The Forrest City times., 1894-07-13
ALetter From the Colonel,

day afternoon, after delightful ride of eight hours, through the fertile prai- rie of Missouri and Illinois. via the Chicago and Alton railroad, the pre- ferred' route. The Auditorium Hotel was selected as headquarters for the Western delegates who were to partic- ipate in special excursion via the Grand Trunk and Lehigh Valley route. While in Chicago the site of the Worlds famous fair was visited. Much remains to recall to mind the past grandeur. Here the golden gate of the Transportation building still shows evidence of it's once wondrous beauty. There the statute of Liberty reflects back the rays of the morning sun, and casting its shadows on the ruins of the grand Peristyles, to lose itself in the shade of the ruins of the once glorious Art building The work of demolition goes on day after day, and but short time hence, the Worlds Fair will be dream 0f the past.
 Wednesday evening, train of ten sleepers and baggage car awaited us at the Grand Trunk depot. and at 7:a0 the 3S0 moulders of public opinion took seats in the cars, uneasily await ing the consideration of a crowd of strikers who were congregated at the depot. Wisdom prevailed, and the train of Pullmans were allowed to pro- csed. Passing through the country at at night, nothing can be said of it's character, but the towns passed through indicated thrift and industry.
 Thursday morning Port Huron was reached, and embarking on the Steam CT John Cole, a ride of twelve miles up the St. Clair river landed us at Oak land Hotel, a beautiful summer resort. owned and operated by capitalists of Chicago and adjoining cities. After spending the day here, we returned to our sleeper at Port Huron, and in the morning passed through the tunnel under St. Clair river. which binds two mighty nations together-Canada and the United States A rapid ride through the old Dominion, passing through thickly settled country and many towns, all showing the results of industry and energy.
 At Niagra. on the Canada side, we uara trootod to a r;da a, tho olont,;<. railroad distance of twenty miles along the river and falls, from Chipa- Wa to Queentown and return, a trip on the "Maid-of- Mist" thence to the American side where carriages were in waiting to drive us through the beauties of the various parks, islands, etc. The beauties of this fa- nous resort are too well known for re- production here, but as to the ap- breaches to this world famous spot, too much cannot be said. The uniyer- sal opinion of the press gang is de- cidedly in favor of the Lehigh Valley route as the only Eastern approach.
 But the gateway to these favored spots is via the Iron Mountain route, whose admirable service prepares you iii measure for the surpassing beau ties beyond the gate. More anon.
 There is, possibly, no section in all this broad land, and certainly nowhere else. having the same diversity in in- dustrieS as that traversed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad and these in- dustrial enterprises are plants of great importance. many of them having all international reputation. Their pro- ducts are to be found i'll every quarter of the civilized world. The manufac- tories of edged tools and machinery the silk and thread mills the Touring mills; the tanneries, the nurseries, quarrieS, woodworking mills. saw mills, watch factories, jewelry plants, vie in friendly rivalry with the larger operations such as iron and steel mills, wire rope works. coal operations, ce- ment plants, slate quarries, paint mines, etc. In agriculture and fruit growing the people keep pace with the rest of the world and in educational plants they are eminent. The section guar anteeing so great a diversity in indus trial plants must of necessity be more than ordinarily picturesque and we think in this, they do excell. Leaving the great cataract, the king Of floods, Niagra, you find a rich agricultural district. Then. as you near the Lake region you are eimpressedlwith the vine yards and the grassy slopes that provide the setting for the limpid, iridescent, the beautiful Summer outing spots, on the shores of Seneca Lake. The farm ers' henes have an air. of comfort and you are convinced that intelligence nnd cnlt rlra .ar.. tn he foItud rrif hin the.