Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-19


not Sure enough, the train did back
and came through the arch in the old de-
pot. but it kept straight on without even
q stacking up. This, he said' was re-
oulred by the charter OF the company
and il IL failed to do it its charter would
be forfeited Passing Fort beaven-
worth saw several convict soldiers I'M
der guard breaking stone IN the road
way. and in short time we arr'Veu at
Achison. Having lost my coInmunica-
five acousint.pce here / was left to my
own reflections until we arrived al
ST. JOSEPH.
NV stay in this city was brief, but l
was there long enough to find out thst IL
was live western town-a Kansas 'lly
on A smaller scale. Here, too, iound
GOOD hotel, fine businesshouses ana resi-
dence. and also that the political cal
dron was boiling pretty ficrcely. Sitting
in the reading.room OF the hotel, con
yersaton sprang up between myself ana
an elderly gentleman who introduced
himself US "Mr. Wilson, member OF
Congress from Missouri" He had come
home before adjournment, as he con
fessed, to "mend bis fences, ana al
mitted that he would have tight pun TO
get through at the coming election. lie
asked me if / knew George ID. WISE,
and when / told him thought did II |
knew anybody he spoke In the warmest
terms OF him.
Leaving It. Joseph at about O'Clock
p. N. took the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe train for
TOPEKA, KAN.
Kansas, whether appropriately or not,
has been called "the land OF cranks.
| am inclined, however, TO think there IS
good ground tor this appellation, as
had travelled to Topeka with long
haired. white bearded, and thln-vlsaged
man. who went wild over prohibition,
equal rights. and the great advantages oil
Kansas. found the Throop House IN
Toneka one of the best hotels l ever
saw. This, too, was finished IN bsrd
woods. in coustic tiles and brass, and II
had besides a marble staircase that
would have been credit to any city.
The general topic of conversation at
breakfast was prohibition, and purchas-
ing a newspaper, L found IN Its columns
a number Of fiery and double-leaded ed
itorisls and communications on the same
subiect. Some gentlemen sitting near
me said there were 1.-TWO sides TO TINS
ouestion." and from further remarks
concluded they we're on the other SIDE
One of them said that over IN Nebraska
some parties we're waiting 10 see which
way things were going; that they wanted
10 nut up million-dollar hotel and
onera-house in Omaha, but if prohibition
was carried there they wouldn't spend
cent.
The streets Of Topeka are broad and
well paved, and the houses are for the
most part built Of stone and brick. The
capitol Is a fine building in stone, and
workmen were at work on the dome,
which. when finished, will make 1t
noble building.
| WAS surprised at the number OF
negroes | saw in Topeka, but they GER
tainly were not more prosperous-looking
than those we have in Richmond. / WAS
told. too, that "mixed schools were III
operation here, and that the effect WAS
TO make white children think they were
"no better than niggers, instead OF
elevating the latter.
Like every other place | had visited,
Topeka has electric and horse-cars run
ming ont into its suburbs, and huge pla-
cards were displayed from these Offering
great bargains in West-End lots.
Leaving Topeka by the Santa Fe
route. [ encountered hsrd-looking lotof
people, in half Mexican and cowboy cos
tunes. who had come from Pueblo.
Changing cars at Kansas City, took the
Missouri Pacific for st. Louis, the only
matter Of interest occurring during the
trip being the stoppage of the train when
near that city to put off tramp. Ar
irving at st. Louis, l next concluded to
cross the Mississippi and take IN on my
way homewnrd
PEORIA, I'LL.
Peoria is situated on the Illinois river,
which is here nayigable for small steam
boats from st. Louis and other points.
The business part OF the city extends
down to the river banks, but its fine
residences occupy commanding positions
on the high bluffs overlooking tho lower
portion. Peoria is a wealthy and thriving
clty-a small Chicago. IN fact and, an
like Topeka, it owes its wealth and pros
perity to its numerous distilleries, brewe-
ries. and cattle fattened 10y the swlll
from both. | was shown one pen IN
which it was said over eight thousand
cattle were being fattened for the
Chicago market. The product OF
the distilleri-s OF Peoria is al
cohol or thigh vines" and is
exported to Europe to be there
converted into French brandy, gin, Ma
deira, and Port, and returned to us as
tho genuine articles. Over eighty car
loads OF corn are used daily by these
establishments, and SS5, 900 day is paid
in revenue taxes. IL need not be mat
ter Of surprise, then, that Peoria is rich
and prosperous city, and that ITS busl-
ness and private houses should be oil
that money aud art can make them. In
this city the "tower-hght" system Is
used that is, an iron framework several
hundred feet high bias on It's top a cluster
of four arc-lghts, whose light is radiated
above the tops Of houses to great dis
lance. Also, on the spire Of the beautiful
court house is a cluster of these lights
In company with some friends the Sun
day spent in Peoria, We took an cleo
trio car for the "Blufrs in order to
make close inspection OF its beautiful
dwellings,. In every case Wa found these
to be owned either by "whiskey or
"grain man, and in most cases they
were simply gems of architectural
beauty-studies, in fact, for our Rich
mond architects. In no single case was
there sign of fence or enclosure, ex-
cept curbing, around any lot, nor was
there any division fence between them.
All we're beautifully turfed, and in some
cases the plsts Of bright-foliaged flowers
presented the most original designs. In
one particular lot, on slope running
down to the roadway, | noticed what
was intended to represent a carpet partly
unrolled, having red foliage plants for
borders and yellow Cor the centre stripe.
Peoria has many fine Protestant
churches and also cathedral which