Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-09-17
Hood,c D;Itc cure all Liver Ills. Easy
AAOOA . Ills to operate. % cents.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. |
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
Description of a Panoramic View
From a Car Window.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. 9.

t-TOH AdF w HuOWs
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. 9.
DEAR HERALD: After writing my
last letter from Kansas City, l took
the train for Denver and traversed
Kansas from east to west. The lit
tie sunfowers" to which | referred de-
veloped into the genuine article and
what was known 40 years ago as
BLEEDING Kansas" is now the Sun
| flower State" Three other features
were noted: Immense wheat and
corn fields and hundreds OF pretty
girls. Without disparagiug the
claims of our own fair maidens, l
must say l never saw so many really
pretty girls in one day. At every
station they were visible by the
score. Even away out on the western
plains they were there. Having just
harvested a bushel Of wheat for every
man. woman and child in this coun-
try, Kansas farmers are now taking
care of their corn | saw many cribs
as long as Dutch barns filled with last
years crop and as much more in the
fields.
Denver was reached at daybreak
Tuesday and then came journey of
100 miles to Cheyenne, the capital of
Wyoming. En- route we saw one
coyote, few jack rabbits, hundreds
of gophers (prairie dogs and not
much else. Wherever there was wat
er for irrigation crops were fine, but
water is the scarcest article in all the
western country. There are many
herds of cattle and horses and some
thrifty fields of clover and potatoes.
An occasional orchard is seen, but
not much more.
CHEYENNE is a lovely town, 5000
feet above sea level, and the center of
a large mining district, as we'll as a
stock and wool market. Here we
start across the great plains of the
West. So great are those plains that
nothing else except the rim OF hills on
either side was visible for two whole
days. The scenery was dull, even
monotonous Nothing but sage
brush, buffalo grass, grease wood,
sheep, cattle or horses. And the
Dust 1t was almost stiffling. Had
it not been for the cold wave we
struck, compelling passengers to keep
windows closed, do not know how
we could have endured it. There has
been no rain for three months. And
the train was slow almost to eXasper-
alton Twenty to twenty five miles
an hour is the gait. They stop at ev-
cry station, the only compensation be
ing that stations are long way apart.
| couversed with many of the local
passengers and all agreed that times
are good. Sheep men are loud in
praise of protection and many cattle
men say that they are very we'll salts
fed.
In the 2, 500 miles from Kansas City
to San Francisco there are many
points of interest Kansas City, Mo-,
has the most extensive stock yards in
the world Lawrence is noted as the
scene of the Quautrell massacre during
the Civil war. Fl. Riley was one of
the most important OF the outposts 40
years ago. when wild Indians roamed
through that region. 1t is the geo
graphical center of the United States,
has the largest riding hall in the
world and splendid quarters for the
soldiers. There is no finer sport any
where Denver, 40 years ago a min
ing camp, now has a population OF
I6o. 600 and six different lines of rail-
road to the Missouri River. 1t is also
the capital of Colorado and the head
center of the 10 to I movement
The National Press Association was
in session, among whom were several
West Virginia editors. 1t would have
been a pleasure to stop but time for
babe. Ogden, Utah, on the shore OF
Great Salt Lake, is noted as the point
where a gold spike was driven in a
mahogany tie, completing the first
band Of steel which binds the West to
the East. It is now a thriving city Of
IS, 900 people.
Thursday morning found us at Sac
ramento the capital of this state, and
10 O'Clock landed us in San Francisco,
the metropolis of the Pacific slope.
From here l go to San Jose, where
admission Day" is being celebrated.
Today is the forty-eighth anniversary
OF the admission of California into the
Uuion and as it is a legal holiday
nothing else is thought of or talked
about.
III can find time l will next write
of California, a fruitful topic.
| n G