, Nebraska, 20 which our street ears
make hourly trips. This place was originally
laid out and settled by that 81 gay and festive
Mormon Joe Smith, whose place Of wor
ship-a brick edfce-still stands here IN one
OF our principal streets, and is now the retreat
and shelter Of owls, bats, ETC., the Mormons
having long since removed from these quar-
tiers. They certainly deserve credit for Sc
lecting this beautiful site for city. We have
population Of $4,000, with seven railroads
running to the place, something so very es.
sential to thrifty city. We have theatrical
amusements about twice week cunning
and fishing in abundance. It is common
thing this season Of the year to see two or
three sportsmen driving in from the Lakes
with from ten to seventy-five and one hun
dred Brants and other ducks, swans, etc.
expect to accompany some friends on duck
shooting party, in few days. Would like TO
have some of the Carroll boys with us, for
know they would appreciate the sport.
The winter here has been quite mild in
comparison with the winter East, although
some of the Oldest inhabitants say It has been
the coolest they ever experienced. The great
est snow storm we havo had was during the
second week Of this month, and il only fell to
the depth Of five or six inches, which laid but
q very few days. The past eight or ten days
have been perfect spring weather, causing our
streets to be lined with lady and gentleman
pedestrians, the more fortunate driving their
nice and fancy spans. The ladies Of this place
seem to have perfect mania for driving on
pleasant days; from 3 p. m. until after dark
you can see the handsome ladies drawing the
ribbons and going at fearful rate. II is
wonderfully grand to see how gracefully they
handle the apparently restless and fast horses.
But fast horses are not the only fastthings we
have here: we have quite q number OF fast
men, and some few fast pomen, the three.
cdrd'monte men taking the lead. Oh it is
shameful, the way they do take in strangers.
They run hotel Of their own, have carriages
running to every depot on the arrival of each
train, and notwithstanding the printed notices
posted in every car, and in every conspicuous
place, and the canton notices in all the daily
papers, we hear every day or two of some
poor fellow who has been simple enough TO
bet on their notorious little game, not ''seven
up but 'three-card monte,n and to bet is
equivalentto giving your money away. There
is regular gang of at least dozen at this
place. A few evenings since they beat Chi
cago drummer out Of twelve hundred dollars
An evening or two later an Eastern man out
of eight hundred; and last evening they
stripped poor fellow who had his family with
him on their way farther West, out Of FIVE
hundred dollars, and am told few months
since they played man out of FIVE thousand
dollars. advise our unsophisticated youths
ofCarroll, who contemplate emigrating West,
to beware Of eonhdants and "three.card mon.
tie" swindlers. i would also encourage the
young men OF the East to come West and not
stop east of the Mississippi river. They
should come with some capital and plenty Of
energy and determination, and fortune is sure
to crown them. They should settle in Iowa,
whose great rural advantages are unsurpassed;
and speak with great candor when say, in
my opinion, she is destined, Mt no very dis
tant day, to be the State of the Union.
As it is getting late, will conclude by say
ing the Black Hills fever has not had any very
serious effect upon our citizens, but IL things
should span out " as represented by many,
your humble correspondent may possibly
take birds eye view Of them ere he again
returns to Carroll
Wishing you all the great success your ar.
duous labors deserve,
remain, very respectfully, &C., J.W.B.