Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1919 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Tells of Auto Trip From Remington to Montana. Chester, Mont., Sept. 30, 1919. Editor Democrat: In complying with your request that we drop a line occasionally, I thought perhaps I had better get busy. We arrived here in Chester a week ago today, having been just 12 days on the road and covering 1,722 miles this far. We found most of the roads in good shape, especially those in Wisconsin and Minnesota, where we followed the Yellowstone Trail, it being largely a state road and well graded and kept -op. . . Through North Dakota we had a good road also, inasmuch as we did not follow the main trail part of the time. The Glacier Trail through this state and Minnesota is good and much better than the Red Trail from Minot to Chester, Mont. This road being mostly a real trail —plain, Ungraded country road—with no fences alongside, so If a person wishes to make a short eut there is nothing to stop him from laying out a trail of his own. At this season of the year, however, the roads are dry and in good shape. In fact, we did not drive over 25 miles with chains, and that was after a heavy rain near Jamestown, N. D. Everywhere we saw evidence of a lack of rain this last summer. Through ..North Dakota they have had only approximately a half crop, while here in Montana it has been practically a total failure. We met several families ln.,covered wagons who were leaving the dry farming district and going back to "the States/' However, the majority of them have kept their farms out here and intend to con?e back in the spring and put out a crop, trusting to luck and good fhirtune that there will be plenty of *s®v and rain this winter. Enroute here we passed through the Ph Pock Indian reservation, home of the Sioux Indians, grod saw a great many interesting tfcfmgw Most of the Indians live Up veyaW made of logs and Smbm-wMI with bine elay,or gumbo, a»"tWy call it. However, we saw amoral, teepee* erected |nM outside Se deor of some -of these shacks, f de not know whether these were iteMter kMehen* or whether some if tee old bucks were having a Hvd ten* getting accustomed to E** tedder* ways of living. and

had to sleep in a tent occaHlonally to ease their conscience. We also paHßcd by one of their dance poles, 1 suppose they call it. It i« simply a pole about the size and height of la telephone pole with a pile of brush tied to the top of It, ."nrl some carved figures of animal heads on the sides. We were told that this was where they had their sun dance, of three consecutive days and nights duration. Needless to say they enjoy a dance more than I do, even if Horton and Beam were furnishing the music. We expect to lepve hero in a tew days or as soon as the snow which fell Friday and Saturday has melted and the roads get dry again, going by way of Spokane ®nd Seattle and then south on the coast route. We have been getting The Democrat regularly and are always glad to read the news from Jasper county. . Very respectfully yours, R. A. TAYLOR.

Apples Are Also a Short Crop in Western New York. Ira Brown, formerly of Jasper county, writes The Democrat editor in reply to an inquiry regarding some winter apples, as follows: Sugar Grove, Pa., Oct. 4, 1919. Mr F. E. Babcock, Rensselaer, Ind. Dear Editor—Your letter of 25th ult. in regard to apples. Am sorry to say that I am unable to And any apples for sale that have any Quality. The crop is very short and very poor quality, as they are wormy and knotty. If it had been "spuds” I surely could have filled your order. I have five acres that will make 100 bushels to the acre and they are fine ones. Lots of therm- weigh 1% pounds each Mr Keister has a field that is making around 200 bushels per acre. They are selling around $3 per bushel here on the market. We are having a fine fall and all farm work is progressing nicely, most, every one filling their silos, cutting corn and digging potatoes. There has been but very little threshing done In this vicinity, as most of the farmers thresh their buckwheat and oats nt the same time. What oats has been threshed made between 30 and 25 bushels per acre; wheat 25 to 20 bushels, Buckwheat is a bumper crop this Tear. ' If you like chestnuts you will have to come out, The crop is a hegvy one and of fine quality. They are ripe and some are falling. We have had no frost yet to crack the bums, A If any of the Jasper county boys like hunting they bad better shoulder their musket.* and come out here this fan m several ®tee

I bunches of deer and black bear have been sighted about 30 lullea southeast of me this summer. The drouth in tJhe mountains drove them to the rlvera. I Well, ns It will be some burden to read thia I will close, hoping you will Ret apples. । Yours respectfully, IRA BROWN. I p s.—if you do not got applM, let me know as I will be going to Jamestown, N. Y., before long and 1 will try to get them from the fruit house there.