The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-06
4 Virginia Editor I'm sfraSco-A Reada.
F,en


RoUTE-THE COUNTRY, &C.
SAN FRANCISCO. March "a, 1875.
Editors of The Daspatch,-I arrived at this
point from Richmond last night, and for the
general good of mankind propose to utilize
a few spare moments by dropping you line
descriptive of the journey, its Incidents, ana
the country. Z have heard Of gentleman
from Prince Edward county who travelled
80 Missouri when that was frontier state,
and could report nothing unusual that ne
observed on his journey except that ne had
seen jaybIrd's nest. ] trust that this com.
muncatiou will bear information at least as
important.
On the 10th instant wednesday, pur-
chased an emigrant's ticket in Richmond for
San Francisco, under the persuasion that
would make the trip upon 1t In about eight
DAYS. The Fredericksburg train bore me to
Washington by 8 O'Clock that night. There
met two active young men from Richmond
bound TO Sacramento. We formed IN alliance,
offensive aud defensive, for the trip. These
young men-Jobn Lynch and Patrick He
nealy-who have many friends in Richmond,
tied to me as friends indeed in all the trials
Of the journey, and both parted with me at
Sacramento yesterday. GOOD ielloWsl All
prosperity 10 them.
At O'Clock at night We took the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad for Cincinnati. With no pace
furnished To smoke or TO sleep, we three Fir-
ginians wired our way into the baggage.car.
There We found bench or two, and box
enclosing corpse directed to Council Bulls,
Iowa. After smoking, we parceled out the
places for stretching for sleep, and the oox
with the corpse fell to me. l spread myself
on it with my blankets and fell into pro-
al hntr n.
ductor cane in and aroused us, stating tina.
it was unlawful TO ride in the baggage-car.
In my sleepy desperation ] Informed him
that was sitting up with corpse. 1t was
too thin. We had to adjourn to the next
car aud sleep bolt upright. Arriving at Gin.
cinnati the next night Thursday at 0 O'Clock
we took cars forthwith for s.. Louis, which
we reached about 10 O'Clock the next morn
ing friday. Here We missed connection,
and were delayed until 8 O'Clock Z. M.
when we took cars for Kansas City. Thence
we set out for omaha, where We arrived on
Saturday night the 18Th instant, just in time
to miss connection aud lay over another
day.
Tell Virginians that they should not he
discouraged about their
AGRICULTURAL NODES
if the country through which we passed on
the Journey from Washington to Omaha
fairly represents American farming. Dllapl.
dated houses, out-houses, farms, ana
fences, mark the whole country. with bet
ter lands 10 many sections the farms are not
equal in evidences OF thrift, ana mucn less
Of knowledge of the science OF agriculture,
to the average Virginia plantation. Inc TACT
il. after all. the most scientific and best work
| -, narto fhp tnbarrQ
farmers of Southside Virginia. man,
indeed, who can make tir.t-ra.e tobacco
crop, and prepare it for market, IS worthy OF
the highest deeds. 1t requires qualities OF
head and spirit, which are the essence of Sue
cess in tie most exalted calllngs. Fatience,
hope, energy, Judgment, untiring watcbtul.
ness. and application. must all meet IN tue
person Of the successful tobacco.planter.
ST. LOUIS
! il very dirty city. The Mississippi disap-
pointed NE. 1t is not great deal wider at
ST. Louis than the James is at Richmond.
The bridge across it is one of the great won
ders of the country. 1t would well repay
one to spend u day in looking at if. There
are some fine lands and beautiful scenery
along tue Il Insas City and Missouri railroad.
Il follows the valley Of the Missouri river its
entire course. kausaS City is rather pretty
place, but has ceased 10 grow, and is now
looking out for contractors to build fence
around it. Leavenworth, Kansas, is in
much the same condition, and would fade
is the leaves do fade" but for the Govern
ment patronage dispensed there, and coal
mine IN the neighborh0od. S.. Joseph, Mo-.
| is very prosperous and growing city.
Omaha has about $4,000 inhabitants, and
10 h1 la afr ar
passing the Mississippi river, about every
other word one hears spoken is grass
hopper" You become faligued with
" grasshopper." He is the staple of con,
verSa,ion-the subject Of discussion in every
circle. And where he has been "a burden"
the people are preparing TO emigrate in
droveS 10 other sections.
Sunday the 14th we laid over in Omaha,
and about dark of that day set out for San
Francisco, as the line runs 1914 miles dis
tant. Omaha abounds with shops that sell
>nacks aud Tx up baskets of provisions for
the wayfaring. Armed with basketful OF
bread and meats, &C., cnlered the train. II
vas packed to sutfJcation. Our car with
only titty->iX seats, had >iXty.two men packed
into it. Judge the chances for sleeping OF
any comfort. We ripped and ragged for an.
other car, but the Union Pacific railroad
truly a sOulleSs corporation, refused to gram
the little boon. Ii Is
THE MEASEsT ROAD,
with the most impolitc and uncivil cubs fol
officials, that we have ever struck, and W
have seen a great many. 1t employs htll
policeman to teach gentlemen where to 81
and how, even on the miserable AID dis
graceful coaches it chooses 10 furnish. Thi
cub attempts to dictate to men as il they be
onged TO the corporation. He was severed!
set buck by some. Our car contained repre-
sentatives from almost every State and ever.
calling and profession. All were young, &C
tive men-iew over tbirty.tive and none owe
forty. They represented every shade
opinion in religion and politics, but NOR
gentlemanly collection of men never started
on such a journey. Within twenty.fou
hours every man knew every other man OF
the cur, and saluted him by bis name. or SOM
nickname, or by the name of his State.
The religious and political discussion
were frequent and warm by the way, ant
Virginia" was always heard. With one 0
Pickelt's division and another of Semmes'
Alabama crew along, bow could it he other
wiseY At times song-sipging became TIT
order of the day. The Star-Spanged Ban
uer" was always met squarely with TIT
"Bonny Blue Flag." "Dlxie" was thun
dered generally. And when :" Hang JET
Davis on Sour Apple Tree, and Jobl