Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-07-10
To Dixie By Steamboat

The writer read a story once about
a man who travelled all the way
around the world so that he might
fully appreciate the blessings of his
own home when he arrived there af-
ter a years journey to the east. The
last six months Of his trip was given
up to delightful anticipation of see
ing his wife, children and W little
home set in the lick trees. The ac-
count Of his joy on seeing his own
lamp-post and front gate is we'll
worth reading!
The same things hold true about
Wisconsin and it's climate. Erin
stance We think we have hot weather.
Let us tell you, gentle reader, that
we know nothing about hot weather in
this glorious climate. We think we
have hot weather. But we don't have
it. So to really appreciate our cool
and pleasant summers we advise a
trip south in hot weather. Then
come home and be glad for the rest
of the season.
The Herald man left Chicago a
couple Of weeks ago with two friends.
The destination was st. Louis. The
trip south 300 miles is without Incl
dent except to see the gradual stages
Of the harvest and other plant con-
ditions incident to a climate that grad
ualIy grows warmer. In Wisconsin
when we left the corn averaged six
inches high. Small grain was doing
we'll but lacked a month for harvest
ing. In central Illinois corn was
nearly waist high and wheat harvest
under way. On our return the har-
vest was completed. In Kentucky and
Tennessee the corn stands as high as
a mans head! Cotton is ready to
bloom.
We thoroughly recommend a river
trip to the mar or woman whose
nerves are worn to a FRAGILE by hard
work and business worry. We dis
tinctly do not recommend such a trip
to the person who wants to travel
fast. River travel is slow but very,
very comfortable. 1t appeals to the
observing and those who enjoy homely
life along the shores of the stream.
One travels not to exceed IA miles
per hour going down stream. Up
stream you hit along at 8 miles at
the best.
Leaving st. Louis in the evening on
the steamer of the same name, the
party arrived at Cairo the next noon.
This is about 200 miles. Cairo is a
busy railroad town at the confluence
of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
To be exact it is a few miles upstream
on the Ohio. The town is surrounded
by levees of an enormous height to
keep flood waters out. Some times
the levees are covered with water.
Glad this wasn't one of the times.
Getting out of the river into the
Ohio one notices the change Of color
in the water. The Mississippi is yell
low like the Missouri. The Ohio is
blue. Not so blue as the Hudson or
the Columbia but still a very fair
shade.
The first stop upstream is Paducah,
Kentucky, a hustling town OF about
%, 900 located at the juncture Of the
Tennessee and the Ohio. You stop
there about two hours. Paducah is a
right pretty place-clean and we'll
kept. The town is wet-sO they say.
One of the few wet places in "Ole
Kentuck." The people are friendly
and you can get what is positively the
best ice cream in the world!
i i =
The journey from now on is up the
Tennessee river. This stream is vel
low where one expects blue. The col
or is due to the clay region of the up
per river.
The lower Tennessee is evidently
very fine farming region. On the
banks grow corn 6 feet high now and
of a fine color. For miles the banks
are flat and the valley broad but this
changes as the Tennessee line ap-
prOaches and the river runs between
high and rocky bluffs. All the hills
are forest-clad and the changing
views are very pleasing. Goats in
prOfusion browse or the hill-sldes but
that is about all the life one sees X
cept for an occasional cabin.
Clifton, Tennessee, is reached the
second evening from Paducah. This
is a typical old southern town un-
changed one imagines since the civil
war. No electric lights or other mod
ern appliances are used by these easy
going but very pleasant people. The
stores are old-fashioned and quiet
looking.
i s. 4
The Tennessee river is still used as
a means Of travel and freight ship
ping by the inhabitants for many
miles back. The country is rough,
heavily wooded and has few rail or
ever wagon roads. AS a result near
ly all the travel is up and down the
river. There are more boats on the