The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-02
OXFORD, July 80, 1892.

last letter, / have covered great deal
of ground and seen many sights. should
like to write another letter concerning
Merthyr, but am getting SO far behind
Imust hasten to catch up. Leaving Mer-
thyr "a very pleasant duty, we pass
through the coal country in earnest.
Mine after mine, village after village,
with inhabitants dependent upon this
industry, on the hills, in the valleys,
everywhere is coal. We soon reach
Cardiff, the outlet for the coal and iron
of the district we have passed. Again
we see, by walking and riding through
the streets, q miniature American city.
Removed from much of the smoke and
disagreeable effects of many Of the
towns to which have taken you, built
substantially, with modern buildings,
new ideas carried out, its large "Bute"
docks, named from the man who built
them, its wide main streets and general
hustle give a pleasant sensation to the
traveller and rejuvenates him.
A word must be said regarding the
Butte docks. These docks, constructed
by the Marquis of Butte at his own risk
and expense, have been the means OF
| placing thousands Of pounds in return
to the source from whence they came,
and vet without a doubt have made
Cardiff what it is to-day. In the aggre-
| gate they cover over five miles, and are
well supplied with immense steam
cranes and hydraulic machinery for the
| rapid loading and discharging Of car
goes, as well as repairing vessels bring
ing them. About the docks is q net
work of railway lines and hosts of ware
| and storehouses. In 1889 the total ex
| ports from Cardiff were 8, ,161 ,58S tons, OF
| which 7,735, ,536 tons were OF coal. In
1889 the imports of Cardiff were ,53S, $50
tons. This in itself speaks well Of the
town from a commercial standpoint.
The public buildings are very fine,
such as the post Office, various ex-
| changes, town hall, free libraries and
| infirmaries. Many beautiful churches
are scattered about as well rs colleges.
The Cardiff castle is beautiful old his
toric spot. Although very ancient.
with good care and constant improve
ment, it remains seemingly as fresh as
if in its infancy. have only time to
relate a bit of conversation carried on
between myself and an intelligent old
sailor. He said in substance, having
ssiled under both the English and
American flags, he could not under
strnd why it was an English sailor re-
ceived but three pounds per month and
fearfully poor food. while an American
sailor received excellent food and either
five or six pounds per month in the bar
gain. He only wished he could get an
other opportunity OF sailing under the
stars and stripes. This statement he
vouched for.
Continuing our trip from Cardiff to
L Al, 60,
try. followed by water here and there.
Nothing in particular until we reach
that wonder-the Severn tunnel. 1t is
said some trains pass through IN about
eight minutes, yet we travelled at a good
rate of speed and it required fifteen
minutes before we saw daylight.
Quite while TO be under water
As the tunnel is left behind an idea OF
the dampness may be obtained by no
ticing the windows, which are dripping
with moisture. In short time we reach
another smoky city, and rather disa-
greeable city or town. Bristol, for that
is its name, unlike our own pretty little
town. is an ancient commercial city.
With the Avon and Frome rivers meet
ing and only seven miles from the Bris-
tol channel, ii affords grand opportu-
nity of trading with foreign nations.
Here are manufactured boots and shoes,
copper wares, brass, cotton, sugar,
chocolate, glass, soap and leather 1t
possesses good harbors, affording an
opportunity for the entrance of large
vessels. The population is in the vicin-
ity of $4,000 Here Sebastian Cabot
started in 1893 on his first naval expedi-
ton. During slave-trade in America,
Bristol of all English towns was princi-
pally concerned.
Here, as elsewhere, many stately
monuments are observed in the thor
oughfares, while one may see before
reaching Bristol the spire Of the church
st. Mary Redcliffe, as fine q building OF
its kind as one will find in Great Britain.
Queen Elizabeth described il as the "fair-
ist, goodliest and most famous parish
church i'm England" Before leaving
Bristol one must first visit the Clifton
suspension bridge. IL is indeed lofty
and imposing, being 200 feet above the
water, with single span 200 feet long.
from which view for miles may be OBJ.
tanned i'm either direction. One thing
before leaving Bristol, and that is the
tram car system. The cars are passable,
the horses ON par; but imagine IL you
can boys, IA or 10 years old, as conductors
and men 40 or 80 years of age as drivers,
aud all wearing plug hats. These are
about the same In appearance as silk ones,
but composed of felt. hope none Of
our home drivers will strike ON this
account.
Leaving Bristol we have a pleasan,
tourney before us nearly the entire dis
tance TO Plymouth. Near the water the
most Of the way, with here and there a
tunnel, while scattered along the beach
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