Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1903 — A Western Trip [ARTICLE]

A Western Trip

Redlands, Cal., Oct. 28, ’O3. Editor Republican: I can realize more fully than ever the fact that it ia an easy matter to see something and very difficult to describe it so others can get the desired idea, so l shall not attempt to describe what we saw bat will briefly mention the same. We left Rensselaer Oct. 7th, arrived at St Paul the Bth. St. Paul as viewed from the train is a beautiful city. Passed through Wisoonsiu in the night. Eastern part of Minnesota is a beautiful oountry, western part p>or soil, ■crabby timber with beautiful lakeß. Arrived at Fargo S. D. evening of the Bth. This is the finest traot of land we have seen on oar trip. Thousands of acres wheat in shook, threshing and staoking being prevented by rain. Saw the Dalrymple farm, consist* ing of thousands of aores. Struck Yellow Stone river ai Glendive and followed the same probably 800 miles, saw numerous small herds of cattle in the valley and alfalti. The native gradh is very short, and the atmosphere dear. I think a mouse oould have been seen two hundred yards away, if there had been any there. Left the valley at Livingston arrived at Butte at dark, the great mining town. Passed through Rooky Mt. tunnels 3600 feet long. Passed through Idaho in the night arrived at Spokane morning of the 10th, where we were met by our friends and taken to their oountry home some 15 miles away. Here we remained until the 20,h and took in the surrounding country generally* Spokane is a otty of about 50,000 inhabitants situated in the Spokane valley, ifc noted for its beautiful falls and elegant residences and factories. Visited the

inter-state fair, which was being held there. There was a fine dieplay of stock, fruits and vegetable. Spokane valley is a gravel bed 20& feet deep from the surface. a comparatively small pieoe of which would gravel all the roads in Jasper Co., and then some. Left Spokane 11 p. m. and morning found us at Yakima a small nice town, And the finest stook and hay/ country we had seen, Thousands of oattle and tons of hay and an abundance of watet. • Passed through the Casoade Mt. tunnel two miles long. Here we saw the finest timber on our trip. Thousands of aores having been destroyed by fire and other causes. Arrived at Taooma in a dense fog which soon disappeared on leaving the Sound. At Chehalis saw a stump 10 feet in diameter whioh was brought there for McKinley to malte a speeoh tpon; afterward used by Roosevelt in making a speech. Crossed Colombia river on a ferry and arrived at Portland the 21st. Spent day and night visiting Mr. J. H. Willey and wife, Mr. A. 0. Faria and wife and the Miss Harrisons formerly of Rensselaer, also Miss Katherine MoDonald a 1 former teaoher in the Rensselaer! schools. Visited the park, saw the | base of a G. A* R. monument on j whioh Roosevelt made a speeoh,! also many other beautiful scenes I Mt. Hood can be plainly seen 40 miles away. The water supply for Portland is-brought from that region 30 miles in pipes. Arrived at Salenf Oct. 23rd, and w*uf met by our friend H. W. Savage who moved from • Jasper county 25 years ago. He has a fine farm, is gardening and raising fruit on a large scale. Is a Roosevelt man politically and in Ideas of a large family. He raised straw' >• berries, 26 of. which filled a galloh'

measure, one berry 13 inches in oircuroferenco and 20 bushels cherries from one tree. The oountry near Salem is a beautiful oountry, good soil. Will produce 25 to 30 bnshels of wheat, 50 to 60 bnshele of oata per acre, apendid frnit and vegetables and can be bought for from S4Q to S6O per acre. On the 25th we orossed the Siskiyou Alts, through tunnel 1J mites long. Grade 175 feet per mile for 17 miles. Onr train consisted of 7 ooaohes and 3 engines. We passed through the beautiful Bhasta region, within 22 miles of Mt. 9hasta (apparently about two.) Stopped at Sbaaia Springe. Here we saw more cattle than any plaoe on ear trip. Crossed by boat from Oakland to Sau Francisco,spent one day there. Among other plaoes visited Cliff House on Paoifio coast, 20 minutes ride oni street oar. saw numerous seals basking and barking in the sunshine on the rocks in ocean Passed the oil fields on the boast, many derricks being quite a distance from here. Passed a pigeonry looked like there was 10,000 pigeoos more or leas. Arrived at Redlands, our destination the 27th A New York delegation of Backers arrived this morning and were shown the city in fine shape

B HARRIS.