The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-11-08
EHEDEINOCR1T
S.4TURD.A T.......N Nor. S
From the Far Vest.
Fort AsslSABoISE, MONTANA
TERRITORY, October %.

get your consent to submit to the
readers Of THE DEMOCRAT some
account Of journey from IN cast
crn city to tho country known MS
the Far West. He expects to find
himself crlipsed by professional
writers Of travel beyond the Rocky
Mountain but he expects 10 toll
the truth, which will eclipse the av-
erage professional in ut least one
respect. Let him commence at
Washington city, where, carly in
September, he bought his ticket
and started. Not much space will
be taken up for the country east of
Omaha, for letters about eastern
travel are not generally interesting
to eastern people.
From the eastern cities the trav-
eler has tho advantages of choice OF
routes of travel and of railroad
competition, which lowers the price
OF tickets. If q direct route be
chosen he can 50 through to Frisco
with but three changes ofcars. But
with but little extra trouble one
can choose the sections Of country
lie most wishes to see, and arrive at
Omaha or Kansas city, the two
great starting places for the far
West, in about the same time, and
with the same expense. Beyond
Cheyenne there is but one route
completed, though others are in
process Of construction. The route
chosen by your correspondent lay
from Washington, via the Chicago
Division Of the b. e. 0. Il. H., to
Defiance, Ohio, tho Wabash r. Il.
from Defiance 10 Quincy, the Han
nibal Il st. Joseph L. L. from
Quincy to St. Joseph, Missouri, the
Kansas City, St. Joseph and COM.
Gil Bluffs K. R. from St. Joseph to
Omaha, tho Union Pacific from
Omaha to Ogden, Utah, the Utah
and Northern from Ogden to its
terminus, Beaver Canon, Idaho,
from Beaver Canon,to Assinaboine,
Montana, via Helena and Fort
Benton by stage. The entire dis
tancc is about 800 miles, about
APO miles Of which is by stage
through country of surprising
beauty, but very sparscly settled.
and still the hunting grounds Of
the Indians.
! left Washington ut S 80 p. 81.
Thursday, September 18th, and ar
rived at Grafton at 5:1S 4. NJ, the
next day, passing over by night
those wonders of engineering skill
and through the fine mountain
scenery so familiar to those wht
have taken the ride by daylight
At 5:25 A. NJ, Tuesday, September
9th, left Grafton on the Chicago
division Of tho B. l. Q. L r., hay.
ing in the mean time visited the
beautiful valley Of the West Fork
along which extends, rs you all
know, the Narrow Guagc Railroad
on which all the world may come
and go, and the writer believe;
that the latter will always be done
reluctantly and with many re
solve to come again. About 6 =. NJ.
September 10Th, our train reached
Springfield, the capital of Illinois
The most noticeable feature of the
ride was the immense amount OF
travel westward and of freight cast
ward. The passenger trains were
generally late-ours WAS three
hours latc-being delayed by east
bound freight trains. At interval.
along the route, and even as fai
west rs Ogden, Utah, the rag-weed
WAS struggling against the grass
for possession Of the soil just II:
successfully rs in West Virginia
reminding one, by contrast, Of some
speculations Of the wiseacrcs, about
the survival Of the littcst." That
evening went TO see the first
opening of Springlicld's first Opera
House. 1t is Il fine house, and
fully appreciated. Mile lIitta, Il
native Of Springfield, and n gong,
stress of no mean fame in Europe
where she has lately been perfect,
ing herself in her profession, WA