Barbour County index., 1900-06-13
FROM GEORGE MAWsON.

The INDEX received the following
letter from George Mawson last We'd
nesday-too late for last weeks issue.
We gladly publish 1t this week, SO that
all of the numerous friends OF this esti-
mable family may hear from them di-
rect:
YORKTON, CANADA, May %, 700.
There being so many of our friends
in Barber county who asked us to write
and tell them all about our trip and
how we like the country out here in the
northwest, and it being impossible to
write to all individually, will write a
line through the columns of our friend.
the INDEX.
We started from Kansas City March
9th on special emigrant train, with
a string of five passenger coaches, twen-
ty-six box cars and two hundred and
fifty passengers aboard. We had not
gone far before our iron horse gave out.
We stopped, got on more steam and on
we went toward the north pole. At st.
Joseph we got a new engine and on we
went faster than ever. For some time
we travelled through Missouri where
the prospect for wheat was very good
and the high bluffs along the Missouri
river were equal to our Barber county
gyp hills. At midnight we found our
selves at Council Bluffs in the midst of
heavy rain storm. Soon slumber over
took us and no more was known until
morning. When we awoke we were
nearing Sioux City, and now the rain
has turned to snow, but still not very
| cold. AT this place we were changed
from the Burlington to the GreatWeSt-
| ern road and leave the Missouri river
which we have been following from
Kansas City, and strike off to the north.
east for ST. Paul
The accommodations on the cars were
very good, and our company was mer-
ry one. We soon all became acqualnt-
| ed, and found no trouble in entertain
ing ourselves. Some sang, some talked
| and others played games. But our
principal occupation was looking at the
| country and providing for our appetltes
which was by no means a small
chOre for our appetites were immense
and got larger the farther north we
got. Second day out and we are travel
ing. Second night at II o'clock we ar
rive at st. Paul where to our surprise
we have outridden the snow storm. We
lay over one day In St. Paul which gave
us a good chance to see the city. 1t is
| beautiful place, many of the build
ings are IL stories high.
Here we again change to the North.
ern Pacific road and on we go again.
At Grand Forks we pass from Mime
sofa into North Dakota. No snow
here, and so warm the men are taking
| off their coats. never saw a more
beautiful day in good old sunny Kansas,
North Dakota is fine looking country,
great wheat fields lie on each side of
the road as far as the eye can reach, all
plowed and ready for spring wheat.
The farther north we get the more jub-
| liant the party gets. At Pembino we
pass from the states in the Dominion,
where box cars were inspected by the
custom officers. There is row of posts
| to mark the dividing line betW cen Vic
toria and Uncle Sam.
We are now good way into the Do
mlniOn and the appearance of the coun-
try Is much the same. We stayed one
night in Winnipeg, a beautiful city
built mostly of white stone. The
weather is still fine, warm, clear and
! pleasant. From Winnipeg we start
for our destination. Yorkton, which
we reach after one more days travel.
We find it good little town of about
900 we'll built houses mostly of brick.
1t is mostly prairie dotted over with
groves of timber, some parts devoted to
farming while others are good for ranch.
ing. There is lots of wild fruit here.
We have eight varieties on our farm.
There are some of the company who
came who are homesick and dissatisfied
and do not think the country is what it
was represented to be, but as far as
myself and family are concerned we are
perfectly satisfied and think the coun.
try is what it was said to be. Taking
it on whole have meyer seen finer
weather through the month of April.
The season is at least a month and a
half behind that of Kansas. The oats
are just coming up, also the garden.
Wheat is looking well. The cattle were
turned out on the range about the mid
die of April. Of course they were liv
ing off from last years grass. The new
grass started about the last Of April