Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-09-03
ILLINOIS RAMBiES.
Written for tile Grnrllie.
kiEKsvlLI.E, Aug. 20, 1SSl

nearly sixteen years must call 1t
home. My old home i'll Illinois. where
| was raised, does not look natural.
When left there, th.re was miles of
unienced prairie. Now all is under cul-
tivation, fenced and covered with
groves Of shade trees and orchards.
left Kirksville August Sth, arrived
in Quincy about :30a. H., left there
Tor Springfield p. IN. and arrived there
10 =. m. Between Quincy and Sprln:-
field the early corn near Il. II. appeared
good, late corn was nothing. Left
Springfield on Illinois Central about Z
a. m., Aug 9th, arrived at Dewitt 9:3O
a. m., hot, dry, and dusty. Friday,
Aug. ll!l, thermometer 104 ( in shade
ann not a breath OF AIR stirring the
leaves of the trees. Farmers all want.
ing rain, early planted corn good.
wheat, oats, and grain crops good all
over the country. Water getting scarce.
No rain for about seven weeks. From
Dewitt ] went to Farmer City where
formerly resided and did business.
Found lots Of old friends there. VISIT
ed the Odd Fellows lodge. Had a
good time. This place has about 2OOO
population and is Il lively business town.
Next visited Leltoy in Mclean Co.
about the same as Farmer
City. At this place saw the finest mar
row gauge X. Il. and its cars, but the
grasping Wabash has bought it and
intend to make it to the standard grade.
Stayed all night with an old friend of
my boyhoOd days, DR.. I. ID. Fisher.
Next morning started for Bloomington
at 8 o'clock q. III. Noticed in many
places that the grain along the K. Il.
was burned from the fire from the en-
glnes. | must now say something.
one Of the next beautiful cities in Hi
nois. The court house is large, beau.
tiful building Of light colored stone.
and the city is the best watered place |
ever saw. Nearly two miles from the
square are the water works. They
have no reservoir, but one well sup
plies all the city with water. There is
an underground river OF stream of pure
water; the well is about SO feet square,
from which the water is pumped 5v
strong pumps worked by immense en-
genes attached to what is called the
stand pipe. which is situated about 1Ol
yards Oft, and OH high elevation of
the tower enclosing the stand
pipe is 200 feet high, to which eleva-
ton the water is pumped, and from
thence it is forced to all parts of the
city, flowing fountains for drinking
and watering horses are near each
corner of the square; every house and
garden III the city has an abundant
supply of cool pure water Another
thing noticed, it has got to be the fasn-
ion to have no fences in front OF resi-
iences. All open to he streets, itlook-
I'd strange to me in my rides around
the city. to see grassy lawns, flower
gardens. croquet parties. all joining the
side walls: it looked like it was out in
he commons. There is no stock of any
ilnd allowed to run at large.
| noticed the same style OF yards at
Normal. two miles from Bloomington.
Normal, the seat OF the State Normal
University of Illinois. has a separate
;ity government from Bloomington:
has fine drives, and so shaded with
rees of different kinds that it Is impssi-
Die to see lthe town. The normal is
IN immense building with no pretense
# architectural beauty, out is said to
De very convenient, and every part of
'oom in the building is utilized. The
he grounds are very finely ornamen
ed. \ summer term of schcool is Iun-
!ing at the present time. | drove
through the grounds but did not have
ime to go through the building. Next
listed the soldier Orphan Home, also
ocated at Normal. This is as heanti-
lful Us Il picture. grounds ornamentcd
With shade and evergreen trees. beds of
lowers on every side. carriage drives
nd walks bordered with flowers none
f which show any signs Of drouth
s theyare waiered daily. The house is
rand, four stories and basement.
I'd not get dimensions, but 1t is i'm
nense. The orphan boys are all dress,
d IN soldiers uniform. the girls in
ght striped glneham dresses. Every
hing neat and clean. The children
Tho have friends are allowed TO 90
ONE during the summer vacation.
hose who have no friends are taken
are OF at the home. They all seem
Apply, and the nome is all honor TO
ne state of Illinois.
From Bloomington went to Clinton,
lunty Seat n 4 Dp,yit countr pn,,ul,tinn
bont three thousand. Here are the
ound house and machine shops of the
!. Cent. Il. r. Town seems lively and
business good; but they
ill have the same old sGuatz delapida-
ID court house they had when | was
little boy. Met many of my old
lends here, and enjoyed myself well
the towns | visited, will now give
leir status on the saloon business: De-
1t has one licensed saloon, two
rug stores that don't have
cenSe. Farmer City has
0 saloons, has four OF hive drug stores
eroy no saloons, several drug stores
loomngton salOO rs too numerous to
'unt. could not get around to
'unt them. Normal several saloons.
so several drug stores. Clinton. anti.
rense, no saloons. lots ofdrue stores. /:
uSt say from what could see and {
.ar that anti-licenSe is not a success in
ese towns. did not visit any ,
WINS but what | could get liquor in
w quantity | wanted. and so it will
'er be.
My observation of the crops from
re to the central part of Illinois. is
at corn will not be half crop, and by I:
with many persons taking ,
e whole amonnt of acres planted did
It average fifteen bushels to the acres
learn thaton east to indianapolis and t
nth OF my route, it is still worse. 7
orth of Bloomington there has been Y
od rains and the prospect is better. E
| lpff for nap,n T',,,,,o,- Ar,, ot =