Smyrna times., 1881-11-02
Notes Of a Western Trip.

letter written by John II. HofTscker who
Is now IN Missouri, to his son Walter
y. Hotiecker descriptive of his trim 70 tho
West. The letter was not intended for
publication, but through the kindnes Of
W. .. H., we give the following extracts
Arriving at 32nd and Market streets
Philadelphia, we took up our quarters in
Il parlor sleeper section No. 4. and at
9.45 bade good-by.
ne IRON horse sped away with us at 4
rapid rate, stopping at Wilmington. Del.
then OIL again, fitting past place after
pace to Baltimore, where at l O'Clock.
clank, clank went the hammer all aIonr
the long line of wheels until one sounded
thud, thud and then out came the mon
with jacks and off with the broken wbaaI
ana new one ON. The bell rang and
pun, pun, we were very soon under the
SHADOW OF our National Capitol. Ohagaiu
at 2.lo \. NJ, whizZing past Point of Rocks
Md, through the iron bridge spanning
the Potomac, at Harper's Ferry and on,
ana on we came until daylight. passino
MartlnSburg, Va, and recrOssing the Poto-
mac into Maryland. Reaching Cumber-
land, the porters called out 20 minutes for
a hot breakfast. FINISHING breakfast ON
went the train ascending the Alleghanies
ana clear above the most beautiful sloues
OF mountain scenery, through the mile
tunnel and round the rapid curves and
steep rugged cliffs Of Cheat river. mokino
the head dizzy, so great was the apparent
danger; but no let up in speed. the train
dashed on until Grafton was announced
and passengers for Chicago Kansas CITY.
and points West, would take the train for
NheellnS. Va. In Il few minutes were off
and on on we came making Belle Air AT
" p. NJ, where we crossed through the
IRON bridge spanning the Ohio river
Here we struck an air line. well built
smoothe road, along which were to be
seen beautiful wheat fields, large herds
OF reserve steers. lounging upon the rich
pastures that looked like green velvet in
III the golden sunlight A long toot gave
us to understand stop near at hand, and
all out for Cambridge" when in came
the apple boys with the finest Ohio fallo-
waters, etc &c FOR a nickel" On
we came crossing the Muskingum
river. in the valley of which are the finest
fields of wheat I ever looked at. And in
large letters on the sign boards at the ton
OF the buildings, in many of the towns
through which we passed was "Muskin
gum River Flour" 1t is made of a very
choice article of white wheat and stands
at the top of the list in Western markets.
At sunset we reached GAINESVILLE. situated
| on the river above named, On we came
stopping at Newark for supper. This is a
great railroad center; "all aboard" was
again sounded and on we came. Mans
field was called out, but it was so dark I
could not see much of it, only that it is
live town and full of hustle and business.
Passing through many places We stopped
at Tiffin, Defiance and Hicksville. noted
as on the dividing line between Ohio and
Indiana.
Being midnight turned in and did not
see anything more till daylight brought |
us right upon the shore of Lake Michigan. |
1t was very much like looking out upon |
the ocean, only there was hardly ripple |
upon its surface and when the sun rose. !
throwing its rays across its bosom, it was |
sublime spectacle and the whole train of |
passengers were upon their feet looking |
at its grandeur. O'Clock brought us to \
the great City of the West-Chicago. We !
were put in Parmelies' line of Omnibuses
at the grand depot on Lake street and /
transferred across the city, passing on the
way structures that would do credit to our !
Eastern cities, among them the Cleland.
MattisOn, Pacific, Atlantic and Sherman
houses, arriving at the grand depot situ-
ated on Canal street, between Madison
and Adams streets about S45 Here we
were ushured into large waiting rooms
handsomely furnished andrichly decorated
with carved work in solid walnut stair
ways of Tennessee marble and ceilings of
the finest designs in frescOeing Indeed
it is thing of beauty that must be seen
to be appreciated.
1t was here that the papers informed us
of the floods on the Mississippi river and
of the dangerous outlook to travellers going
beyond Quincy, but we concluded to take
the fast line at 1905 p. NJ, on the c, b. &
Q. and very soon we were out of the city
limits and running through the richest
country have eyer seen, the soil as black
as ink, the blue grass to s inches high,
so thickly set as 10 make perfect mat and
on it grazing were the finest cattle and
sheep ever saw. Passing through many
places of thrift ana industry, we arrived
at Quincy ut IL p. NJ. Here we were told
that we would have to stay as the Hanni-
bal & st. Joe track was under water for Is
miles, and the drift was so thick they
could not think of going farther. At 615
next morning they fitted up an exploring
company, and sent them in hand cars
ahead of our train, to push off the debris
We made lOmiles in two hours which was
by some considered rather slow for fast
train, but it was fast enough ftl me as we
could sea nothing but water, trees and sky.
Reaching the upland we started in good
earnest for Brookfield where we arrived at
noon. This is a place full of industry and
thrift, situated in beautiful and certainly
rich and fertile country.
At the depot here we found your Uncle