Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-08
Letter from Missouri.

NJ tHARits- MO, August DIST 100.
Mssg EdHors We started at an early hour
Tor st. Louis by way Of the rivers, ere our slum-
bcring city had awoke to It's usual hustle and con-
fusion We stood on the landing, and the dark
waves Of the Missouri rolled aud tumbod past rs
! in the swift current toward the Mississippi soon
the heccy clouds hanging low DER the ho.zon,
were fringed with golden light and the rising
sun pictured the lovely skies in the waters below.
/ As we proceeded down the stream, we passed
many -aud-banks which, at distance, appeared
like small Islands The shores on either side were
rough and ragged About one mile from the
/ bridge We saw the remains Of the St Luke, which
was wrecked during the high water in April last
/ The story Of the unfortunate steamer though
| too lengthy to insert here's a very interesting
| one. As we giidcd ON through st. Charles county
| we found much to awaken our enthusiasm. The
island with its sad, drowned appearance, the floral
beauties which gmced the river banks but most
Of all, the dear old mounds which give such re-
lief to the prairie scenery.
This county was the scene Of many bloody
massacre during the early history of our republic
It was here that Black Hawk commenced his fist
war against the whites The river which now
rolls peacefully through the land Of freedom,
U
early braves
Some twenty miles above st Louis the Missouri
unites it, waters with the Mississippi ut the juno
ton Of which it is one aud half miles wide. It
is now changed from q clear placid stream which
has charmed the eye with It's gentle maguidcencc,
it- clear waters and pure sand-bais. toa turbulent,
boiling, muddy stream, carry ing with a noisy
gcance its accumulated waters ON to the Gulf
The Missouri impaits so much of It's general char
actcr to the Mississippi, that travellers often de
clare it should receive It's name from its place Of
junction with it, peculiar characteristic Of the
Mississippi is It's islands The river brings down
in its course allnyhd soil, and deposits it on the
sand-mrs, which occur in It's eddying waters, and
cotton wood, which is oi q rapid growth, springs
up, with it, deep, rich yerddre, making a very
picturesque feature In the dark water These
Islands we're formerly numbered, hut have become
so changing in position that it is impossible u
designate them
The Mississippi is navisable for steamboats, as
Car north as the Falls of st. anthony distance
of two thousand aud thnty-scyen miles. At ST.
Louis ID is smnned by the steel tubular bridge,
the cost Of which is estimated to be over seven
million dollars This is fine specimen Of the in
ioriy-siN feet long, and tity-fye feet above the
highest water mark About midway In the steel
work is the railroad trucks Daring the recent
high water the trains were ont of time, and five
heavily loaded ones stood on the bridge at one
/ time This gave It's strength sufficient test To
/ insure It's safety The track on the highest point
I is similar 10 Che streets oi IT. lous ON both
sides Is u street for pedestrians
st. Louis covers from ten to twelve square miles
Of land, and has q population Of three hundred
and ten thousand, exceeding Chicago by twelve
thousand, aud Boston by sixty thousand Her
buildings which are nearly all made ot brick and
stone, loom mp toward heaven as giants Of archi-
tecturil beauty rhe fearful nvages made by
fire in other cities cam never deyastate st Louis
Her commercial interests are her pride Iafay,
cite lHil, Shaws Garden and the Mercantile H.
biary are fine specimens OF the taste and Judi
cious arrangement of It's managers Aside from
these ve find but little to please the fancy Dur
ing the last war, this city was lcft in the hand,
of Germans, who gained "a strong f3othold. an,
| no,y conduct Affairs ian , ,,roat ,,,,.t,r. ,f.