Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-07-22

Rock Island quickly reached. Be-
sides having been for many years a
frontier fort during the Indian wars,
this place is distinguished rs the seat
of the United States arsenal, formerly
at HarYar's Ferry. 1t ia a beautiful
city of 1900 inhabitants. owing
much to government improvement
The great bridge over the Mississippi
owned by the G. RI. and P. R., is
splendid structure. The train passes
over safely and We get out for the
night in Davenport, Iowa, 1873 piles
from Chicago and SIG from Piedmont.
The railway station here stands on
the spot where the treaty for the
Black Hawk possessions was con-
cluded and signed in 1886. The peo-
pie are celebrating the Fourth. The
weather is clear and cool and fire.
works in all directions add to the
starlit beauty Of the armament.
Next morning, July 5, an early
start was made. An hour after the
brakeman calls "Muscatine." Not
having seen this station on our copy
of the timetable, we became alarmed
at the possibility Of getting on the
wrong train. 1t was soon explained,
however. The recent heavy rains,
with which the whole West seemed
to have been deluged, had damaged
the track of the maiu line and we
were making detom on the Kansas
City division 0i0 Washington and
Oskaloosa to Des Moines, route
soven miles longer. The city is
reached, and is creditable State
capital. the country west Of Des
Moires is for the first part wooded,
but on approaching the Missouri it
grows barren Of trees until the bluffs
which line the banks are reached.
The smooth knobs are beautiful, how
ever, and appear to partake Of the
generally fertile character of Western
soil. In many places forest nurse.
rieo" slo visible, preparatory to trans.
planting. A number of pretty towns
lie between Des Moines and Council
Bluffs, the most notable in our esti-
nation being Atlantic, 60 miles east
of the latter city. We get eff for tho
night, and our landlord informs US
that the name of Council Bluffs was
conferred in l843, tho circumstance
of Lewis an d Clark holding council
there in 1904 with the Indians pro-
viding the excuse therefore. The
site was occupied in 1916 by colony
of Mormona who ohristened it Kanes-
vile.
Next morning, Jnly 9Th, we crossed
the Missouri on the Union Pacific
railroad bridge to Omaha. (We are
now 1876 miles from Piedmont.}J
~
Claiming population Of $4,000 Wig
orous, energetic people, and backed
hy an extensive and substantial grain.
growing country, Omaha is town
with future. The streets are wide
and cross each ether at right angles.
1t occupies broad plateau, rising
gradually into bluffs. The former is
occupied by business houses the lat
ter by handsome residences. A large
number of costly buildings are note
worthy evidences of the confidence
felt il the prospective growth of the
city. Gold, silver, lead and zinc
smelling works, linseed oil works, a
pork-packing establishment, and a
number of other factories, together
with the repair and construction
shops of the U. P. r. company, are
important elements q business
strength. Public rchools Of high or
der and colleges furnish ample edu-
facilities. The people ap-
pear to do well, though wages are
moderate, rents high, and real estate
way up" The town takes its
name from band Of Indians of the
Dakota family, nearly extinct.
After a days tiresome stroll over
the city and interviews with business
men our desire for information was
satisfied, and We fixed upon the fol-
lowing morning for 2OO-mile ride
down the river to Kansas City. Our
time-piece still held to Baltimore
time, and We assembled one CT the
bluffs to see a Nebraska sunset.
Away off, apparently below our
level, our luminary gradually des-
cended, the last beam leaving sight at
10 minutes before 8 o'clock This
did not adequately imnress ns. as wa