The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-06-20
TRIP TO THE WEST.
BY Rev. N. E. mcLinn.

ton of our country it is used by
merchants in advertising, by farm
ers in speaking of their prospects,
and by Historians in their state
ments. Indeed it is in almost every
mouth and it is in many respects
true-the Mighty West is a matter
of fact. 1t is great in size, in
natural features, in physical
wonders, in push and possibilities.
To realize this fully one must travel
through it. The first impression
upon the mind Of person from the
east is that the people are not there
to abide, to establish themselves and
enjoy home life and the quiet re-
suits Of their tolls and struggles,
but to constantly reach out to
secure the prizes which that great
country offers.
Let us step upon train here in
our town and ascend the river to
Scranton, then boarding a west
bound express we begin at once to
ascend the main ridge of the Allie
ghanies. For hours the engine
eXhausts heavily, showing that we
are still climbing. Now we shoot
through ravines, past hills and
along rapid, beautiful streams until
the mountains sink down. The
last hill sinks down and you are in
the eastern limit of the prairies.
The flow of the streams point out
10 us that we have left the Susque-
hanna basin and are in that of the
Mississippi, or as we approach Lake
Erie in the smaller one of the St.
Lawrence. Buffalo, with its Pan
American Exposition, comes in
sight and we remember that it is one
of the centres of attraction in our
land to-day. 1t will hardly need a
description because so many will
want to see it and its great show
for themselves.
When you leave that city you
ride along lake shore for many
miles, and you may divide your
attention between the expanse of
water on the one hand and the pop.
ulous country on the other. AS
the landscape speeds away behind
the onrushing train there are two
things that impress the traveller,
the seemingly interminable plain
and the ever-recurring houses.
Little and low, it is true, but still
they are there. Villages, towns
and cities, appear and are passed,
| but these changeless features pre-
sent themselves until night settles
down and throws its sombre mantle
over all, and you turn your gaze
upon the passengers of the coach
to study them, or sink to slumbeI
from the constant grind and rumble
Of the speeding train.
With the return of daylight,
Chicago appears; that great me.
tropolis of the great west lifting it,
self above the level land and the
deep blue OF the lake beyond. This
remarkable city has many elements
peculiar to Itself, and in which il
possibly excels all other American
cities, and not the least among these
are its rapid growth and its mar
velous energy and push. But ever
here you have only virtually started
on your journey thro this grea
west. You step upon another traiI
running out upon one Of the many
roads which run like arteries, il
every direction. 1t steams rapidly
on through the suburbs Of the large
city, past numerous towns anC
cities, among which we notice
Joliet with its great prison, anC
that marvel of engineering skill
which you cross al this point, the
Chicago drainage caual rolling it,
great tide Of water, not to the city
and lake, but away from it, answer
ing the double purpose of health tt
the people and facilitating inlanC
commerce and still the same cease
less prairie and its wide extending
farm lands with the wide titled anc
large producing fields.
One thing we notice, that thougl
the day before we were passing
through zone of constant rain
where the down pour still continues
here the sun is shining warml,
down upon us and the land is al
most scorched with heat and drough
showing that we have passed over
great distance.
| Before long we reach and eros
the Mississippi, the father of waters
with Rock Island on one side, Dav
enport on the other and the Govern
ment Arsenal and Ammunition
Factory on the island between them
The river here is not very large, bu
sufficiently deep to accommodat,