Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-11-15
Letter from our Tow ism an, J. 3. Pate,

WEDNESDAY,, NOVEMBER 10, 1878
Letter from our Townsman. J. 3. Pattes
Thinking perhaps some "jottlngs by the
way from the diary of Lincoln county
citizen might be Of interest since they con.
tain some hasty sketches ofthe great inter
national exposition still in progress drop
you this letter which is at your service.
You must excuse my beginning SO near
home As Lemars, as the lights and shades
Of my picture would be imperfect without
Il Leaving this stirring little center OF
western life, va Numbered along over the
brown mcnotonous prairies Of Iowa which
which stretched away on every hand as far
- the eye could reach with scarce q tree
or even bluff upon which to rest the
weary eyes. On and on past the scattered,
lonely, and humble looking dwellings OF
the brave and hopeful settler families
which are bound some day to realize a
competence for their courage and sacrifice.
On and on till the incoming tide of night
pressed closer and closer around us shut
ting out the view from all things; still on
and on; wi.h tie rattle and rush, thump
and jar Of the closed car, as if We were
somehow engaged in = conflict going on
outside. until the giabt night fled away at
The approaching banners of the dswning
day, when 10, the Mississippi bluffs were
in sight and need not tell you how good
it seemed to see the hills crowned with
timber once more The landscape reposed
in the dreamy and magical light of indian
summer and SO sudden had the scene
changed that 1t seemed rs lfnewly created
and wearing the freshness of youth. The
great river stretched away, dark and mis-
ferrous, rejecting the hills, the city and the
cloud land above US, while the drowsy air
creeping down the vallies came laden
with the scent ofripcned fruit and leaves
it had shaken in its passage. Still On and
on, with clatter and rush through the
charming and! rural scenes Of northern
Illinois. Groves and prairies, cottage and
town, corn and cattle, peace and plenty;
on and on to Chicago, and here shut in by
the towering walls of brick, stone, iron
and marble presenting all the varied and
attractive forms of modern architectural
splsndor, the night closed in again. As we
pass on from Chicago around the base of
that great sash Of water, Lake Michigan,
the cleaning sand and stuntcdipines, pro-
claim where at no distance period in the
past the water of the lake extended now
it is traverscd by several lines Of railroad
tracks like great arteries which carry the
flood of business life out of the northwest
to give activity and support to the nation.
Then on and on through Indiana which
presents great variety of sceneries and
productive industry; across the broad and
grand old state of Ohio, across the "Beau-
tiful River" into Pittsburg where the night
once more oeertakes us. This is the smoky
eat and most thriving iron and coal
town in the world; it is always dark here
from the canopy Of smoke which hangs
over the city. But having entered the "Key-
stone State' from this representative point
We hurry on toward the grand mountain
scenery before us, where the daylight
found us far up among the Aleghanies fol.
lowing up the winding course Of the Ka-
nawha river through deep mountain gorg
es We approach the summit and passing
through the great tunnel three fourths of
mile long and twenty one hundred and
sixty one feet above the sea, We come out
looking away;over the eastern slope of the
mountains. On the western sidethesleaves
were gone and a little snow had been fall
ling; on this side the leaves still covered
tho trees.
The scenery here spread out to view,
and changing like dissolving scene with
the rapid motion of the train, was grand
beyond all description. The mountain for
ests were clad with the autumn tinted
leaves and spanked with the brilliant
green pine tops; aud as the sunlight fell
through the golden haze upon the land
scapo,
Each gtterinS tree Of tho forest. flashed like the
plain tree
Tho Persian adorns with his mantles and JEWELS"
On down around the famous horse shoe
curve, till entering the valley of the histor-
lea! "h!ue Juniatta,' the wondrous beauty
ofthc long vistas of mountain scenery still
unfolded to US like land of dreams. with
rare and unexpected change as we swept
round the graceful curves of the rivers
course. But the speed Of the iron horse
snatched US away from all this; and now
the broad, rocky bosom of the Susquchar-
ma is cleaning through the trees before us
The slew canal boats which have been
creeping past t1oru 1ttf1rer Jus
and looking up and down the river great
iron bridges some q mile others mile and
half long lift their secure structures for
thepassage of different rail road tracks,
But now leaving the river and the capital
Of tile state behind we enter upon change
which presents to the traveller tho most
charming scenery of the United States
Stretching away over magnificent distanc-
os Of rolling valley and plain wo see the
famous Lancaster farms. Old country
seats uncovered in groves Of evergreens
and orchards; new palatial country resi-
deuces, culture, grace, and repose is every
where flung like a mantle over the land.
But VIC are here at last passing by the sub