Heyy ill a —_ CAR COMPANY, fo PRR Vol. 1. Burlington, “LET EVERY STEP BE AN ADVANCE.’ Iowa, Thursday, June 30, 1870. No. Ll. Che Crans-Gontinental, Published Daily on the Pullman Hotel Express, Between Boston and San Hvancisco. W. R. STEELE, Editor. ka Communications and Exchanyes for this paper should be addressed, TRANS- CONTINENTAL, 46 State Street, Chicago. CLOSING SCENES. The long and wonderful cosmorama of nature and of life in the far west, that we have been seeing during the last few weeks, is closing, and again, at a marked era in our great ride, we review it. We may leave for leisure, and for graver thought, reflection on the material, or social, or political problems and facts that have been presented to us; and simply call to mind here the picturesque forms that have been more especially made evident to us as travelers. In this consideration, alone of so greata subject, we cannot but feel its interest and com- prehensiveness, and how remarkably this American grand tour is like the great people within whose country it extends,—cosmopolitan, as can be no tour within the domain of any other nation. This cosmorama has succes- sively shown us scenery, not only pecu- liar to this continent—like the fertile prairies, the vast stretch of wilderness, the strange rock forms of Wyoming, and the mighty cliffs of the Sierras— but wide regions, awful in desolation, resembling those around Sinai; or barren and lonely, like some now cha- racterising that promised land, to-day blighted as if by divine retribution; or again canyons penetrated by iron roads, suggesting and rivalling famous Euro- pean passes, like the Brenner and the Semmering; or great hillsides of graz- ing land that seem like those owned by the Buccleuchs and Sutherlands; or Al- pine peaks; or, in contrast, grassy fields tufted with dark green old oaks, repro- ducing English parks. Indeed, we re- alise that we may almost indefinitely find how the world appears represented here in its varied peculiar forms, to har- monise with the equally varied human life, animating the whole. We have found the real aboriginal TIndian—not the mythical creature of some novels and fanciful discourses. We have found the ubiquitous live Yankee, the pushing, industrious German, the quiet, labori- ous, frugal and perhaps irrepressible Chinese—indeed, natives of almost every nationality. Wehave found Christian- ity in all its many phases, the Latter Day Saints and the idolatry of the oldest people—all active and even aggressive. We have seen the rough life of the des- ert, With its hunters, its soldiers and its sturdy pioneers. We have seen poverty in the cabin, and the refined luxury of civilization in quiet homes or in brill- jant assernblies. And all these phases of material and social existence we have found combined in this country of our own (it may be repeated), as they are in no other, and presented to our thought as they never have been before, to most of us. And while their delightful and picturesque outer aspects linger in our memories, may we, while recalling them, bring more vividly, and more feelingly, and more effectively to our minds and our hearts, the lessonsas well as the pleasures with which they abound, and thus make this great ride not an ephemeral amusement, but a permanent acquisition of means for accomplishing greater usefulness, and with real happiness and success close our truly marvellous excursion. pe — The fruit prospects throughout Iowa are good. — The editor of this sheet, having ac- complished the remarkable feat of com- posing, printing and publishing a paper onarailroad train going at 40 miles an hour, is now ready for further engage- ments; and as he wishes to become a rising man, is ready to publish a paper inabaloon. This is a substantial state- ment, though it has an “air-o’-naught ” about it. An editorial sanctum in a balloon would simply be in another style of car, Innoevent would the pa- per lack gas, and the editor would expe- rience a trip-up, even if he met with success. The fighting editor would car- ry several pair-o’-shutes. The TRANS- /ERIAL is as far ahead of the times now, as the “raging canal” is behind it, for passenger traffic; but this nineteenth century has some time yet torun. Hip, hip, hurrah ! +e» — While our train was at Omaha, wait- ing to be transferred, George Francis Train paid us a visit of congratulation, and announced that within one month he intended to start westward on a voy- age around the world, viaSan Francisco, China, Europe and New York, thence back to Omaha, which he hopes to ac- complish in ninety days. Ce — Omaha is said to have a permanent population of 20,000 persons, and at cer- tain seasons, with its floating popula- tion included, often contains tempora- rily nearly 25,000 souls. It is a very lively and flourishing western city, and its citizeus seem fully imbued with a feeling that it must eventually become a large and influential metropolis. ——___—