The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-16
DESCRIBING THE ROCKIES.

OF she first sees the Rocky Mountains,
wants to write back to the Eagle telling
abou, it. A good many do. The follow
| ing is the latest. 1t is from Mrs. Lydia
| Martin. 1t is from HarI :son, KOOtenni
county, Idaho, and reads:
Having been a resident of Wichita for
nine years, and of Hunnewell, Kan, for
several months since my marriage, I
| thought the many readers Of the Eagle
| might like a description of our trip to
northern Idaho. Ny husband and 1 left
! Hunnewell the middle of December and
visited my sister, Mrs G. II. Kimbell, on
| Washington avenu. Wichita. We found
the streets crowded as usual and times
good and prosperous. The Peerless Prin-
cess can't be 'squelched,' for owing to
her great educational, religious and COM
mercial advantages, she is bound to make
a second Chicago.
But to resume. We passed through
| western Kansas in the night. We reach
ed Pueblo just as the sun was rising. It's
bluffy, elevated location reminded me
forcibly of pictures seer in we olden
times representing Rome, Edinburg and
Jerusalem. Such charming scenery, and
such variety, is a continual delight!
On leaving there caught my first
glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. and can
truthfully say 'theh alf has never been
told What in the hazy distance ap-
peared to be fleecy masses of clouds
looming above the horizon on nearer ap-
proach assumed tangible shape, and as
a., Al
great snow-capped mountain range burst
on our view, silent, majestic and grand.
And the train swept onward with this
vast panorama of mountain scenery in
full view all the way to Colorado Springs.
| have seen several American cities but
in point of location and scenic beauty,
Colorado Springs stands unrivalIey
Pixies Peak stands like a giant sentinel
guarding this city of the mountains
which luxuriates in the shadow of the its
grandeur. At Denver a fierce snow
storm prevailed and prevented our seeing
the sights. We passed through Cheyenne
capital of Wyoming, a handsome city:
also Laramie, made famous by Bill Nye's
Laramie Boomerang. We crossed the
Platte and Green rivers in Wyoming and
theresaw great herds OF horses, cattle and
sheep. 1t has but sparse population
Its peaks. crags and rocks are of every
conceivable shape and covered with snow
y monument marks the highest elevation
crossed by the Union Pacific. viz: S.247
feet. Another monument called the 'Di-
vide shows the division OF waters flow
ing in opposite directions towards the
Mississippi valley and Pacific ocean. In
southern Idaho we crossed 4 sage brush
desert extending across the state hun
dreds OF miles. The train followed tho
snake river valley many miles. It swept
through canyons. gorges. tunnels and
overhanging crags so preciptous it seem
ed as if the shadow Of a great darkness
had fallen over us We rested at Hunt
inston, built in deep. narrow valley
surrounded by mountaius-a wild and TO-
mantle spot. After leaving Huntington
ives aw numerous deep excavations in the
adjacent hills made by seekers after
sold How the lonely occupants Of these
tiny cabine peered AT US as we glided by
their desoIate homes. We crossed the
Blue mountains in eastern Oregon. They
werccovered with deep snow. Stayed over
night al Pendleton. Oregon. fine tow,
near the Umatilla Reservation. Spent
DAY in waila walla Wash a beautiful
little CITY with fertile orchards adjacent
From Tekoa our route lay east through
the Occur D'Alene Indian Reservation.
The Indians are educated, civilized far
mcrs and Catholics. The train followed
the shores OF St Joe LAKE and crossed
the mouth OF 81. Joe river We ther
reached TIE Couer D'AIene Lake. noted
for ITS picturesque beauty and water pure
ana clear as a crystal. This Lake IS hrr-
" miles Ie7g. with an average Width or
tsr.,, niles I. is surrounded nv steep
bluffs and mountains whose sides are
covered with dense pine, and hr trees
fourteen steamboats, navigate its waters
The two towns on its shores are summer
resorts. and are visited by various excET-
sion parties. This town. Harrison Is
built on bench and OF the side and top
OF a steep bluff over the lake Roads
ares earce, and people travel mostly BY
boat. as they do IN Venice. But fail 20
see any gondoliers. All the wafer used
is pure and soft, flowing from mountain
streams. CWhat a saving q soft sospD
Wages are high. as are also rents and
provisions. II is characteristic for the
natives TO have rsvenous appetiteS. Bet
man for this country IS the sportsnaa-s