Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09
Interesting Letter Descriptive of a
Trip to the Pacific Coast, Via
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
A Fine Train seryice-Liberal Induce-
ments Are offered Settlers in the
Agricultural Region of the
Great Northwest.
St. Helena, Cal, Oct. &c. 1899.


of southeastern 1owa's most enterpris-
ing paper: Having promised / would
write you of our trip to the coast it be-
comes my duty to fulfil the obligation.
DO not think on account of this being
written from st. Helena that l am here
lin Punishment, for this is not the lone
ly st. Helena to which Napoleon was
exiled, but beautiful little town on
the southern Pacific in the valley of
+, Napa, known the world over for her
wine cellars and her grapes. Here in
this valley Mr.. Carpey has the man
,agement of the second largest wine cell
lar in the world. However. will not
consume space at this time in telling
you of the magnificent health resorts
and other attractions TO. be found in
this valley, but will proceed to, describe
our overland trip across the western
half of the continent.
We left Ottumwa on the morning of
the 10th via the Iowa Central and Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul to ST. Paul
where we visited briefly the twin cities,
taking street car ride OF thirty-five
miles and passing beautiful Como park
with its 1896 acres, its silvery lake and
perfection of flower and shrubbery
gardening. Directly beyond this lies
Lake Calhoun and to the left and at
the end of the car line is the lovely
lake Harriet.
Before taking the long journey of
more than 1000 miles westward one
should first go to these cities and get
in close communion with nature and
receive here from her bursting store
house a fresh inspiration.
We left st. Paul at 1885 p. m. over
the Northern Pacific railway, taking a
tourist sleeper. These cars are equip
ped with all the requirements neces-
sary to the Travellers convenience, be-
ing leather upholstered, fitted up COM
plete with mattresses, pillows, blankets,
clean bed linen and carpeted aisles.
The cars have also steel range in
one end on which the tourist may do
such cooking as he or she may desire.
home. Each car has a uniformed col
is to look after the comfort of the
traveller. Our car was in charge Of
Mr.. Fogg and a more gentlemanly per-
son could not be found anywhere. His
whole time being taken up from early
morning until late at night and often
during the night in looking after the
wants of the passengers in his charge.
Each set of sleepers on the train, in
GLIDING Pullman and tourist, are in
charge of a special Pullman conductor,
who personally visits the various sleep
ers ard sees that no passenger is in
anyway neglected. We had the pleas
lure of having for our Pullman conduc-
tor Jno. w. Nelson, who for two years,
was conductor on Burlington Nos 2
and 3 from Chicago to Denver and who
has host of friends and acquaintance
+ among the railway fraternity of OF
tuinwa.
Morning dawned after our first
nights ride and found us in Far.
go in the Red River valley. the great.
est wheat producing region in the
World. One has but to look upon this
vast prairie and see the richness of its
soil to be convinced that all nature re.
qhires is but a little scratching of the
soil and this vast productive region
would blossom as the rose. Its produc
tiyeness has been verified by such men
as Dalrymple, of St. Paul, who by sys
tematic process Of division of labor
farms his thousands of acres with won.
derful success, and whose farms may
also be seen on this trip.
As I looked out of my car window
as we swiftly sped across this tremen,
dous state, which, when once properly
touched by the hand of man, will 81
itself produce enough to feed the pres.
ent population of the entire United
States.
,yThi1a xpyifircr ho oh
my wife looked over my shoulder, and
ment. But speak the truth and lie
not" for here we have state whose
tillable acreage is larger than the en-.
tire tillable domain of Germany and
which am sure, has far richer soil.
f, AS we glide over the Northern Pacific
railway we look upon land which, in
productiveness, is equal to any in.Iowa
and remember that this railroad com.
.pany is offering this choice land from
IS to $40 per acre on terms which is
less than one-fifth of what one could
rent Iowa land for in my section OF
the state. Yes, terms so liberal thai
you would not need to pay more than
50 cents per acre down and the same
amount for nine consecutive years un
til you would have your farm entirely
paid for. This liberal and far seeing
railroad company will even accept your
payments in grain so that you need
not be out a single dollar in cash. II
seems to me that farmers in eastern
states who are renters would improve
their condition many fold by going il
and possessing the promised land.
Moving rapidly westward we soor
came to Bismarck with her capital and
penitentiary buildings in full view; al
so her hospital building showing that
the unfortnnates are not neglected.
At Dickinson we began coming into
the Bad Lands and when we reached
Medora were in the midst of one con.
slant changing panorama of hills;
first one with sufficient height to BIZ
covered With snow and then number
of less prominent ones with red caps
Tt may be of interest to note here that
the now famous Theo. Roosevelt, gov
ernor of New York, has large ranch
only twenty miles, south of Medora
These beautiful scenes which reached
their handsomest stage at this point
continued almost until we reached