Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-02-12
FROM LAND Of SNOW 10 LhND GSUN.'
NEW ORLEANS. FEB. 2, 1885

North We scarcely ever see as clear a
day, the sun so brilliant, or the moon 50
bright and fair, and passing so directly
over our heads As we do here. This, then,
is the Land of SUM-" The extremes
here are not in temperature. as in Ohio,
where mercury ranges from 25o below
zero to 110o above, but in clear and
bright weather and rains and fogs. The
latter commences usually in November
and ends about the middle of JanuBry,
when the clear. settled weather com =
menees. This year, however. has been
an exception; the rainy season lasted
till within a couple of days of our srTi>
val-indeed, We had one days specimen
of il day or two after reaching here
"a kind of parting salute-and think
never saw the rain wetter or the fog
foggier, or the mud muddier than they
were that day. Speaking of mud, lady
told me who lives up in the garden dis
trict, where the streets are not paved,
that on one of the main streets leading
to the Exposition grounds, during the
worst weather, sack of corn dropped
from q wagon as it was being drawn
through the mud by a mule team, and
sank out of sight; the driver drove on
and left it without even attempting to
fish it out. $50 much for mud" But this
is all past now, and the elea-, balmy and
bright season has come to stay.
1t was my opinion before leaving home
that those who started here in December,
were coming too soon, beliving as did
that they would strike bad weather, and
besides find the Exposition incomplete.
Observation since our coming has shown
the opinion to be correct.
On our way down we passed the wreck
of the "Belle OF shreveport" which
struck a snag and sank in forty minutes.
Sne left Cincinnati on Dec. %, and we
learned since arriving here that Mrs. DR.,
Taylor and Mrs. Moore Sadie Wood>
roffe) of Beaver, Pa, we're on the ILL
fated vessel, bound for this city; also
learned they lost their baggage. The
passengers were all saved. can easily
imagine the panic and CONSERVATION a
sinking ship would cause among its pas
sengers. A rough and rather sad expe-
rience for these ladies named on their
trst trip South; Isympathlze with them.
We passed over the falls at Louisville,
there being ample depth of water; the
canal is used w hen there is not sufficient
depth, or by vessels that cannot be safe
ly handled on the falls. The distance is
three miles, 26 feet fall, current at the
rate Of Is miles an hour. The boat has to
go enough faster than the current to
maintain steerage way, which it did by
going at the rate of about % miles an
hour being about 8 minutes in going
the 8 miles, passing in its descent be-
tween the piers of a railroad bridge
crossing the river at the falls.
Ice foes were encountered below Cal
70, coming down the Mississippi, which
continued a hundred miles or so, which
with taking on of an unusual amount of
freight at different points. among which
was large amount of Shelled corn, ia
ken from the banks of the Missouri bor-
der, the owners being afraid of the ris-
ing river. which was in many places al
ready over its bank, and also the dense
fogs in the region OF Memphis, on one
occasion having to lay at bank. on &C
count OF it, nearly all one night and d
good portion of the next day, made our
progress slower than usual. The usual
time from Cincinnati to New Orleans is
- days; we were IL days.
But it was not my purpose to write
much or give many notes of the trip
here; think did that in a correspond
ence sent you few years ago when we
were here before; and don't want to re-
peat anything said then; will only say
that while the boat lay at important
cities, such as Vicksburg, Memphis and
Natchez, we gave each of them due at
tention, especially the latter, as the
weather was mild and pleasant there.
Have this to say of Natchez, however,
that il impressed me as city going into
adecline, or faded aristocracy.
>, Having been here but five days, and
disposed to take it easy, have not been
around very much yet, at the Expesi-
tion grounds, but one day Saturday. l
will give you only few notes, at this
time, pertaining to the great Worlds
Fair, the Crescent City (the "suHny city
of the South }, and its accommodations,
which may prove of some interest to
your readers, especially those who are
thinking of coming here to enjoy the
Exposition and this sunny cline.
The grounds are located FIVE miles
above the city, bordering on the river
and extending back from it-a beautiful
plat, dotted here and there with clusters
of splendid live oaks festooned with
| Spanish moss. Broad concrete walks
wind through the grounds, with green
grass and flower beds along their bor>
ders,. and here; and there a fountain
sending up cooling spray. To reach the
grounds there are five through street
car lines, fare cents, time one hour
also number of boats, distance by
which is miles, time the same. fare 10
cents, or % cents round trip. These
means seem sufficient at present.
The day We were there, We passed
hastily through three of the principal
buildings-the main building. the Gov>
ernment building aid Horticultural
hall. The Art hall will not be ready
for visitors tor week yet. There are
numerous other build ngs which will
not TAXI time or your space to even
name now.
What is to be said of the great show
in general, and how does it compare
with the Centennial" in Philadelphia ?
On these points the opinion of visitors
varies greatly. Some think it meager
affair, and don't compare at all with the
Centennial; Others l.. ke the other ex :
treme, aud say it is stupendously grand
and wonderfully great, far SURPRISING
anything the world ever saw, or words
to that effect. Now i think the middle
ground between these'two extremes is
the right one. While L think it is NOT
up to the Centennial in general rich
ness and grandeur, yet | think to a
Northerner it is fully as Interesting. II
has quiet beauty, so to speak, and
and chasteness of design which l think
is charming. will name but one OK
hibit, which arrested my attention n
entering the main building at one of its
northern entrances; that is. a block of