Denver labor bulletin., 1915-11-27
Trip to Dixie and Some
Impressions by the Way
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL PROSPERITY NOTED IN A
4ooo-MILE JOURNEY THRU THE HEART OF THE NATION
By CLINT c. HOUSTON.

That the Welcome Arch at foot OF Sew
epteenth street was standing in its ol,
nosition when | returned to Denver last
Sunday morning after five weeks so
iourn in Dixieland was source OF con
siderable qualification and solace. some
day this familiar LANDMARKS Will De re-
moved, and Denverites who come home
after passing under ''Mispah' will feel
that they have been given an atfront
But why worry so long as the city com
missioners continue to pass the buck.
Like all patriotic citizens, l was glad
to get back home, even if my journey
had been one continual round of pleasure
in visiting haunts of my boyhood days,
mingling with numerous relatives ami
friends. Perhaps some cities may nave
a higher commercial rating than Den
yer. but none equal the Queen City of
the Plains with its invigorating atmos-
pherc, matchless scenery, cleanliness and
wealth OF wholesome friendships.
Being in no particular hurry, | rode
most OF the 1000 miles ON daylight trains,
/ thus being able to see the country. The
weather was ideal and could not have
/ been made to order any better. Thru
/ Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and
Missouri, the great wheat, corn and stock
states. there was every sign OF pros
perity among the farmers. Was told
that land IN these districts is nov held
at from 5000 to $3.50 per acre, and very
little OF it for sale. Not having been
outside the borders of Colorado IN over
eight years, was prepared to lind
changed cities and people, but the evolu-
tion quite exceeded the limits OF my
dreams. stopping first on the way cast
in Omaha, the former chief domain of
Missouri river pirates | found one OF
the livcist cities OF the trip. The streets
and hotels were full OF people, business
was booming. no idle mechanics and
everyone was boasting that the bank
clearings OF Omaha now exceed those OF
any other city with double the popula-
ton in the Pnited States. 1t Is the
center of one of the richest stock and
agricultural sections on the globe. Here
had the pleasure of visiting a group OIL
cousins, some OF whom l had never seen,
and they received me with open arms
and killed the fatted calf.
From Omaha | went to Chicago and
not having visited that city Sine the
Columbian exposition, it presented an
entirely new appearance. Were 1t not
for the crowds, walk in the loop dis
trict would remind one of passing thru
the Royal Gorge, SO much do they re-
semble canons in the Rocky Mountains.
Took room on the twentieth iioor OF
a hotel in the hope OF escaping the noise
from the elevated loop trains, but it was
no use. Made ''pop-calls" at the Six
teen Club and the Union Printers Club.
but found very few who printed in
Chicago when / worked there in the
SOS. There We're so many People on
the streets j was unable to distinguish
visitors from residents, for they all
seemed in a hurry to get somewhere, and
ii one stopped he was warned by a
policeman to move on and get out Of the
way. The traffic squad stand on -four
street corners and signal by Whistles
which seem to be pretty well Understood,
! as didn't witness single tragedy during
the two days l was there.
indianapolis was the next topping
! place, and made the mistake Of per
mitting sentiment to guide me to the
Grand hotel where ! remembered having
put up some thirty years ago with II
party OF High School boys from Terre
F! Haute, when it was the last word in
I Indiana hotels. 1t hasn't had new
carpet or wall paper since, and the
plumbing has long since worn out. Other
wise my brief stay in the Hoosier
Capital was a delight. Visited head
quarters OF the International Typograph
ical Union and United Mine Workers OF
America. In order to visit another
colony OF relatives ] made side trip
to Tcrrc Ilaute and then over to Mar
shall. ILL., This later town OF some 5000
inhabitants il my idea OF Arcadia. No
body warks, but there is plenty to eat
all the while. 1t is populated exclusively
by retired farmersswho have grown rich
enough TO quit work and rest In order
to insure complete quictude they have
forced the two railroads to move thcii
track and depot- a mile outside the cor
porate limits. 1t makes me made to
think that when boy / had the op
portunity OF making Marshall my perm.
anent home