Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1914 — W. C. Huston Tells of His New Home in New Mexico. [ARTICLE]

W. C. Huston Tells of His New Home in New Mexico.

Grande, N. Mex., Dec. 7, 1914. Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Ind. As the Christmas time is drawing near and our minds naturally turn to old friends and old times, we thought this an opportunity to drop a few lines to friends through your paper in regard to our welfare here. When Ave left Miami county, Indiana, the 28th of May, iD1S, to find a location suitable for our health, we came to Kansas City, via the L. E. & W., and from thence to Dalhart, Texas-, on the Rock Island. We passed through Illinois in the night and through Kansas in the day time. The weather was A'ery hot and dry, but all crops looked well In Kansas, especially the wheat and alialfa. All through the portion of Texas through which we traveled was very dry and no signs of vegetation was to be seen; all cattle were removed from those vast prairies to save them from perishing from hunger and thirst. At Dalhart we spent Decoration day and were glad to leave it behind. Not a blade of grass could be seen, and piles of dry sand Avas everywhere. We came from there to Grande, N. Mexico, via the Colorado & Southern, and the morning of the 31st of May, we started out to walk a mile to where our son, Ray, livds. “Homesick for Indiana” wouldn’t hardly express our feelings. One thing we noticed, that while the pastures were dry as stubble, the stock looked Avell. Ray had three horses, and all the feed he needed for them through the previous Avinter had been two bales of straw and a sack of oats, and that only because of. a big snow on the ground. We spent the winter In Rock Springs, Wyo., where two of our children live. The climate is surely grand, and, although cold, one doesn't notice it, as it is so very dry. We have also spent some time in Colorado, where we have another son, and found the climate similar in the three states, but give our preference to New Mexico. My health was bad and for several months previous .to leaving Indiana I was under the doctor’s care. After coming to this high altitude I Avas worse for a time, but when the change came it Avas a rapid gain, and now r walk a mile and work most of the time, and our little girl has no asthma here. The snow fall last winter Avas heavy, and this year everything did well that Avas put in the ground. We can truly say that we are no longer homesick for Indiana, when Ave see our labors rewarded and our family happy and well. This is undoubtedly the “coming country” for stock and small grain. Wheat was good and a good yield, also oats, mircT maize and millet. We have a fine stock farm and also a grain farm, but expect to make our business principally stock raising, with just enough farming to insure something for stormy weather. Cattle here on the range all winter come out fat and sleek in the spring. This has been an ideal year, thus far, very little wind to speak of, the air so pure and bracing and cool nights all through the summer months. The winter thus far has been grand, not a single bad day in November. It is snowing today and a three-inch snow came in October, but these are the salvation of the wheat crop. While our minds go back to the old Hoosier state and the many dear friends there, we feel that this is our home; for what is better after all than good health. I will close this, wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

W. C. HUSTON.