The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-08-07
THE GREAT NORTuW EST.
TIE COUNTRY SEEN AT ITS BEST IN
fAY AND JUNE.
Immense Fields Of Growing Wheat in Da-
kota- Charnn" Scenery Along the
Columbia River.

r A correspondent at Portland Oregon,
writes: To see at its best what is known
as the "Grcat Northwest" one should
visit it in the latter part OF May OF in the
month of June. Then the sunshine is
warm enough to be pleasant, the land
scape is fresh and Green, and the atmos-
phcre is delightfully."- clear and bracing.
The later months are apt to be warmer
and in the absence of much rain the
constant stream OF sunshine dries the
earth and makes more or less dust. The
Northwest docs not know such weather
rs the East calls sultry and oppressive.
The suns rays are penetrating, but the
air is always good, and it is invariably
cool in the shade.
Minnesota is the beginning of the
Northwest and st Paul and Minneapolis
are its gates. Winter there is long and
cold, and May is we'll advanced before
Spring shows itself in real earnest; its
appearance transforms an icy. cheerless
landscape into one of much beauty.
Green fields and rolling prairie blend
harmoniously, and groves Of small oaks
wave their new-grown fossy leaves in
the bracing atmosphere. Many little
lakes are dotted upon the surface of the
country. Fresh breczcs ruflle their
waters, and make tiny wavelets, which
dance and sparkle i'll the sunlight.
Dakota's atmosphere resembles that of
Minnesota, but its landscape is quite
different. Trees are scarce and prairie
abounds. There are long stretches of
level country, and again the land rises
and falls in graceful unlulations like the
waves of the ocean. Onc who has been
at sea will have recalled the picture of
the waste Of @ratcrs frinGed on the horri-
zon round about with the waves ever
aising and rolling one upon another.
The billows in tho distanco seem always
higher then those next tho speeding
ship. Early summer shows Dakotas
prairie green for miles with newly Sp:out-
ed wheat Tho cutting of the golden
grain comes later on. Miles OF yellow
boards then wave in the b-ccZcs, and the
smoke from tho many thrashius engines
rises against the sky and floats of
languidly like that OF q far-away steamer
at sea. The western portion of Dakota
is q bunch grass country. Bunch grass
becomes quite green in tho Spring, but
it is never as fresh and decided in color
as grass of Eastern fields and pastures.
What is green in Dakot! in Spring and
early Summer assumes various hucs of
yellow and brown later on. Tho hot
midsummer sun eats the coloripg matter
from the grasses and cures them as they
grow. Nothing makes beautiful coun.
try like green grass. Without it the eye
grows tired OF any landscape. But there
is much beauty in the many shades of
brown and yellow Of the prairies and
hillsides. at dusk, they havo an indes-
cribably rich and vclvety appearance
Every possible shade in the changes
\ from brown to- yellow can be seen in tho
softness OF deepening TWILIGHT. Cattle
like the green things of Sorinc, but
they fatten on the bunch Grass, and exist
on it cured in the Summer ANA Winter,
Dakota grows warm ut times il the SUM-,
but the mercury there Mt l1Ue does not
mean the discomfort of @ rlusgy day in
IN Eastern city, with the mercury at $50.
The dryness OF the atmosphere which
sends the mercury up i'll the Northwest
also protects the people from feeling the
heat.
Eastern Montana is @ grazing country.
1t is largely prairie. and north of the
Yellowstone River are large herds OF
cattle To the South of this river fol
several hundred miles is the reservation
of the Crow Indians. Trees ere q most
refreshing sight to dweller on the
prairie. Except on river banks he does
not see them. Trees line the banks OF
every river, and, rising above the level
OF the surrounding country. one can by
them trace the course of any stream fol
many miles. The mouth of June secs {
volume of water in the Yellowstone
River, scattering spots of snow Oh the
mountains Of the Belt range. ana the
river and streams of the National Pari
are full os life and energy. 1t also
shows the country west OF the Rocky
Mountains IL its choicest season. The
Rocky Monnt&irs do not present higl
ridge of snow-capped peaks running
north and south across tho face of til,
country. The range is very brol1en, ant