to be the best & fastest train in America, makes the run of 921 miles in 22 3/4 hours. Got the porter to get some hot water made some tea and had a good feed out of the lunch we had with us, our first stop was at Champaign, Ill {Illinois}. at 330 p.m. having made 126 miles. Since leaving Chicago we have been travelling south across the state of. Ill. the country is flat (no sign of a hill) and low. soil looks dark in color and nothing much grown excepting corn. Has been raining all the afternoon. and some places a little snow one thing we noticed in particular. all the houses are of frame only saw two brick.