Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-19
Lecture at West Randolph.

The third lecture Of the school course was de-
iyered In Dubois and Gays hall last Friday eve
nlng' by Rev. W. Barrows, DID,, Of Boston.
subject, ~ Out West, Where and What" It was
expected that the lecture would be illustrated by
the stereopticon; but owing to some injury re-
ce'Ved during Its removal TO the hall, after four
views had been thrown upon the canvas II failed
entirely. This was something Of disappoint-
ment' but the speakers word-pictures were so
viva as TO compensate in part for the loss
inc speaker said During four thousand years
OF the worlds history America had no place on
place on any map. After its discovery 1t was
tnouRht 10 be group OF islands situated between
Europe and Asia, and was 80 represented on a
map published In the seventeenth century. Even
now, some OF the more intelligent classes Of
South America think that the area OF the United
States Is about equal to that Of Spain and that It
is a less powerful nation; while the fact is that
our country is twenty-one times a. large. The
lower classes suppose 1t to be a small island, w.
ing In the shadow Of Cuba and near London.
That part OF the country known as "out West"
is the Mississippi Valley, the region included
between the Allegheny and Rocky Mountains
In ancient times, the extent OF the Roman
Empire was regarded as marvellous but the
whole Roman dominion could be placed in
the Mississippi Valley and yet leave room for
half as much more. The United States COW
ers vast territory; indeed 1t is too large for
the men, Congress Is not entirely TO blame for
not fixing tariff which is adapted to all parts
OF the country. Much OF the difficulty lies in
the great area included between our boundaries,
the different climates and consequently different
products. At the close Of the Franco Prussian
Al
war all the world anxiously waited to know what
terms OF peace Prussia would dctate and yet
there Is room for this powerful country in Iowa
and Nebraska. The single state of Texas IL
twenty-five times as large as Vermont. Place
Texas in circular form and represent it as lake.
Regard France as circular island, and the island
could be pushed out into the lake, rs boy pushes
his raft from shore, and anchored twenty-five
miles from land. The whole population Of the
globe, fourteen hundred million persons, allowing
five members to family, could be located in
Texas and each family have two-thirds Of an acre
Tor garden. The lecturer said that his audience
would probably doubt this statement, but cacula-
ton would prove 1t to be correct. The belt Of
land opened up by the Northern Pacific railroad,
eighteen hundred miles long and four hundred
wide, would contain twelve Of the twenty Euro
pean countries. There is room in California for
treat Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Bel
GUM; and in Dakota, for Great Britain, Ireland,
Belgium and Greece. An interesting fact, per-
baps not generally known, is that the sun never
sets on the flag of the United States Before it
has gone down in Alaska it has risen in Maine.
The distance from the mouth Of the Mississippi
to the head Of navigation on the Missouri is forty
nine hundred and sixty-fve miles.
The length of the railroad between Chicago and
San Francisco is twenty-three hundred and forty
miles. Take this road as you would a walking
stick, placing the Chicago end on London, and
move 1t over Europe as the hand moves on the
dial, and it will reach it to the extreme boundary
OF Lapand, extend several hundred miles into
Russia cover half of Turkey in Asia reach be-
yond the Mediterranean hundreds of miles into
Africa, and on the home sweep take in the
Azores and the Canaries. The eastern terminus
Of this road is eleven hundred miles west Of Ros
ton The growth Of the western cities ia remark
able In 1858 the first house was buit in Denver
by General Laramie. Now 1t is an important citv.
In 1887 there were only n few shanties in Chi
cago Now its population ia more than one hum
dred and fifty thousand more than that of YER
mont
The speaker dwelt at considerable length on
the grain fields of the west, speaking Of wheat
ned In Minnesota where six hundred men,
thirty five reapers and six steam thresbers were
required to care for the grain There are places
on the prairie where pillow can make furrow
sixty miles long, with the exception OF one or
two small marshes, and come in contact with
nothing to throw the point above the surface. He
contrasted the primitive plows used in New
Mexico, on which he thinks Abraham had a pat
ent, with one used in the west weighing one ton.
uraiwn by eighty oxen, turning furrow three
feet deep five feet wide and eight miles long In
one day. 1t is not necessary to go to Europe to
lind grand scenery. After seeing some of the
views in the Rocky Mountains, the Alps will not
seem so impressive Cedar Creek canon in Col
orado is barely wide enough for the passage OF
small trout stream and yet a railroad has been
built In the gorge, with cliffs rising sometimes
a thousand feet on each side. Where the canon
Is not wide enough for the road to be laid on the
bed, iron bridges have been constructed running
lengthwise OF the stream. Immense rocks ex-
tending in indefinite distance overhang the road,
seeming likely to fall any moment. At the en-
trance OF Colorado Springs is the garden OF the
gods, the scenery of which is wondrously beau
tiiul. In the mining districts. cities and towns
have mushroom-like growth. Leadville, only
three years old, has blocks which cost thirty
thousand dollars, and population of twelve
thousand Probably not more than one thousand
persons are required to do the legitimate business