Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-02-05


PrEos ALros, Jan. 81. '06.
NeHssseI and Rspsblicon:-Tbis trim
OF about $50 miles is the most unin-
terest'ng trip one can take, and vet
interesting to those who have never
seen the Great American Desert. It
Is true, that we do but see a small
part OF this great desert; and vet We
see enough of it to convince us that
there really is one in America
land as barren and unfruitful as the
great Saharah.
We as strangers passing through
this land see some very peculiar
things. The land is not level rs one
would suppose a dessert would be,
but as the train skims along. we can
see here and there large rocks pro-
jecting from tbs rlaia. With their
peculiar shapes aud rugged brows,
they look like ancient senlipels, who
have been standing there from age
to age, warning the stranger and
telling him to pass on quickly for
fear OF the terrible storms that come
up so quick on the desert, which even
uproot the low sage bushes that grow
there and carry them for miles across
the plains Leaving the sentinels to
do their bidding as it were, we pass
on and soon como to what is called
the table land. This is another Pc
cu!ier formation OF the earth, go call.
ed because of its likeness to a table
sitting out upon the plain.
The earth rises abrutly out of the
plain to ths heigth of 80 to 40 feet,
and on top it is as level as q table.
One would naturally suppose that
this is where the sentinels dine, but
20, these tables are as void of food
"a the dessert is of water. Soon we
come to an oasis in the dessert where
the train stops to get new supply
OF fuel and water. Evsn the old iron
horse seems glad that this is q re
freshlns place to stop and to get a
good square meal that he may be
abe to carry US across the dessert
in safety. The well at which the en-
gine takes water is very deep, and
the water is very hard to pump out,
but the wonderful genus, man, has
tarnessed the wind and made it lis
servant to puHp the water. Hs has
done this by erecting wind pump
over the well which does its work
very well. This pump is controlled
by Mexican who lives close by in a
very funny little hut called a 'shacel
lah." pronounced (hakel) This is
built by digging a ditch about foot
wide and 2 feet deep around the
spsce intended for the inside Of the
house. Then railroad ties are stood
close together on end in the ditch
s1d dirt packed solid!y in around
them TO keep them standing erect
The roof is tEen put on by laying
poles across on top of the ties and
and thickly covered with mud. The
cracks between the ties are also shut
up with mud SO &c TO keep the cold
out in the winter. Some places where
these bacellals
are built one can often see grass
growing on the top, and the family
goat can he seen there calmly feed
ing on the grass aud other food
which the goats eat such as old boots
and tin cans. which have been thrown
up there. 1'is very funny, but the
latter food he dsvours as gresdily as
a boy does green apple. Tho boy
terrifies the family with his dreadful
pain bait. The goat makes thsm
glad by keeping them in very rich
milk which they dsvour as greedily
as the goat did the cans. Leaving
the watering place we pass on over
the dessert sseirg nothing but a few
cectusand sage bushes, which is tue
only thing that can grow there, it be
ing So dry. Soon our hearts era
gladdened by the sight We see before
us, for now we will soon leave the
dessert with its wild waste behind
US as in tbe distance we see the
foothills of the RockeYs looming up
into the heavens with their snow cap
ped crowns. around which the eagle
soars with the freedom and liberty
that he alone can have. o, could al
men have such liberty and such fres
dom! AS we draw Nearer the noun
tains, we see one of the beautiful sun
sets that may be seen very often in
this country. Here awaiting US, ss
it were, va, grand sight to feast
our eyes upon after leaving the
dreary dessert.
Lying right before us was small
lake half surrounded at the back by
plantation. Looming up little
distance beyond these, were two
large peaks. Right back of all and
between the peaks, we could see the
sun as it shed its last rays ever all
High Ia the Heavens the clouds held
the colors Of tie rainbow: making u
most beautiful sight to behold. But
alas, all things must come to an end
Beautiful sight has passed away,
night has compassed. us round with
it's black shroud, We have asked God
to watch over US from above and will
now lay our weary head to rest.
AMIGO.