The Republican journal., 1884-01-10


slept like a top. | don't know why top sleeps
better than anything else, only that it does and
when you tell anv one YOU slept like top, he
knows YOU didn't lie awake. At an early hour
Sunday, we arrived at Jacksonville, and hur-
ried aboard the "Meyer & Muller just i'll time
to get my baked beans and brown bread with
Capt Perkins, like good descendant of those
old puritans, who learned to bake beans, by
practicing on their neighbors, who happened TO
differ with them religiously. OUR GEORGE.
Fort Point to Astoria.
THE JOURNEY OF A WALDO COUNTY MAN
TO OREGON VIA. THE NORTHERN PACIFIC
RAILWAY.
LETTER NO. ,.
Correspondence of the journal.
think we left our readers at Custer Station.
Here we found ourselves in the wi!ds of the
West, and saw the Flathead Indians iii their
natural style-the genuine Flatheld, dirty and
ragged. their heads covered with mop Of
black, tangled heir. Here is a Reservation, and
here the Indians live on rum and tobacco. The
squaws ride small pony, with two long poles
fastened by one end around the neck Of the
beast, the other dragging on the ground, and a
long od-fashioned cheese-boX laShed about
three feet from the horses tail, which is filled
with worldly goods and pappooses.
From Custer to Billings the country is new
and wild. We frequently passed herds of cat-
tie, all attended 10y herders riding The Indian
pony. The herler is proud of his occupation.
He carries fifteen shooter, with belt full of
shells, wears his hair very long, with broad
brimmed, slouched hat. and seemingly tries to
make himself look as much like Kit Carson a>
possible. The stock is the old breed, With long
crooked horns. They are eorralled near the
railroad, and the herders take great pains to
post themselves near the road while the cans
are passing. We are now in the beautiful VAL
ley of the Yellowstone, with the river winding
along our right no inhabitants but railroad
men and rowing Indians: no habtation> but
rude mud huts, with occasionally a boarding
house for the workmen on the road.
We next reach Livingston. and switch of on
a side track until morning. We 20 the word
go at !. NJ. If all are aboard they 90 ; if
not. they arc left which often happens. and the
tardv ones have the pleasure of waiting for the
next train.
Sept. 14th we arrive at Helena, 4 very smart
little place This morning we came out of the
valley and struck an up grade. Trees, rocks
and mountains begin to show up. After rest
ut Helena we 90 on; up around the hills, over
deep canonS. first to the right then to tile left,
and over tre>es. the highest of which is 226 #.
high. BY and by the iron horse fetches snort, ,
sticks bis nose into the side of the mountain
and in he goes dragging the train iii after him.
An j. darkness. ana the air is somewhat Sitting;
but we are moving rapidly and soon emerge
from tie tunnel. We are told that the road i
only temporary here. as there is a tunnel near
the foot of the mountain in the process of
building, which, when completed. will he much
longer, and the darkness will give lovers Il
chance to kiss to their hearts content. The
engine moves carefully along the steep grade
with only two coaches attached, and soon we
reach Tiptop, Here we find ourselves at an
elevation of DIP it. above sea level. A bill
always has two sides we now Strike the down
grade, and go down as carefully a> we came
up. We halt three hours at Elysium Station,
and here partake of a good hot dinner, which
is appreciated bv all, as we had lived on canned
goods until we We're heartily tired Of them.
some of our party complain at the delay. bat
are gently reminded by friend b that we
should esteem it Il privilege to be allowed
rambe at the foot of the Rockies. We are
soon on our way again and at Z. NJ. pass the
Golden Spike. Tie place is gay decorated in
honor of the great event. and of the Willard
excursion which passed over he road few
days before. The scenery is grand. and we
have an inclination to look ouI both sides Of
the ear at the same time. On one side we have
beautiful mountain streams; on the other.
rugged mountains towering high in air. There
are beautiful groves occasionally. iii which we
notice the entire absence of underbrush. The
trees look as though they had been carefully
pruncd. The air is sharp and clear, ana seems
to agree with our party.
We reach Spokane Falls and here part Wiz h
our agreeable friends the Bedcn and Brook
families They are natives Of Minnesota and
are settled here. 1t is new place. ana II
smart looking town. From here the road
takes southerly direction to AinsWorth.
Here we cross the Columbia river, by running
the cars on large fcrry-boat. 1t is the Sab
bath. but business goes on Just the same on
the day Of rest, and we realize fully that we
are in the wild West. We follow the bank OF
the river, passing Castle Rock, The Dalles, the
Cascades and many beautiful sights reaching
East Portland at : 4. NJ. Here we leave the
cars and cross the Willamette river to Port
land, where we learn that we are two hours
late for the Astoria boat. and must content
ourselves best we can until tomorrow al
A. NJ.
We go down to the baggage room to find
what is left Of our worldly effects. The trunks
are all there but minus locks, hinges etc
However, owing to the seaman-ke manner in
which Capt. $ put on the laShingS. the
contents We're all there. Next morning we
went on board the steamer to 90 down the
Columbia. The banks of the river IRE low
generally, though very high in places But
little land is cultivated along the banks. and ON
the high land there is Il heavy growth of tim
Der. chiefly hcmlock. spruce and fir some Of
the trees are seven feet through and two hn-
dred feet high There are several landings
along the river, the principal places being 81.
Helena. Columbia City, kaIama. aud many
post offices. We are now in Astoria. and in
our next give our experience of life in the
West. j. W. NJ
Representative Converse, Of Ohio. a promi-
nent Democrat who recently returned to Wash
ingtOn from trip to that State saws the Demo
crats will have the hard st struggle next wear
they have ever fought, and with The chances
against them, unless they abandon free trade
No party aan succeed in this country now he
continued. ION free trade platform. Another
generation may be educated up to it. but now
1t Is death to any party. There are 4.0000OO
people interested, either directly or Indirectly.
in manufactures, and they will not tolerate free
trade. The laboring classes are organized and
will go against us solidly if we declare for free
trade. Why, my district has 1000 Democratic
majority, and yet no Democratic free trader
can be elected in it. The platform adopted BY
the Ohio convention last wear suits us. and if
the national convention will plant itself upon
that we can win, but if we attempt to raise a
free trade issue it will beat u.s."
Although 1888 closed with depression in
many industries and business was dull general
ly, owing mainly to Democratic free trade
agitation, trade during the past year was larger