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. houses all the after noon.

Dec 5th. Had a better nights sleep got up at 6.30 a.m. this train sure travels some. arrived at Jackson state of Miss. at 645 a m, raining yet. the porter says it rains here nearly all month, and either rain or sunshine. quiet a lot of scrub bush along here, pine & oak. & gum in the swamps Talking to a Mr Smith who lives at Lockport. La. 20 miles from New Orleans, he says they grow lots of vegetables in his section, planted early corn in Feby, and usually gets $4.00 to $5.00 a hundred ears for the first. and feed corn in March. selling now at 92 cents bushel. also has early

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