Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-19
SCENES ON THE WAY.
Tie Re0elafons Of tile C0n0enhOn
Trip to the Pacific
Coast
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 10.

Coast.
| TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 10.
Our party left Chicago Monday night
at o'clock. 1t required sixteen Pull
man cars, made up in two sections Of
eight cars each The Wisconsin people
were assigned to a car that will always
| be remembered and known as the
| "Westerly." It is not as fine and con-
Yenient as the one we had going South
| last fall but will have to answer the
purpose. The Wisconsin delegation is
not as large as expected. For unac-
countable reasons the delegates failed
| to make their appearance when the
| time came. However we have a very
pleasant party and they are making the
most of their time.
The first evening out was spent in
getting acquainted and settling ourselves
in quarters that will be "home" to US
for thirty days. On awaking Tuesday
morning we found ourselves at Gourin,
Missouri. It was raining when We left
Chicago and kept it up all night. The
season in this part Of Missouri is no
more advanced than it is in Wisconsin.
The winter wheat is just up and yege
tation is hardly visible. The grass is
short and hardly feed yet for stock.
Our section is known as No. 3, and we
are one hour behind No. l. On leaving
Chicago, while still in the outskirts, the
engine of section No l left the track
and put us an hour and half late.
Our train contains people from Rhode
Island, Pennsylvania, Michigan. Ohio,
Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois and Wiscon-
sin. They are very social and visit with
each other and gradually become better
acquainted.
The weather Tuesday morning was
damp and cold very much as it was
when we left home
WEDNESDAY,, MAY II.
My last letter ended on our arrival at
Kansas City. Tuesday afternoon
brought forth no particular news except
that Western Missouri is flooded. The
Missouri river is several feet above high
water mark and is overfiowing its banks
to such an extent that people living on
the bottoms have been obliged to vacate
their houses and retreat to higher and
safer quarters.
Kansas City is a beautiful place with
a population of about 143, 900, situated
on the high bank of the Missouri river
Here we had an hour and half for
viewing this enterprising and growing
city. Grip and electric cars are the
means of transportation. On account
Of its high elevation and location on the
side Of a great bluff the city has been
poorly laid out The streets extend in
every direction and from all points of
the compass. The public buildings are
modern, the stately business houses
and handsome residences show their
recent construction and are in keeping
with a city of its size. The writer with
York Life Insurance Building, twelve
stories high, which is located on the
apex of the bluff. From this point we
were able to get very fine view of the
city. The Missouri river here is about
one-fourth of mile wide and is a dirty,
muddy stream with no attractions what
ever-surely not for bathing,
The scenery about Kansas City is
grand and leaves the stranger favorably
impressed with pleasant recollections of
this country. Our party left this city at
7 O'Clock p. m. On awaking Wednes-
day morning we found ourselves in the
interior Of Kansas. AS usual it was
raining and the country looked drench
ed. All the forenoon we have been
passing through level country The
condition of crops are looking back
ward. The rains have been so plenty
that farmers have been retarded with
their plowing and cattle are looking
thin. Western Kansas is a vast rolling
prairie with now and then small house
the headquarters for some Ranchman.
The rain of early morning has subsidized
and the afternoon looks more promis
ing. So far the weather has been cold
and wet
The people of our section are rapidly
becoming well acquainted and visits
from one car to another are frequent.
A more social, jovial and entertaining
delegation would be impossible to as
semble.
THURSDAY, MAY u.
We arrived in Colorado Springs
Wednesday evening at s o'clock. We
were Immediately taken by electric cars
to the "Casino" large suburban hotel
at a distance of four miles from the city