Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-16
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.

LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
Dear M0njtor.-As some of your
readers may be interested to know
that the MONITOR agent is temporarily
in the West, and others, that himself
and wife are well and happy, we drop
you a few lines to-day. We started
from Vermont on the 18th of Febru-
airy, little too soon, as it proved,
after the great snow storm. Our
ticket took us by the way of the
Hoosick Tunnel, New York Central
etc., to Chicago. We were hindered
and vexatiously delayed on account
of the snow, and did not get away
from Albany till the next afternoon,
but had opportunity to look over the
capital of the Empire state consider
ably and get good winter view Of
the Hudson. The next morning we
crossed the Suspension Bridge and
got fair view of the falls and the
deep chasm spanned by iron cables.
Through this section the snow was
very deep on the level; itreally look
ed deeper than it did in Vermont
when we left. We had good roads
through Canada West end crossed
into Michigan at Port Huron, having
lost, before we got out of this place,
just one days time from the delays
occasioned by the snow. From Port
Huron to Chicago it is 335 miles.
The route ran through fiat country
most of the way, where there appear
eel to be some thrift and some wealth,
but it is in some respects far behind
New England. 1t was very cold at
this time-20 below zero-and
through much of the country the
barns were very poor and great
many cattle were out of doors, seek
inc shelter beside the stack or on the
sunny side of the old farm house.
We arrived in Chicago Friday fore
noon. J. c. King had gone to Flor
ida to spend the winter and S. b.
King we found i'll, and concluded not
to prolong our stay in this city until
our return trip. A day spent in look
ing at some things and places of great
interest in this remarkable city. was
used in visiting some of the largest
hotels, depots, the Board of Trade
building etc, which gave us some slight
idea of the immense business done in
this city. At the meeting of the
Board of Trade we saw the place
where they call it that they do bust
ness, but we called it noise chiefly.
The Board is putting up new build
ing which is to cost a million dollars,
but they have money enough. Leav-
ing Chicago in the evening we hoped
to arrive at our destination in Mis-
souri the next afternoon, but the fates
were against us and delays broke con-
nections and put us hours behind
time. Through Illinois the country
is very level, the soil good, some OF
the farm houses comfortable, but the
barns and out-buildings are misera-
bic. The cattle were wandering
| about in the snow, while large per
centage of the corn was either stand
ing SHOCKED or uncut in the fields
The corn is drawn in on wagons
!, thrown down ip the yard to be pick
: ed over by the cattle, apd then root
ed over by the hogs. We should cal
this way of doing just as it is done
the most wasteful extravaganza
, but good soil and immense areas G
, it will permit the wastefulness. From
Hannibal, Missouri. where we arrived
t in the evening, our journey was 10
| miles to Boonville, nice little cit,
2 on the Missouri river. The countr,
2 through this state is broken and hilly
but the soil appears to be good. w
found our friends in good health ant
circumstances, and, if their patienc
j holds out we expect to spend som
a days with them very pleasantly. w
t are stopping with B. F. Jones AM
family. Mr.. Jones formerly cam
/ from Glover, VT, and it may be o
: interest to his friends and relative
t in Vermont to know that he is dom,
f thriving business as lumber deale
i and building contractor.
S III. P. KING.
: Boonclle, No, Feb. 25th.
/. S. johnson & Co., q Custom Hous
ST., Boston, will send free, to all who wi
n Send address ON postal card, an 'engray
g ing of The. famous Washington Monr