The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-18
icOusspoudsacs Of the courisrl
Interesting Notes of a Trip to
Iowa, Chicago, Rock Island and
Des MOineS.

ED. COURIER :-On my way TO this
great agricultural State. great many
new things 10 me have passed under
observation. some of which | will iot
down for the readers of the Courier. In
passing over the Nincennos. Danvila
and Chicago Railroad, could but notice
the great damage done to the growing
corn crop by the long continued heavy
rains. IL is not possible tor this part OF
Illinois TO make half crop Of corn this
year. Wheat and oats are but little
better. The hay crop is abundant and
saved in good order. On reaching
Chicago, your correspondent com.
menced exploring that great city ut once.
! But short drive found us under the
bottom OF the Chicago river, in the
tunnel, which is truly master piece OF
architecture aud masonry. This tunnel
comprises two tracks for vehicles and
two for pedestrians, which during the
busiest hours of the day are filed with "a
moving mass of Chicago's busy people
There l. another street tunnel under one
fork Of this river, which we did not have
time 10 pass through. Our next point.
OF special interest, was the city water
works. This structure il magnificent
affair. The boilers are nine feet ia
diameter. and the engine cylinders IA
large aud long as the boiler OF an eight
horse thr shing engine. These water
works are located on Lake Michigan.
The observatory j. about three hundred
feet high. tskiug about thirty minutes to
ascend the winding stairs 10 the top
From the top of this iookou. can bs seen
every part Of the city aud rs far out on
the lake rs the eve can reach, In order
To procure pure water, u tunnel two
miles long. under The bottom of the
lake has been made. bringing water that
distance from the shore 10 suDply the
city. A hasty drive through 9 part of
some OF the most business streets of the
lciiy brought train time. aud away we
speed across the vast prairies OF Illinois.
g.iiIering In thc sunlight with their ex-
t"nsive fields of golden grain, now quite
ready Tor the musiea. rattle Of he har-
ive,ier. The next plsrc OF importance
reached. was Moline. one OF the chief
lmanulnci riig places o the sucker State
lut lis interest i quickly absorbed by
he grand scenery 0f Rock Island. living
la the Mississippi river between thi.
place aud Davenport. This Island con.
lains the Government Arsenal and Ma.
chine ehops for the manufacture of guns.
small arms and the munitions of var.
The magazine contains pow der euOugh n
va lit ihe whole Island ont oI he river
.ii properly mped. Rock Island con-
tain. nh"n' three square miles, is high
and uudu.at.ng, covered with a luxuri-
ant growth oi fOrc-t Il ees. aud tie ground
beautifully carpetcd over with blue
grass. lmincnSc sums of money have
been spent by the Government here. and
large sums are now beiGy spent improy
ing the grounds aud erecting costly
buildings. Two subSiantiil stone dsp.
lave been built across that part of ihe
MISSISSIPPI running easi sf The I.land.
from which water power IL derived 10
run all OF The Government machinery.
aud. also large portion of the manu-
factories OF Moline. The Government
Cemetery here is nicely located and well
Kept, being enclosed with a neat though
costly iron fence. aud many a marble
slab and monument marks the Sleeping
place OF brave warrior. On our way
go Wilt this interesting place. we were
run over by n heavy laden freight train
on the C.. X. L. J.. X. r. You may
iask how could this happen aud then be
enough OF YOU left TO " rite this letter ?
The Government bridge here Is con-
lstructed with two tracks for vehicles.
and on either side way tor footmen.
The railway track il placed over head.
80 that when tho bridge is full of travel
he trains can thunder along as though
there wasno body below. The Govern
ment has also built a bridge for wagons
and footmen only. at the head of the
Island connecting IL with Moline. Da-
NEWPORT is on the Iowa side Of the river
and much the largest, most entcrprising
land flourishing city in the State of Iowa.
The hills north OF this city rise abou,
1.-TWO hundred feet above the river. giving
the most picturesque view of Daven.
port, Rock Island, Moline, Milin and
their suburban towns. These cities and
their surroundings are certainly destined
TO become one Of the most important
places OF the west If not the country
A very extensive belt of the richest az.
lricultural county IN the wolli sur.
rounds thcm-a good quality OF Goa
Iis in great abundance al Davenport, and
he very best facilities for Transportation
by river aud rail are at hand.
To-day. we have just visited one o.
the largest and most enthusiastic Metho
dist Camp meetings II has ever been oul
pleasure to witne s, which is being held
lin Governors block, IN this city, de,
= Moines) Onour return. we took looL
at the new ; ate House building. which
IN now an process OF erection--a supert