River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-05-05
WAYsXDR NOTES.
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, April 90, 1881.

ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, April 80, 1881.
EDITORS JOURNAL:
DEAR SIRs:-A few notes by the way side
may not come amlss or prove uninteresting
to the people OF River Falls and vicinity.
We left our home April IS, where farmers
were busy sowing their grain, and the
weather was truly suggestive OF the fact that
summer had come. As we sped southwark
upon our Emission of love" (as the report OF
the wedding has revealedl We were surprised
to find in Southern Wisconsin large snow
banks, and water that completely covered
the face of hundreds of acres, and in one
instance coming up to the journals ofthe car
wheels for a distance of nearly two miles.
Chicago was literally a city OF mud and filth,
that to the eyes OF stranger made it appear
at great disadvantage. Not wishing to stop
there long, after sojourn of about three
hours, we entered parlor car on the "kan-
kakee Route" and started tor the "Queen
City," arriving there Friday at $50 A. NJ.
There the weather was very fine. the roads
dry and dusty. and farmers busy sowing
their oats, as that is about all the small grain
they put in in the spring.
Throughout southern Indiana and Ohio a
large amount OF winter wheat was sown last
fall, it is now feared, to the embarrassment OF
very many farmers, as it is badly damaged
by the severe winter, and in many places not
worth harvesting from present appearances.
OF the hundreds of acres we have seen since
we left Chicago, not one field has appeared
even fairly good. Corn being raised in large
quantities, however, will in measure atone
for this loss in the wheat crop, and with The
hay which now finds ready market in
Cincinnati at S25 per ton, place the farmers
of this section above the average farmer Of
northern Wisconsin.
OF the many places of interest visited in
Cincinnati, much might be said, but We will
only call attention to some of the more I'M
portant, such as the Geological Garden, Gus
tom House and Music Hall, which has the
largest and finest pipe organ in the U. s.,
the Arcade, Fountain Square, Lookout Hill
Spring Grove Cemetery, which bids fair te
outrival Greenwood, of New York City, etc.,
etc. The city at the present time OF writing
is terribly exercised over what is known al
the 'Stubbs Law" and the action OF its new
Mayor The bill was passed at the recent
legislature, and provides that no dramatic
entertainment shall take place on the Sab
bath, and that all dealing in spirituou:
Iquors-ale and gin-shall cease on that day
1t does not touch the traffic in beer (which
is legal tender therel nor close the many
concert houses which are no better thar
brothels, which curse this beautiful city
Mayor Means has signifed his intention o.
carrying out the law to the letter so long al
it remains on the statute book, and he Il
Mayor Of Cincinnati. Last Sabbath being tht
first Sabbath under the new law, it was
watched with interest by all The theatre;
were closed, but the street cars ran all day
| and the beer gardens on the hill tops LITERAL!
swarmed with tens of thousands from til,
city. 1t is question even in the minds 0
christian people whether this "half wa,
measure" will accomplish the desired result
| affirm, without any hesitancy, that Sabbath
| dissertation il carried Oh in Cincinnati to al
alarming extent, The places OF resort OF
| that day are simply schools OF vice wher
children are instructed in the way Of crime
Leaving Cincinnati tie 9th, we arrives
here the morning of the 29th. The stream
| in this part of the State are badly swollel
and are doing an immense amount OF dam
age. A terrible accident took place at Elgil
| the 28th. The bridge across Fox River g
that place had been washed away and
! ferry boat had been brought into use until
could be replaced. On the morning of tn
2sGh as if was going across heavily loaded,
oapSized and IA persons were drowned, IL Q
them being school children. 1t was sa'
i sight to see the banks lined with thos
searching tor the bodies, while frantic tath
era and mothers were mourning over tn
untimely death of their loved ones.
we shall arrive home about the middle {
next week in time tor regular services in on
church the following Sabbath.
Respectfully,
A. 8. COLLINS.