Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-15
A THREE THOUSAND MILE
RIDE.
From Memphis 10 Winnepeg
and Return ia Eleven
Days.

The possibilities of rapid transit
over the country, and from one cOun-
try to another nowadays are something
marvellous, even to those accustomed
to travel. Compared with the meth
DDS known to our fathers or grand
fathers of half a century ago, it is
simply miraculous. Their highest
conception of speed was that Of the
reindeer or horse, which might convey
a human being seventy-fve or one hun
dred miles in twenty-four hours I'M
der the most favorable circumstances.
The Arkansaw Press Association,
numbering at least sixty per-
sons, recently made the trip to Win
lnepeg and return, in a very few days.
| The idea was conceived 10 the prolific
brain Of Colonel Pat DOMAIN, the in
vincible and tireless journalist, who is
L
always studying the pleasure of others,
and the excursion was made under
his lead. 1t was a grand ride across
the magnificent States and vast fertile
Iprairies Of the Northwest. TIE most
| of the party it was a revelation never
| to be forgotten. A courteous invita-
ton was sent to the LEDGER to send
lone or more representatives. This
was accepted by one only, and he hap
pened to start day late, and
made most of the trip alone, OF
separate from the main party.
The route travelled, distances anC
events may be condensed as follows
Memphis to Little Rock, 135 miles
Little Rock to st. Louis over th'
great Iron Mountain railroad, 81,
miles; over the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy railroad to Burlington
Iowa, 1871 miles; over the Burlington
Cedar Rapids and Northern railroad
to Albert Lee, Minnesota, 253 miles
over the Minneapolis and st. Loui
railroad to Minneapolis, 108 miles
over the St. Paul, Minneapolis ant
Manitoba railroad to St. Vincent, OF
the Canada line, 389 miles; theme
by the Canadian Pacific rail
road to Winnipeg, sixty sever
miles. Total, 1891 miles. W,
found the road from Memphis to Lit
tie Rock greatly improved. Thos
: who have not been over it for yea
or two would be agreeably surprised
The road will compare favorably will
any in the South. The great IroT
Mountain railway from Little Rocl
to st. Louis is rapidly becoming
first class road. A large force is en-
gagged in hauling stone and ballastin
5 Che road bed, bracing up bridges, cul
{ verts, etc. 1t will soon be brOugh
, up to the best standard known t
Northern roads.
The road from St. Louis to Mime
9 sofa has often been describe,
: and is familiar by sight to man
of our readers. Hundreds of the1
; have spent summers in Min
nesotl, and need not be told Q
: the many lovely attractions Of ths
region. The country beyond that
very much like continuation of tn
4 same, at least until the Canada jim
t is crossed. Once on the other sid,
8 an American soon discovers that h
c is on English soil. Yet the country
much the same, only the towns al
!. further apart and the vast whe;
fields spread out to greater dimension
o and almost illimitable proportion
f The best modern machinery for gather
c ing and thresbing the crop is visibl
on every hand. The Red river couI
q try is claimed to be the fines whe;
c region in the world, aud has goo
{ ground for the claim. On every sid
4 was to be seen a limitless expanse {
d golden grain, both cut aud uncut. I'll
+ old plantations of the South are mel
patches compared with many of thes
princely domains.
The objective point of the tri
y Winnepe,, is an old town settled pc
haps 200 years ago. 1t was a mel
|, trading post in the wilderness mar
J. years, and its Importance depende
: until recently upon the fact that
+ was station Of the Hudson Bay Con
>. pany, and Of course was well forti6e
4. But the march ofprogress, the sdve
Or of the railroad and mode
% ways revolutionize1 everythin
q The old town has been near
10 all torn away and new one Of abo
ID 1900 inhabitants has been bui
'e the most of it in substantial al
ut elegant style. The Hudson B
y" Company is keeping up with the tin
81 by building an immense four-stC
=, brick house which would cover a
A square in Memphis. We stopped
Ier the Queens Hotel, something not
mo be found this side Of the line. 1t
Nv number one house, kept very mt
,r after the English fashion. Its of
= English and Enqlishy. The city see