The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-30

vacations and see the sights Stimuli
ltaneously the fasteners go west to
isightsee, and al the same time null
titude of people take passage on the
ocean liners and sail for Europe to
lsee the scenery
IN recent years the See America
first. cry has gone up all over the
land. It has been argued that amer
tica has more and better scenery than
The old world. and that people are
foolish who go abroad and spent their
isood money 10 see sights which are
not more gorgeous and Inspiring. and
not half SO numerous as the scenes
that are 10 be found at home. II is
quite generally agreed that people
swho can afford to do so have q right
ito 90 abroad for q vacation. but ne,
quite generally. agree that Americans
should see America first. What then
shall ne say about the middle west
Ierner who goes to Colorado to spend
1.-THE summer vacation, or else takes a
"trip east7 It really seems as though
that person should be told to see the
Mississippi river first.
/ There are some who may laugh at
the idea OF spending a summer vaca-
Itioa On the Mississippi river, and yet,
AS a matter Of fact, steamboat sight
seeing IS one OF the most glorious out
ings imaginable And such multi
s tide OF sights.
Think OF q trip through the richest
section OF America from ST. Paul 10
ST. Louis-7S1 lazy miles OF rugged,
romantic scenery. to be seen from the
surface OF the majestic Mississippi
The greatest river in America, and 3
Estream which is deserving of national
rather than statewide attention and
/ interest
/ Il takes Capt. II. A. Blair of Daven-
Tsorts Iowa, to tell one about the pleas
Iures to be found in river vacationing
AEr. Blair. now retired. was a river
iyoat pilot back IN the days of the late
Marx Twain and this is the way he
describes the river:
The upper Mississippi has unlimit-
led scenic beauty and grandeur. There
is stretch OF $50 miles from Sabuia
ITO Red Wing. Mimi, which was left
untouched by the glaciers in their
grinding, leveling movements, whe e
high, bald. rocky bluffs rise abruptly
from the waters edge TO heights Of
from 400 TO IL feel and where the
river still flows in the bottom Of the
same old channel which carried the
deep. graceful stream that drained OF
odd Lake Agazziz. body of water
once larger than Lake Superior Since
the lumber business has played out
the great feet Of raft steamers has
vanished Ike thieves at the break OF
day. and the Mississippi river, from
the falls Of St Anthony from Day
enpcn to St Paul-is left silent
peaceful and beautiful
There are few bright, busy anC
progressive cities. and several pretty
little towns nestled in Between tht
hills. but for the most part there II
only the quiet and the beauty Of tht
winding river. and the everlasting
hills. with their bold, sharp. sentinel
Ike fronts guarding the stream will
It's wealth Of legend and song ans
story
Than the Mississippi river ahov,
the upper rapids, no safer stream Il
navigate can be found. There are nj
rocks, and hut few snags; a gentI.
current With scareeiy noticeabl'
rise and fail Nothing infiammable il
ever carried on the passenger steam
ers, and boats are so few that colas
Ions are almost out OF the question. Il
storm or fog the custom Is to land an,
lie UP IN order TO avoid grounding
No type Of boat, in fact no conyeyanc
anywhere is go well suited to It's worl
and its environment as is the Missis
sippi river stee mboat. which afford
I'll Of the comforts of a home or a goo
hotel. With shaded decks for loungin
or playing games. with fine dancin
floors. and sole, comfortable berths. .
The boats that carry the tourist
are big and pleasant and cool an
restful. They are models Of cieani
ness and the table that is set is one {
I their leading features Built for cor
fort more than for speed. these boat
make the round trip between ST. Joui
and St Paul in nine days.
Perhaps the greatest thing to b
seen on the Mississippi today is III
q great power dam al Keokuk. ri ha
= leeAs as large IS these Of the Panam
. canal ard in passing over the dam /
z The river steamers are lifted to
e height Of thirty-hye feet. Eads bride
o IL ST. Louis IS one of the worth viii
4 sights Of a riTer excursion, and Pias
iuff, that point upon which the pr
histories painted a picture of a giga
OF tic bird, probably in commemorate
al Of some notable battle. is well wor
~ gazing az, and il VIII linger with Of
al log after commonplace sights ha-
ry been obliterated from the tablets
he memory Nsuyoo, the first city tn
~ vas built By the Mormons, holds mo
be tran an ordinary amount Of hisfoI