The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-12
Notes OF Travel.

menting the comforts OF the journey. But
recent trip from Chicago TO Omaha brought
new experience and observation, of which Il
may not be amiss TO speak To make the most
outward journey over the great Rock Island
route and returned by way Of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy. And IL Is safe to RIM
that among the four or FIVE great lines OF COM
munication between the points above named.
none are more royalty furnished, or more richly
deserving the confidence and patronage Of the
public than those of our choice. The equip
ment OF each road Ia simply magnificent, being
composed OF most comfortable day coaches, re-
clinipg chairs, sleeping cars, and the best din
ing cars In the world.
From Chicago to Rock Island-and likewise
on our return, from Burlington to Chicago--our
route lay mainly through the level PRAIRIE but
q rich and very fertile country. The season
being November, the sombre hues Of autumn
pervaded the landscape but even this could
not conceal the INDISPENSABLE richness Of this
garden OF the world. On either side OF the
railroad lines were immense corn-felds, stretch
ing away beyond the reach OF our vision, and
here and there, though more seldom than we
had expected, the remains OF similar fields of
wheat. Now and then we passed stock-farms
where herds Of the finest looking cattle were
grazing, and still more seldom we caught
glimpses OF large focks OF sheep These Wis.,
ions cause the New Highlander to wonder why
more diversified agricultural industry is not
adopted. and a greater variety Of crops pro-
duced but doubtless these Western farmers
are taught by the lessons Of experience, and
they are proverbially quick to learn. As a
rule the farms are OF such magnitude as to
separate the dwellings by considerable dis
tances, which gives an uusocial look to q Yam
kee, and doubtless this very fact has much to
do with the loneliness and inconsistencies which
often come to New England families who emf
CRATE tbither, especially to the mothers and
children
T 90 vin0 Chicooo touard ooon xra xaaohad
the Mississippi river at Rock Island and Daven-
port, distance OF one hundred and eighty
three miles, at evening. OF the former place
we saw but little, but passed over to Daven-
port for the night. The bridge at this point is
master piece of engineering skill and from 1t
is obtained q magnificent view of the river and
ALEC of the fourishiDg city OF Davenport
resting upon Its western hank. Here we made
the acquaintance Of Mr.. II. F. Royce, the assis-
tant manager Of the Chicago and Rock Island
both natives Of Windsor county-Woodstock
| and Weathersfeld, we believe-and they fur
pish good example OF the business capacity
and social accomplishment which Vermont has
| 30 generously contributed to the great West.
Mr. Royce is distant relative-cousin, per-
hsps-of chief justice Royce of our state, whom
he strikingly resembles In look and voice. In
the control Of a very large proportion Of the
| great railroad com biuations OF the West it Is
noticeable that Vermonters hold conspicuous
places, and among them Mr. Royce justly
| takes high rank
Journeying at leisure, for purposes of OBJ
servation, another day brought us to Des
Moines a distance of 175 miles farther. The
route lines through a much more undulatiDg
| prairie and bears more evidence OF newness
than Illinois, with the never ending corn fields
| rising and falling In every direction like the
waves OF old ocean. The monotonous gray Of the
landscape was frequently broken by immense
herds of black hogs, and we learned that pork
raising is a rapidly growing industry OF Iowa
Des Mones, with its exceptionally pleasant To-
cation, its twenty-five or thirty thousand in
habitapts, and three or four million dollar
state house, Is one OF the most charming cities
In all the West. While a railroad center and
business point of increasing Importance, the
city Ia nevertheless pervaded by an air OF COM
pleteness and quiet repose which usually come
only with age, and which give it an envisble
reputation throughout the entire state. Here
| we met General Lewis A. Grant and John Wy
man, Esq, formerly merchant In Chelsea and
st. Adams, Who as well as several other Yer
monters, are held In high esteem in the bust
ness and social circles of the city.
One hundred and fifty miles more bring us
to the Missouri river at Council Bluffs. The
disappointment produced by our first look at
what we had regarded from boyhood as one OF
the most majestic rivers Of the world, could
only be modified by recalling the fact that the
river shrinks to Its narrowest channel during
the dry season, but that its claim to majestic
proportions is fully indicated during the sea-
eon OF the melting SHOWS in the regions above.
The broad and boldly defined bed Of the stream,
though now largely a valley of sand, helps the
Imagination to fill up the picture when at its
best Leaving Council Bluffs, of which we
caught but glimpse, the train speeds across
magnificent iron bridge that spans the swift
rolling. muddy Missouri, and lands usin Omaha
our objective point. Our disappointment on
viewing the Missouri river found a manifold
counterbalance as we gazed upon the gigantic
young city spread out on its western bank
Omaha was founded In 1854. Up to that TINT
it had been known simply as Lone Tres
Ferry" as 1t was the great crossing place OF
the Missouri Of the California gold seekers In
1849, 80 and 81. To-day we found hand
somely built city Of from forty-fve to fifty
Thousand inhabitants browning the magnificent
bluffs which less than thirty years ago vert
an unknown land. Nine railways virtually
center in the city. The bridge which spans
the Missouri at this point, belonging to tn,
Union Pacific, cost upwards Of million and &
half of dollars. The city Is beautiful for situa
ton, as it slopes no from the river bank, will
range OF lofty bluffs sweeping around behint
: city to exceed $2OOOO,OOO a year-the ca
shops Of the Union Pacific alone GOVERNS
, thirty acres OF ground, employing nearly 200
hands, and turning out annually 10000 o
work. The pork-packing and meat-cannini
business amounts to 81, 800 900 year. Will
{ to be the largest in the world, exceeding
, SO, 000, 900 annually The live stock trade az
gregates nearly $1,000 900 year, and it
l wholesale and commission trade to upwards o
of $15, 0O0, 600; and arrangements are nearl,
completed for an indefinite enlargement o
|, the traffic in live stock. Her schools are tn
special pride of the ctv. The high schoo
r building costing $3.50, 000 stands on
{ lofty summit in what Is rapidly comm
to be the heart OF the city, on the site Of the oil
j. state capitol building and its tall spire, reach
ing 800 feet above the level OF the river, can b.
seen for many miles in every direction. In ad
dition there are five or six handsome publ
school buildings, an Episcopal seminary 70
young ladies, a Catholic college, a bushes
college, five public libraries, twenty eigb
churches, an elegant opera house, several frs,
A class hotels, government building which cos
d 10000, three or four daily papers and twice a
a many weekly; all Of which certifes to tn
; intelligence of the people and gives assuranc
q OF the future development OF the city. Tn
4 Improvements during last year aggregate
a So, 24l 600, and the rush Of building still Roe
on Even at this late season the work OF grad
" ing and paving the streets, laying water AN
4 sewer pipes, and the erection OF public an
n private buildings was being prosecuted wit
"a undated vigor. Omaha evidently believes |
!, high license for liquor-selliDg $4,000 being tn
n year paid into the treasury tor public improve
"a menis by her eighty licensed dealers, instea
OF the paltry sum Obtained from her two
J.. three hundred vepders nnder the old system
70 And we must confess though not believer
NIL TO- To-. al ats hal