The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-09-30
From the Alleshenies to the sierras.

From the Alleghenies to the sierras.
Mr.. EDIroR:-Will you grant small
space in the columns of the HERALD for
short letter from modest writer?
Having spent two weeks in renewing
old acquaintances and reviewing once
familiar scenes in my native county,
Somerset, turned my back to her beau
tiful hills and valleys, on July 10th, per-
haps for the last time, and started on the
journey for my home on the Pacific slope,
in the Saa joaquin Valley.
do not think | ever realized before
my last visit to my old home how charm
ing those little hills aud valleys are. The
sweet water, the pure air, how shall /
Brget them especially the old cemetery
beside the historic Jersey Church, in
Turkeyfoot-that sacred spot where rest
the remains of so many hallowed in
memory.
1t was my great pleasure TO spend a
half-month, after an absence of 20 years,
with old friends and relatives there where
l had spent my childhood days. ] also
spent few days of quiet, peaceful rest
with my old friends and brothers, y. Il.
Critchfield aud w. III. Sanner. men
whom your county has been pleased to
honor.
After leaving Somerset county with all
of its pleasant associations / spent four
delightful days in Fayette county. At
the old church near Mill Run we had a
Sabbath day reunion of old friends and
christian workers from different parts of
the country day long to be remember
ed
At Connellsville little incident of
rather peculiar interest occurred. | had
previously spent few days there behav-
ing myselfas best | could in such place.
When | returned for few hours visit a
number of citizens, led by the postmaster,
concluded TO cane me. left victor, how
ever. carrying with me gold headed
walking stick.
A most delightful day was passed in
Pittsburg visiting the Carnegie Library,
Museum and Conservatory, and other
objects of interest in Schenley Park.
From Pittsburg we journeyed to Chicago
and thence to Milwaukee, having passed
through a most beautiful country. At
Milwaukee we spent four days attending
with some 2o,Oo0 Others the b. Y. p. L. \.
Convention-a convention that neither
brush nor pen can describe-a conven-
tion of young, earnest Baptist workers
from all parts of the United States and
many other nations. Among the remark
able men who made addresses here was
Alberto J. Diaz, the apostle to the Gu
bars. He is native Cuban, converted
in New York, where he became a natu-
rallied citizen of the United States, and
afterwards returned to Cuba an apostle
of religious as well as civil liberty; was
successful in gathering together Baptist
protestant church on the Island-was ar
rested by the Spaniards and driven from
the Island because of his faithfulness to
the principles of liberty.
From Milwaukee we journeyed through
Nebraska, State celebrated in the past
for its grasshoppers, its hot winds and
its draughts, but this year for its immense
corn fields and Presidential candidates,
Nebraska, notwithstanding its past fails
ures, is one ofo best agricultural States.
To one travelling across its broad prairies
at this time it appears real vegetable
paradise.
We left Grand Island, Neb., in the
morning and were soon in Cheyenne, the
capital of Wyoming, one of the Rocky
Mountain States. Here we saw no great
cornfelds or hay stacks as in Nebraska,
but the little curly buffalo grass, very
Insignificant in appearance but very nu-
tritious and valuable for cattle. In as
cendiug the Rocky Mountains from the
East one is not aware he is in the noun
tains until be is on top of them. The
summit is s,Ooo feet high and is marked
here, on the L. p. road, by an immense
granite pyramid, erected by the Ames
brothers, Of Boston, at an expense of
$4,000, in honor of their father.
We now descend rapidly to the West,
reaching Green river at dark. Here we
turn 10 the Northwest, travelling through
sage brush, black LA rocks and clouds
of dust all night and all OF the following
day and night, on the Oregon Short Line,
through Southern Idaho, Eastern Oregon,
up into the Southeastern corner of Wash
ington. Here We turn TO the Southwest.
descend the Columbia passing through
some grand scenery, and arrive in Port
land, Saturday morning, August 29th, a
distance of about 1900 miles, travelled in
two days and three nights.
was surprised TO find that Oregon is
one vast volcanic district, covered for the
most part with sage brush and pine for
ests. Mt. Hood is an active volcano H.
952 feet high. Not very active, but yet so
much 50 as to dislodge a mass of rock
from the rim of the crater few days ago,
sending it bounding down its side dis
lodging masses of snow which came slid
ing down and meeting party of tourists
going up, threw woman into crevice
30 feet deep, severely bruising and Grip
pling her. Oregon has some fine land
near her cities and they ask fine prices
for it. She also has more than l,o00. 900
acres of public lands, some of it good, if
one knows how to find it.
Leaving oregon City or morning
train, Sept. ID. we enjoyed a grand ride
up the Willamette Nalley-Oregon's
finest country-and over the rugged Sis
kiyou Mts., across the plains touching
the foot of old Shasta, California's most
lofty snow capped mountain, then down
the Sacramento aud up the San joaquin
Valley home. Here l found all well and
temperature 100.
MADEIRA, Cal. z. c. RUSH.
SOMERSET REPUBLICANS