The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-11-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINaroN, II. c., Oct. q, IS

WASHINGTON IL. ~ SCt' 80 90
Editor Free Press:
If there had been doubt in my mind
as to the superiority OF Minnesota 10 the
older Eastern or Southern States,
which was made in recent
hurried railroad Journey dispelled it. |
Seeing Is believing. Notwithstanding |
the drouth, the crops in Minnesota look |
ed better and rewarded the farmer with
a greater yield than those in any other
State this side of the Mississippi. Wis
consin crops and towns looked well, and
homelike to one whose life was mostly
passed in the Badger State. Then there
is gradual tapering off as one passes
through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, until, in
West Virginia, one wonders where the
people are, what they do, and what
they live on. If those living IN that
state along the line OF the b. X o. rail-
road depend upon agricultural pursuits
they have a very slim dependence, com
pared with the broad acres and fertile
prairies of the Northwest. The slunted
cornfields and small vegetable patches
have most forlorn appearance. a
comfortable looking farmhouse is the
exception, and wretched, tumble-down
shanties the rule in West Virginia, nj
least in the portion traversed by the line
referred to. Speaking of the latter, the
time made on II, considering that 1t Is
crooked as q rall.fenCe, a succession OF
curves, is remarkable, not TO say alarm
ing. Even the trainmen had to hold on
to the ends of the seats in passing
through the coaches, and the way some
of the curves were rounded caused the
hair upon every passengers head to
stand on end like quilts upon the iret-
full porcuplne, except two-one OF Inc
exceptions being darkey, and the 9TH
er bald-headed. The darkev's hair
didn't exactly stand on end, but II
Strengthened II outlook every klnk out
of 1t
My attention to agriculture along the
way did not prevent my usual gallant AT
tentions to the fair Sex, and when lauy
entered my Cosch just as we were steam
ing out of Chicago, every seat but NINE
having two occupants, ana the choice
being between sharing mine and taking
the smoking car, she chose the former
as the less of two evils. Although evil
IDENTITY young, her somewhat aesthetic
and severe respect, heightened 10y Il PAIR
of gold bowed spectacles, was suggestive
| of Boston culture ana baked beans. and
| | was almost afraid Of her, IN the few
remarks made beng careful to put my
best grammatical foot forward, so to
sneak. This continued till some refer
ence was made to the time We were
making. Yes" said she, "we are going
very fast. This train don't stop hardly
nowhere / don't think :" That settled
| il. From that time on the conversation
proceeded more on plane of social
equality. learned later that instead OF
being Boston blue stocking, she was
an Ohio dressmaker. ado you notice
the smell of gas?" said she as we were
passing through the Buckeye state.
certainly did, and as the cars were moi
lit that way | WAS somewhat surprised
We were passing through the great ma
tural gas regions of Ohio, ana soon
passed village after village brilliantly
lighted from Natures own gas-works
They presented q novel appearance
There is gas well in each, from which
the gas is conducted by pipes to con
sumers In the same manner as the artl'
fetal article is conveyed in less tor!uh'
ate towns. The lamp-posts are upright
tubes from the top of which the burning
gas extends far into the night, and, Wher
swayed by the wind, reminds one OF
fiambeau club or a torchhght procession
Whether natural gas exists IN available
quantities away from coal deposits Is {
|
gas in Southern Minnesota-Certainly IL
Freedom county, and it may be IN man!
other localities. Even in the gas regions
of Ohio wells are sunk to great depth
some being $500 feet. Considering The
great value OF natural gas for heat anI
light it certainly pays 10 bore for 1t il
any locality where its existence is at al
probable.
All this has but little to do with Wash
ington. There is, however, n good dea
of natural gas here, especially when Con
gress is in session. The capitol is no
, lighted by it, and instead of boring 70
it one is sometimes bored by IT. Blu
Washington is great and beautiful city
worthy of being the capital of the great
est nation of modern times. 1t will pa
to visit it, and, 10 the end that all ma.
do so, it Is manilestly the proper cit!
for holding the worlds fair. 1t is no
the commercial center one wants 10 see
but the majestic, imperial capital city O
the worid-Washington. w. l.. A.