The Somerset reporter., 1900-09-20
For the RnPoRTER.
From Southern Illinois.

In Maine descriptive of the journey we
made and our experiences IN this part Of
our common country.
We left Portland On an excursion
train TO Chicago on the morning Of Aug.
oath, the route taking US through the
White mountain regionLof New Hamp-
shire, which tourists say surpasses any.
thing IN grandeur east of the Rockies.
The road winds around the sides of the
mountains and for distance of fifty
miles the eye is fully satisfied with the
beauty and sublimity that constantly
opens to view as the train moves up ana
up and up towards the clouds.
After passing the mountains We pass
through rather barren country until
northern Vermont is reached where We
find great dairy section. Good graz
ing land, well-tilled fields and splendid
dairy stock attract attention. Renty OF
rain and evidences Of pros perity char
acterizes this part Of New England.
We crossed the famous Victoria bridge
which crosses the 81. Lawrence. aud
entered Montreal at night. The next
morning the train shirted the shores OF
the st. Lawrence and Lake Ontario,
reaching Niagara Falls just before mid
DIV, where we make a stop of twelve
hours.
wish to say something extra abb ut
the falls, but language fails me when /
attempt To describe this grandest of all
NATURES works. had seen engrayings
and read much about the great cataract,
but my highest fancy was comparatively
small when measured with actual facts.
One can stand almost within reaching
distance of the water directly above
where it makes plunge of 1865 feet to
the waters below. The immense volume
of waters, the spray and mist which
arise, the white foaming waters below
and the bright, beautiful rainbow, al
WayS 10 be seen when the sun shines
present the most magnificent sight TO be
seen on this planet.
We left Niagara in the night, reaching
Port Huron in the early morn, where we
crossed from Canada into Michigan.
For the first fifty miles in Michigan, |
was greatly disappointed with the con-
ditions that exist regarding the general
| farming interests of this section. The
soil is thin, crops light, with bur little
evidences of thrift and enterprise. AS
we near the central part of the State and
proceed south, conditions rapidly change
for the better. Wider fields of corn and
grain, larger growth of timber, more
| fertile soil more comfortable farm build
| ings and far greater degree Of pros
perity. The apple trees are loaded with
fruit, the towns and cities well laid out
and everything giving evidences of a
prosperous and happy people. Southern
| inh tfof 10 it,An A..
From Michigan we pass into northern
| Indiana, thence into northern Illinois.
reaching Chicago late Sunday afternoon.
| will not attempt to say much about
the great metropolis of the West. We
just as quickly as possible | admit
freely that | don't like the rush and
whrl and excitement of a big city. We
go only a half mile from the Grand
Trunk station to the Illinois Central and
take train for Cairo. 1t was night
ride of 375 miles, running the entire
length of the Empire State of the West.
Cairo is thriving city most favorably
situated at a point where the Ohio river
flows into the Mississippi. 1t is not
only railroad, but steamboat center
as we'll, steamers touching here from
| DOlll llit SiFdt lINtIC. w iINb III lilC u
5. service 36 years ago | was in Cairo,
where at that time small frame build
ings standing on posts of wood were
seer, today stand large blocks OF stone
and brick. At that date only one road,
the illinois Central, ran into Cairo.
Now the city is connected with lines
| from Missouri that cross the river by
ferry; the Cotton Belt line, crossing the
/ Ohio Il Al. t,f L on nf tho lppn-
est and most costly iron bridges in
/ America, and three great lines that run
: in from the Illinois side. The iron
/ bridge above mentioned is two and one
half miles long aud at such a height
above high water as to allow the largest
steamers to pass under. counted
twelve stone piers that were surrounded
by the water of the Ohio, and from ne.
cessity the structure runs far back from
the water on both the Illinois and Ken.
lucky sides
AS soon as we can We take the train
for Elco, % miles up from Cairo ON the
Mobile and Ohio road, which runs direct
to ST. Louis. At Elco we are in the
vicinity of Mrs. Emerson's near relatives.
At the station brother aud sister meet
us and we are soon taken to their homes.
L
happy meeting between sisters and
brothers who have been separated for
"a long years. OF course we were tired
and travel-worn on arriving here, but il
was forgotten " hen the family groups
gathered to greet US, and everyone
seems to vie with each other to make
our visit as agreeable and pleasant as ii
can possibly be. Nearly every day
someone has team ready TO drive US to
points of interest, and we are constantly
piled with questions relative to Maine,
its climate, people, customs and general
resources. OF course we speak good
words for the grand old State we repr,
sent, and can do so without exaggera-
ton or untruthfulness. Thus far we
have run about in Alexander county, the
extreme southern county of the State.
Next week we plan to take in Mound
City, Villa Ridge and other places III
Pulaski county, we knew so well more
than a third of a century ago.
The farms and methods Of farm ing
d fer widely from those in Maine.
Dwelling houses, as whole, are smaller
and out-buildings are not considered
with that importance that they demand
in our State The farm stock run out
the year round, as the winters are very
mild with but little snow and ice. The
fruit crop, this year, is almost a failure
In proportion to bountiful year, al
though we are eating some nice, rich
peaches taken from tree standing
within ten feet from the stand upon
which | write. We have plenty of
watermelons, the size of our Maine