The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-12-09

water, and trains delayed beyond en-
durance were the experiences of all. |
A source Of great annoyance to many
was the purchase of tickets without
understanding the conditions annexed.
Most of the excursionists desired to
stop at some point intermediate to the
place of destination named in the
ticket purchased. But one condition
of the ticket required the purchaser to
complete the journey to the place OF
destination named in the ticket within
ten days from the date of purchase,
and upon return home to sign the
ticket at such place of destination in
the presence of the ticket agent there,
and the return home must be made
within five days from the date of such
signing. The object of this is to take
the excursionist to the lands of some
railroad company and compel him to
remain there until his return home.
Leaving Ravenna at o'clock p. IN.
Tuesday, the 9th inst, your cores
pondsnt reached the Mississippi river
at Burlington, Iowa, about daybreak
OH Thursday-ours being the seventh
passenger train going west over the
G.. B. & @. railroad within the pre-
ceding "a hours.
Sunrise on the Mississippi was grand.
Not boat was to be seen no winds
disturbed it's surface. There was
deathlike stiffness of its waters Peace
full, quiet, dark, and yet how grand
and mighty! Gazing into its solemn
majesty, we could but think how like
this must be to eternity. How sudden
ly, surely and completely could the
burdens of this life be ended here, in
this liquid solitude.
Leaving this flourishing city of
more than thirty thousand inhabitants
we journeyed across the broken prairie
lands of southern Iowa, covered with
endless fields of corn, through the
the prosperous towns Of Ottumwa and
Charlton, we reached the highest
point between the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers, at Creston, where we
had dinner. On and still on we sped,
wondering at the extent and grandeur
of our country-until evening, when
we arrived at Stanton where we re-
solved to rest and pass the night with
our friend Chas. Hine, formerly of
Shalersville. We found Charley doing
large and lucrative practice in his
chosen profession and enjoying the
best of health.
Resuming our journey in the morn
ing, we reBched Omaha at 10 o'clock a.
m. Three hours lay over" here gave
us an opportunity to take look at the
town. with the general appearance of
which we were highly pleased, except
that the streets and walks are in
lamentable condition. But business
was lively here, and appeared to be
done on solid basis. At one o'clock
p. m. we took leave of the muddy, un-
slightly Missouri river, and in an ele-
CANT car were hurried still further to-
ward the setting sun. At Valley,
thirty five miles to the west of Omaha,
we approached the north bank of the
beautiful Platte river, which we fol-
lowed to Kearney Junction, town of
about 25O0 inhabitants, 200 miles west
of Omaha, passing on the way through
the enterprising towns of Central City,
Grand Island, Columbus, and others.
at Kearney we were compelled to wait
for the stage until Monday morning,
passing the time in sight seeing, form
ing acquaintances, &c. Here we met
parties from Burton, O., Tiffin, and a
party of hunters from Toledo, under
the leadership of w. G. Alexander,
formerly of Akron, who enquired par
ticularly as to the welfare of Col. Cot
ter. This party played havoc with the
countless focks of wild geese which
cover the Platte river for more than
200 miles. While at Kesrney, which
is in Buffalo county, on the DorGh size
of the Platte, we visited the Court
House and Jail, and also the Old Jail
which has been recently vacated. The
old Jail is one story, rough board
shanty, about 20x25 feet, with 8 yard
in the rear. The new Jail is q small.
well built structure, of Eastern stone,
with the residence of the Sheriff in
the upper story, and the cells in the
basement. The Court House is very
cheaply built two story frame building
about 80 feet wide and 40 or 45 feet
long.
Monday morning we took the south
era stage for a ride of 35 miles, cross
ing the Platte on bridge nearly n
mile long-a miserable structure, cost
ing SS5, 900, out of which contract we
think "Quin" Cook and "Wan"
Holcomb would find enough to feather
two nests at $4,000. Across the river
and to the left about three miles is the
historic old Fort Kearney, a famous
military post abandoned as such some
three years ago and the reserved lands
taken by government speculators-
From the river bridge south we soon
cross the old Omaha " Trail" over
which, before the building of the
Union Pacific Railroad, millians of
dollars worth of freight and thousands
Of human beings were transported by
mule and OK teams, and many of the
drivers or employees of Wells, Fargo &
Co.. or other freighting companies, are
to be found in this Western country,
who will amuse the curious mind with
their stories of frontier life in days
gone by. Some five miles across the
river valley the soil is of dark colored
sand, until we begin to ascend the
" Big Divide" which is an elevated
table land, or plateau, about fifty miles
wide, between the Platte and Republi- /
can rivers. The divide" reached,
we observe at the left Of our trail a
small human habitation, the end 'front.'
inc tha fro;I Dr road oo1,o,o<1