Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1903 — On to Little Rock. [ARTICLE]

On to Little Rock.

Drab Journal: Leaving St. Louis by steamer Peter Lee on Friday evening we reached Memphis on Monday morning. Those who are long on time enjoy the river trip. By rail the time from the Mound City to this olty of the Boses is but ten hoars, while as we oame there passed sixty-seven. On Saturday morning we viewed an alternation of high ground and willow flats scarcely ever the same on both sides. The Frisco is grading a new track on the west side of the river on the side of the blnff and to be seen about half the -time as far as Oarrithersville. It is claimed to be twenty, seven miles shorter than any constructed line. In the evening just at dusk we reached Oairo to find the Ohio at flood tide, bringing down much drift. As the high waters were common to the Cumberland, Tennessee and Ohio the current was up the Mississippi for several miles. If the tributaries of the Mississippi above the junction were in flood as well the levees would be too low.

On Sunday morning we rounded to at Tiptonville, a typical Tennessee town. The chief discharge of frieght was coffins and we could see the grave yard in the center of the place. When we started only about twenty passengers made their appearance for meals. On Sunday the number was doubled. Two newly married couple were with us. At Carrithersville .some little girls oame aboard who were very lively. The boat landed at Forsythes solely to let them off. We had a discussion on Sunday morning as to a biblical expression and on inquiry no oopy of the good book was on board. The steward olaimed they had a bible but it had been stolen. On Monday morning we were at the Memphis wharf and found our way to “The Gayoso,’’ the best hotel we have seen. The water on the boat was not friendly to our comfort and we remained over until Tuesday morning and came here on the Choctaw. More than half the way was forest land covered with water. The great levee from Missouri on the west side protects the lands farther up the river. The tributaries of the Arkansas spread over a wide belt. This city is on both sides of the Arkansas, spanned by four bridges within the city limits. The capitol building is seventythree years old, and almost moss covered. There is talk of a new one to cost one million, plus the labor of two hundred convicts. The people here claim all parts of the state are better than the southeast, over whioh we came. The trip has so far been a pleasant one but our thoughts are of friends at home.

S. P. THOMPSON.

Little Rock, Ark., Dec. 24,1902.