The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-07-03

out tenants, and rents have gone down fearful
~. They have there the same troubles that
afflict other cities, poor government, high tax.
es, sc.
One feature is particularly striking. The
street payements, as you are aware, are OF
wood. These for many years were excellent,
and for city pavement wood is the most
pleasant and on many accounts desirable
The wood used in Chicago must have been of
particularly good quality, but 1t is now worn
out and the streets are full of holes, which
render driving very difficult and unpleasant.
The city does not repair these pavements, and
nothing of the kind is done but by indiyidu-
ais, so that you have the spectacle of a street
full of holes with here and there block of
good pavement.
They are, however, spending great deal
of money on their parks. They have at least
three large parks beside numerous small ones,
and indeed the city is nearly or quite sur
rounded by them, excepting, of course, on the
eastern side, which is bounded by the lake.
The parks are handsomely laid out, with
extensive lawns and beds of flowers, inter-
sected by we'll kept walks and drives, and
they are really great source of pleasure to
the thousands who visit them.
1t is a pity that our little city could not
have Park where those who have no yards
or gardens might take an airing If the mon
ey that is spent uselessly, or worse, could be
devoted to this and other useful purposes, We
might have many Improvements that we can
not now afford.
In Chicago you find the city intersected by
narrow river in which large vessels lie, with
their tall masts close to the busy Streets
The streets cross mostly by drawbridges,
which are frequently open SO long as to seri-
ously interrupt travel. A few of the streets
pass under the river by tunnels.
Passing from Chicago to st. Louis
by night over the Chicago and Alton Railroad,
cannot say much of the country. On APP
preaching Alton, on the Mississippi, the Sleep
ers were aroused with punch by the porter
and told to get ready for breakfast. Present
ly car was put on and those wishing break
fast were invited in. AS this was my first
opportunity of observing the operations of
the I" Hotel car | was curious to see the
character of the accommodations. l was
agreeably disappointed in finding a most ex-
cellent breakfast, ample varieties, well-cooked,
and polite, attentive waiters-and all for sew
enty- five cents.
Entering st. Louis in pouring rain, which
ha Of ha thor q
little opportunity to look at the city.
At the Lndell Hotel, found curiosity in
the shape of tall colored gentleman, who
stands at the dining room door, takes the hats
of the scores or hundreds who may enter,
and returns to each person his own proper hat
as he leaves. have heard of similar prof.
cheney at other places, but never CHANGED to OBJ
serve it before.
At St. Louis, I met with kind attentions
from Brig. Gen. Simpson, of the army, who
is well known to many of our citizens, and
from Chas. B. Bray, Esq. one of the Lam
bel tville boys of former days. and now a
prominent business man of st. Louis.
Stopping over night in Kansas City, l also
met Dir. A. Homer Trego, who is well-known
as an old resident of Lambertville, and whose
shadow is no less than formerly.
Kansas City is live and growing place,
and evidently has great future before it,
My stay here was too short to make more
than a cursory glance. The Union depot there
is fine affair, and railroad matters appear to
be excellently conducted AS stepped from
the train from st. Louis to cross the adjacent
track, l was stopped by the arrival of train
that left St. Louis at the same hour with us
by another route, and still another that left
the Mississippi at the same time from another
point arrived at almost the same moment.
But suppose you will print this, and as do
not want to trespass too much on your good
nature, l shall have to stop without getting
you to Colorado at all.
Yours Respectfully, j. A. A.
IA L.