The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-01
LETTER FROM CHARLIE.
The Pacific Coast Country-"Just Over in
tho Next Township Everything Is
Lovely"-Meets Old Friends
E~rigrating Eastward.

Chas. A. Bergstreser, a pioneer resident
of Lake county, and who for the past six
years occupied the position Of business
manager OF THE DAILY LEADER, recently
decided to try his fortunes in the Pacific
coast country, and writes as follows con-
corning his experiences:
PORTLAND, Or. March 26.-J. F. Stahl,
Madison, 8. D. Friend james, prom
Used to write you occasionally, but up to
now l have failed to do so, but will at
tempt to write YOU a little about this
western country. 1t is the same as I
have ofter heard you say, "Just over in
the next township everything is lovely"
That is most decidedly the case out
here-Alaska and British Possessions
gold fields. They are fiocking there like
geese migrate in the spring, and from
what I can learn there will certainly be
suffering among the Alaskans before
they return with the wad." There
are two commodities here OF which l
find an abundant surplus-pine trees and
idle men. And still there a great many
coming here every day. There are also
a great many going east-to Indiana,
Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, etc.
They all seemed to like it here so long
as the boom was or and they were max
ing lots of money, but just as soon as
the boom dropped land 1t dropped hard),
then of course they did n like the
country-too wet.
My trip was not the very ~pleasantest,
as l contracted a very bad cold just
east of Spokane and have been slightly
under the weather ever since, but an
improving nicely now. The country
around Spokane and the Palouse coun
try seem to be way in the lead in the
state Of Washington in regard to pros
perity; the Yackama country next, but
the Sound country seems to be 10 the
soup" laid over "a hours at Spokane
on account Of illness 80 was unable to
gather very many facts. My next stop
was at Seattle, from $50 p IN. Saturday,
2let, until $50 Monday, %. While here
l met several Of Madison's old citizens,
among them Frank Ashcraft, who is in
| business at North Yackama, but is at
present at Seattle with a view OF benefit
ing his health which is very much i'm
paired. He says it is due to over exer
ton in business, but it looks to me like
consumption. He looks bad; l never
would have known him. Also, MIR. and
| Mrs. West Clark of Anacotes, about Is
| miles north of Seattle, on the sound.
| They are also here for the benefit OF
their health. Mr.. Clark said If he knew
when I a going back it might be more
than likely that they would g. with me
to Madison for a spell, az their health
was always the best while at Madison.
I also met Frank Lee. Seattle is a
hummer. They do business with a
hurrah, much more so than at Tacoma,
but l cannot say that I really fell in love
| with the town.
Arrived at Tacoma Monday, 90, about
II a. m. This 10 q much prettier town
than Seattle, but not 80 much push
here. I met our old friend, r. B. Null
len, formerly a pioneer Of Lake county,
who showed me around town and asked
me a great many questions about old
friends and neighbors, and wishes to be
| remembered to them. I also met Edwin
| Sharpe here, with whom I had Q very
pleasant time.
To tell the truth about it, ! find but
very little encouragement out here to
induce . man to leave the east and come
out here. It may % "better down the