The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-06-06

took the Burlington and missouri RIVER ran
road for Franklin which place reached at
0 o'clock .. M, Franklin is situated IN
what Is called the Republican valley, the
town is on gradual slope fifty feet higher
than the valley, this is young town with
every indication Of rapid growth. was
agreeably surprised to find here people OF
education and refinement. To the south,
about two miles from town, rises chain OF
bluffs extending east and west as far as the
eye can reach along which is the old Ere
mont trail. In the distance is seen Look
out mountain the highest point in the state,
the ground is undulating and covered with
different kinds of grass, presenting bill
Lowry appearance peculiarly beautiful to a
stranger. The bluffs are composed of stone
Ct it may be so called ranging in color
from pure white to light brown, which can
be sawed into blocks and is used for build
ing purposes. 1t is also sawed in blocks
the size of brick and used for chimneys.
The roads are in good condition all the
year. There has been no rain since last
September, yet the ground is moist two
inches below the surface, was out with
hunting party once while there, which |
enjoyed very much. Fishing is good but
hunting is splendid. The game consists OF
geese, ducks, snipe, curlews, quail, prairie
chickens, and last but not least, the festive
jack rabbit, so graphically described by
Mark Twain. The jack is here in all his
glory. 1t is fine sport hunting
them with greyhounds. They run SO fast
that il takes two men and boy to see
them, and you hear them whizz fifteen MN
utes after they are out Of sight.
While out had an opportunity of seeing
sod houses and dug-outs, which still retain
much OF their popularity with settlers of
limited means. will give you an idea of
how they are constructed. The sod is
usually cut about one by two feet in size,
nicely fitted and pressed together. The
walls are about three feet in thickness, the
edges cut smooth. They can then be plas-
tered with a mortar made of sand and
clay. This clay is found in most ravines
and contains considerable lime, which
when mixed with sand makes as good wall
as lime mortar. Dug-outs are holes dug in
hillside. Poles are set up and hay put on
ton tor o roof Here noticed that in many
places the ground is filed with holes which
are never failing source OF amusement
to the boys they pour water into their holes
and then place their hands over them
they d. not have long to wait before up
pops little ground squirrel which they
catch. ] have seen several prairie dog
towns in the same hole with the dogs live
an owl and several rattlesnakes ION the
happy family order suppose.) While
visiting this place l had an opportunity of
putting long cherished wish into execu-
ton. That Of taking Horace Greeley's ad-
vice, to go west young man"
A party Of five left Franklin May 4th,
with good mule team, a Studebaker wag-
on, fitted tout with all possible necessities
and conveniences. The party consisting
of my chum, S. P. Armstrong, I. F. Doug
lass, A. II. Warener, Owner Of the team,
T. W. Douglass, and self. We
drove first to to Bloomington,
Neb., from thence TO Naponee.
While en- route to that place was caught in
a heavy rain, the first of any consequence
that had fallen in Nebraska for seven
months We remained in Nsponee until
next day. Then began the experience Of
doing our own cooking, our first meal was
eagerly devoured. This arduous duty per
formed we htched up and started west,
passing through Republican City, from
there to Alma, which we reached at 5
o'clock p. IN. After the usual duties were
performed, such as attending to the team
preparing supper, we cIawled INTO the
wagon and was soon in the arms Of NOR
pheus, next morning made an early start
for Orleans, thriving little town Of two
hundred inhabitants and brass band
which plays every evening on the public
square Next morning after driving few
miles came 10 the Republican river, which
was necessary 10 ford. When about half
way across Warener, who was driving,
became dizzy, allowed the mules to stop,
and there We were and no amount OF coax
ing, clucking, driving, induced them to
move. We finally concluded that the der
ner resort was to tighten up; two Of the
party volunteered, wsded in, carried out
trunks, bedding, etc; each cut good club
and came back to try the effect on the
mules firing OF the monotony and regu-
larty of the strokes, started out without
further trouble, reached the bank after
| LOADING IN and chhnCinp clothes which