The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-09-22
COMM NICATION.

Just settling ourselves in the pretty
little home we have rented here, 50
that any time you, or any Of the SUI
perior friends may choose to call, we
shall be more than delighted to give
you a welcome.
The trip over the Canadian Pacific
fully realized all our expectations, al
though the first two days Were rather
wearisome. Through the south eastern
part of North Dakota we passed a beau
tiful farming country-milrs and miles
of rolling prairie, covered with vast
fields of grain, "white to the harvest"
and dotted with prosperous looking
homes. As the country grew more bar
rem we passed great many lakes
timber about them, not even shrubs
and these were literally black with
Young ducks. Mrs. Descent told us
that these lakes were the hatchcries to
which the ducks come in the spring to
rear their young. Then l1ter they wing
their way southwark and Iali a prey TO
the hunters gun.
The northern part of North Dakota
and the province Of Assinihoia are but
"as bowling wilderness" Low, bar
rem hills; vast areas black with the
traces Of recent fires; dry, grassy plains,
with scattered stations consisting OF tTO
or three small buildings with poorly
clad inhabitants. Between the stations
there was nothing to rest the eye upon,
gave the lively gophers, an occasional
fat, waddIing badger, or, toward even
ing the wandering coyote.
Upon entering Assiniboia at Portal
we set our watches back an hour to CON
form with mountain time. Here, too,
We met rel rcsentatives Of that peculiar
species, the custom house officials.
With full determination in their mien,
OF means" as Samantha would say,
they thrust their paws into the depths
of our satchells and bags, smiled sardon-
ically at our wrathful cOuntenances, and
put a variety of hieroglyphics upon that
part of our baggage that would soonest
rub against our garments, with nice,
soft chalk.
At Swift Current, a little more than
half way across Assiniboia, the Cana
dian government has large sheep
farm. of which there are several along
the line. \ number of Indians sat
along the platform offering beautifully
polished buffalo horns for sale At
Iull Lake, just beyond, my father had
raised the car window and was calmly
surveying the landscape through his
field glass. \ little noise directed our
attention to an Indian standing not far
away, and in line with the direction
of fathers glass He had stone in his
hand, raised to throw, and was glariug
wildly at the dangerous weapon (?)
which he evidently thought was leyeled
upon him. Nor did he desist until the
glass was put out of sight.
Medicine Hat, near the boundary of
this same province, proved to be the
most eDterprising Canadian village we
had yet seen. Here was an important
station of mounted police, and the
bright red jrckets of Ter Majesty :
Guards, together with the many colored
blankets of the Indians, served to
brighten an otherwise sober-colored
picture of adobe buildings, on yellow
ish clay, with a muddy river at the side.
At Laneevin and Namaka gas wells
are utilized in pumping water We
caught the glare from the flame, coming
from the mantle of iron tubes ten or
twelve feet in height, as we passed
The entire country here, on the border
lands of Alberta and Assiniboia is said
TO be undcrlaid with two or more beds
of good coal.
We were sorry not to have seen Cal
gary, the metropolis OF this district, for
the porter on our car had assured us
that il was a charming city, but we
passed through there soon after mid
night, and like the Watermelon Sambo
had eaten, we were in the dark
Our desire TO catch sight Of the noun
tains reused us very early on Friday
morning, and we were well repaid for
the extra effort. We seemed to be be-
tween two great walls, like a massive
hallway, until suddenly through great
gate, called the Gap we entered the
Rockies. Giant peaks, snow-crowned,
rolled along into place, as when one
turns a kaleidoscope. Just at our left,
leading the line, Three Sisters lifted its
three beautiful peaks, distinctly out
lined against the purple of the morning
sky, like silhouette. Next them rose
the rugged cone Of Wind Mountain.
The line ran between two almost paral-
LeHanges. On our right the Fairholm,
queerly broken, sharply defined, fam
tastlc III It's arrangement. On our left.
the kananaskis, massive, heavy, grand,
and regular in formation. The contrast
was like that between the Gothic and
Grecian STYLES of architecture.
At Canmore the observation ear was
attached. We then caught our first
view OF the great mass Of Cascade Noun
tains, directly ahead of us, just as the
faint glow Of the rising sun began to
touch its grand white head with a rosy
crown, as though the Goddess Of Morn
ing acknowledged her tavorite. But t.
retain the good Will of the other serv-
itors. she touched with her dainty fin
gers first one, then another, until they
blushed radiant vi. Ii JOY. New claim
ants for her royal favor, showed white
peaks away between the rosy ones, un-
til they. too, caught the rosy light, and
upon every side Of Us famed into daz-
cling glory. while We realized in Won
dcrinG awe at the sublime transforma-
ton scene being enacted before US, that
morning had come in the Rockies.
The valley. a. we near Anthracite.
has narrowed; the prospect grows con
tinually more striking; ranges tower
one above the other; great mountains
that Sa1p IA b1r al ,,a.Sa.ra a-a Srl