St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-08
RABBI WECHsLER's VISIT
To the Pacific Coast, the Impressions
Made Graphically Stated.
lSpecial Correspondence of the Glohe. |

the Pacific coast and the surrounding terri
tories. have made many observations and
comparisons which might not be altogether
unlnteresting to your many readers. l shall
not attempt to give you full description of
the country have travelled through as this
has been done so often and by far more
slillful writers than your humble servant;
but to me it seems that everything that can be
said of the many places and localities which
l visited adds to general knowledge to com
prehend fully its many advantages and at
fractions. Let me say also in my prelimi.
nary remarks that no other country in the
world, taking it all in all, offers so many at
fractions to the tourist as the United States.
Many make this mistake, they visit other
countries before they have had occasion to
admire their own. l can speak intelligently
upon that point, having now visited every
state and territory of the United States, as
well as the Dominion of Canada and the
principal countries of Europe at the same
time. There is here in the United States a
variety of soil, climate so .versifed and
sceneries so grand and imposing as no other
country presents. Here the country of the
free and the home of the oppressed, is
also NATURES wonderland with its gigantic
mountains and majestic rivers, its broad
oceans, its lofty hills and valleys, its towns
and cities built up within the last fifty years,
indicating what the genius and enterprise Of
free and happy people can accomplish.
The Northern Pacific railroad has been a
great factor in developing country which
offers from its peculiar location, its soil, its
mineral resources and other attractions,
many inducements to those who seek a home.
Taking all things in consideration, that road
is well constructed, the cars are elegant,
the officers of the road very gentlemanly and
genial in their intercourse with the travelling
public, and the accommodations, dining
cars, sleeping berths, ETC., of the first
order. 1 can conscientiously recommend
the Northern Pacific railroad to all tourists
who wish to visit the Pacific coast and adj
joining territories. While the road may not
yet be remunerative to its stockholders, the
time is not far distant when it viii become
so, and in the mean time it deserves to be
gratefully remembered by the public as a
public beuefactor, to make country accessi.
BILE which otherwise would not be known.
Who has ever dreamed thirty or forty years
ago that these Rocky mountains would be
traversed by the iron horse! which has made
itself pathway through the great elevation
and SPAWNED over thirty streams to afford no
distractions to its galloping speed.
When l took passage on the elegant cars of
the Northern Pacific railroad it was in the
early part of July. The state of Minnesota
need not be ashamed to present itself first to
the tourist. The country is beautiful, the at
fractions many to the careful observer. This
was the season of the year when all kinds of
grain and vegetables were ripening and
pointed out that the harvest would be plenti-
full If protected by a kind Providence to re-
ward richly the labor of the husbandlnen, the
rich wheat fields would especially be seen on
every side. When l told an eastern tourist,
who had never visited the western states,
that these rich fields were only cultivated and
prepared for the seed five or six weeks but
surely not more than eight weeks ago, he
doubted first my statement, but l assured
| him that he could place reliance in my as
sertions. Finding almost everywhere the
same fertile soil aud luxuriant productions,
my fellow tourist, who was a highly cult
waited gentleman, could but wonder that the
state of Minnesota had hardly any land which
could not be cultivated and he did no longer
doubt that our state would take front rank
before long as far as agriculture is concerned.
! The many towns through which the Northern
| Pacific railroad passes as far as Fargo,
show all a healthy growth and l have nc
doubt will prosper in the future. The many
beautiful lakes of which the state of Mime
sofa takes the foremost place, need hardly t.
! be mentioned here.
| The territory of Dakota was entered. Fargo
makes first of all her humble acknowledge
ment' She boasts Of her wonderful growth,
her many beautiful buildings and stores, her
Improvements, to be placed on equal foot
| ing with metropolitan cities in the east. such
as electric lights, street cars, etc Her claims
are well founded. The stranger can hardly
understand that all this has been accom-
| plished in the last ten years. The country
from Fargo to Bismarck is alone worthy of
our consideration. The productive soil of
Minnesota is also plainly visible here, with
| the exception that here are immense farms
| and thousands of acres in wheat without in
| terruption to be admired. The Dali
rymple farm and others attract especial
attention. We arrived at Bismarck the
newly made capital of the territory. The city
is picturesquely situated. The capitol is
| plainly visible at some distance, being
erected upon high elevation. 1t is nearly
completed. The citizens of Bismarck have
great faith in the future growth of their city,
and think they VIII not be disappointed. 1t
is situated in the midst of rich agricultural
region, and the people are enterprising and
active to further all measures to advance the
prosperity of the capital city.
Let it be stated here that my colony of
Russian refugees is situated thirty miles
from this city. l paid personal visit to the
same again The colonists were all upon
their claims, busily engaged in tilling the
soil. They all had land under cultivation
and the prospects were highly encouraging
! for successful harvest Notwithstanding
all the obstacles and difficulties which had to
be overcome, the colony will be made self
sustaining, and demonstrate that agricul-
tural pursuits among the Israelites will be
successful. There was never any good
reason why the Hebrews should not be. for
in the land of Palestine they were most pros
porous in tilliug the SOIL and the happiest
| people on the face of the earth. The cruel
hand of persecution has caused them to
abandon agricultural pursuits and to become
| lagely engaged in commerce, of which to-
day they are the most enterprising and thrifty
of all other nationalities. The settlers at
Painted Woods are most contented and will
not abandon their claims for any considera-
ton. AS the Bismarck Tri6ute Justly re.
marked few weeks ago: elm a short time
these Russian Hebrew settlers will become
prosperous and add greatly to the prosperity
of the country and the capital city, etc.
But enough for to-day In my next l will
state particulars of my trip from Bismarck
further westward, l may write series OF
letters, if acceptable to you and your readers.
REV. Dr.. WECHsLER.