The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-09-26
From Cincinnati 20 San Francisco.
Editor HerAld:1

IeLpeCteuiy III Shn rIahClsCO, ChL
thought would make few notes or
the overland trip, for the amusement o
your readers.
On the 18th OF August, took my seal
in the cars with my face turned toward
the setting sun-and although gained
two hours and half on hih in the sew
en- days run-yet | find that before
catch him, shall have to go farther
West.
have not reputation for being much
addicted to "woman's weapon" tears
but I must confess that when the time
came to say good bye; to my friends al
Cincinnati, and leave the Queen City,
To which I had become SO warmly at
tached by my residence, there Was a
syptom in my breast that gave to think
that even yet, there was tender chord,
which if touched, would cause the Ioun-
tain to be moved.
The first days run, lay across Indiana,
VIA the Capital. AT Lafayette, I reshipp-
ed, or perhaps mora properly for a preach
er. digressed from my route, and spent
Saturday, Sabbath and Monday until
noon, at the residence Of the sister Of a
friend ~ (You need not ask no ques>
tons here). suffice to say that this next
start was rather harder than the first.
But on the promise OF her parents that
they would take care Of her until my re-
turn, l left for the West. l reached
Chicago the following morning. Tuesday,
the 81, inst, in time for breakfast, after
which called on an college friend, now
lawyer Of Chicago, and in his compa-
ny, l took in the city of the lake. "
There are many fine buildings and places
OF interest here, but as am in haste for
the great plains and mountain ranges, l
shall not tarry long here. ! took berth
in the sleeper on the Chicago. Burling-
ton & Quincy R. R. and at 10 o'clock. re-
tired in the depot at Chicago. and awoke
at 6 In the morning, two hundred miles
away. 1 looked through my window and
found that we were approaching the
Mississippi river. at Burlington Iowa
OF course | must be up in time to see the
Father of Waters" During the day we
passed the great State Of Iowa, and l
amused myself with watching the broad
fields and other grain, and noticing the
civilization as it was represented in the
people who had gathered in groups at
the stations along the way. At night we
approached Council Bluff, Il city OF l,200
population, three miles east of the Mis-
souri, river, named from the council held
here in 1904, between the explorers, Lew
is and Clark. and the Indians Here We
come to the beginning Of the Union Pa
cifc R. r. We waited an hour for a
transfer train to Omoha, Neb. This is
city of 10000 population, and is impor~
tant as being the head quarters for the
U. P. R. X and also for the Army of
West. Several important factories are
located here, the chief one being smelt-
ing works, with capacity of working
twenty-five tons Of ore per day. and
yielding in gold. silver and lead about
l. 100000 annually. We were admon-
ished here that we must open our purse
literally; my ticket from Owaha cost
800, my trunk cost SIS for extra weig hts
and our berth in the sleeper cost 81 per
day extra, and all meals. 81 each. But
we soon forgot this draft upon our treas>
ury, for we fad ourselves in the midst of
the great plains of the West. The re-
gion devastated by grasshopPers and
Astounding with the life peculiar to the
prairies. We now forget all the stilted
formslities Of city etiquet, and chat freely
to anyone we meet, whether gentleman
or lady. l was impressed with the guam
tity and quality Of the oat fields along
the way through Nebraska, and l asked
farmer at one station what oats we're
bringing, he raid the best threshed grain
was worth 10 cents per bushel. One in-
cident Of the day-An old Mormon priest
who sat opposite me. observed that 1.-THE
people along here didn't seem to have
enough cattle TO eat their grass" II
Abraham and Lot had continued in part
uership in the cattle business, their herds
would have been inadequate to the task.
We passed thousands of cattle feeding
along the way; and at times the grass
would cover them. An Episcopal cler-
gyman from Philadelphia, observed that
he had not seen any prairie dogs. He
supposed they were as large as the cur
when We had passed through many huns
dreds OF thes cunning little creatures du-
ring the day when we stopped for sup
per at Grand Island, there was a huge
mastiff lying near the hotel, and | called
his attention to the dog az fine speci-
men Of the prairie dog, (being on The
prairies). and to my surprise the gentle
man took It all in, and began to moralize
on the strange habits Of the animal
when had to tell him that the prairie
dog was not as large as a common cat.
Soon after supper we retired for rest and
sleep. The travel Of the night lay across
the plains, with nothing of interest. SO
We slept soundly. When we awoke 10
the morning. we were eneased in such a
fog that nothing could be seen-now and
then we passed a man asleep by the side
of the road; tramps walk all day aud
lie down on the sand, miles from any res
idence. with no guard save bottle Of
gin, which we saw standing by the head
of each sleeper passed The only trace
OF man civilized was now and then al
great intervals we would see a lonely
cabin, or q wagon in camp Alter break
fast went to the engineer and asked fol