The Russellville Democrat., 1879-05-29
A GRAND EXCURSION
Through the Great North WcS.
 tern Empire,
Arranged by Col. D0nan for tbc Arkansas Press Asso-
 ciation.
CHIcAeo, ILL, May 20, lS79.

CHIcAeo, ILL, May 20, 1870. Editor Arkansas Democrat:
 l have just got in from 9 GviDq trip through the wild and bcautirai dells of the Wisconsin, and have re. celyed your letter notifying me that am irFevocably expected to do the annual oratorical wind work at the meeting of the State Press Associa- ton in Pine Bluff, June 2d. We'll what must be must be, whether it ey CT happens or not; so suppose shall
 have to spout, though finding even a few minutes to prepare for it is almost impossible.
 Having found 9 tour through t,%s grand Northwestern Empire full of instruction to myself, 1 concluded to apply to the railroad and steamship companies for free excursion over the whole region for the entire Press Association of Arkansas with their wives, daughters or sweet hearts, ''their sisters and thelr cousins and their aunts." 1 am hap py to state that my application has been a success, and l am now au. thorized by the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, the St. Paul and hl. luth, and the Wisconsin Central Railroad Companies, and the Leo. bold and Austrian Steamship Com. pany, to invite tho Arkansas Press Association, with their ladies, to take trip. free of charge, through the great "Golden Northwest" The only gap to be filled is from Little Rock to St. Louis, and I am satisfied that MT. Ford, of the Iron, mountain railway, to whom have just written about it, will take pleasure in fur nishing the necessary transportation over that hiatus. Mr. Dodge, the agent here, says there will bes%o difficulty about that.
 The programme, in brief, will in. clude day of sightseeing in St Lou1s, Q run through the rich and beautiful State of Illinois, with view of Springfield, Bloomington, Joliet, and q score of other thriving cities; day in Chicago, and, if time can be spared, q steamship run across Lake Michigan; 9 part of day in Milwaukee, one of the most beautiful cities in America, with 125,000 inhabitants; Q fly through thesglorious "ThousaDd Lake region of Wisconsin, with it's scores of charming watering places; a da~ among the wild "dells of Wisconsin" where more wildly picturesque and exquisite scenery, cayerns, glens, cataracts, peaks and crags, can be seen condensed within q ten-mlle boat ride and ramble, than anywhere else have ever been; run around the romantic shores of Lake Pepin; a part of day in St. Paul and Min apolis, two of the wealthiest and most elegantly built cities, of 45,000 inhabitants each, to be found in this or any other country; an hour at the Falls of Minehaha and St. Anthony; 8 fly across the wonderful lake gem med prairies of Minnisota to Duluth. the famous theme of Proctor Knott's harangue, which the press of the country, against my often repeated protests stIll persists in attributing to me, Q half-dozen allusions to it having appeared in the papers of this city recently; then a steamship run down Lake Superior; and fly through the magnificent scenery of the Wisconsin river and the great pineries, on the Wisconsin Central road; and back to Chicago. The whole trip can be made in Q week. All interpretations will be free. Sleeping cars will probably be fur nished on part of the route at leasts without charge. Hotels will charge only nominal rates; so that dollar or dollar and a half day will cover all necessary expenses of each eX- cursionist while two dollars a day will constitute hlm a bloated bond holder. Each gentleman will be allowed to take one lady, and in q case like Jim Battenfeld's to add his little daughter for good measure. If any Of the party find they cannot spare tho. time for the whole round, transportation back will be furnish cd whenever they want it, and any who wish it, to stay, longer will be able to do so.
 Such is the programme, and l hope the whole press-gang of Arkansas may be able to take it in. It will give them Q grand trip and teach them many things they ought to learn and can learn in mo other way.
 You can fix your own time of starting, either immediately after the adjournment of the convention, or a week or two later. l think, perhaps, to take the jaunt, in con nection with tue meeting would be best-but that is for the lilustrious quill-propchers themselves to de eide.
 Assuring you again of my hope that the whole association may tind it convenient to accept the courtesy of the vauous companies, which l have the honor to convey, l ana hastily. hut very sincerely. yOur