The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-07-10
FROM THE FAR WEST
Letter From James E. houghton. Now
Visiting in the State Of Washington.
ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON.


outh on June 4, at 2:55 p. m. arrived
at st. Paul, Mimi, at $50 a. M
where we had until $40 to glance al
the wonderful falls on the Mississippi
river which furnish power to turn
the machinery Of the greatest Touring
mills in the world. On through the
state that is famous for its numerous,
as well as beautiful lakes 1 was not
favorably impressed with the country,
as it seemed to be poor soil, poor
dwelling houses and poor out build
ings,
When we were fairly in North OAK
ota, a fiat level country. noticeable for
the absence of timber, except here
and there small grove that had been
planted on a timber claim, and those
few and far between, we noticed some
fine lakes at times SO near the track
that one could have thrown a stone
INTO the water.
By the way, l saw a mirage. 1t
was a beautiful lake, upside down,
waves rolling, seemingly you could
hear the waves splash against the i'm
aginary beach. Soon afeer leaving
that scene we ran into tue rear end of
storm, and it was a storm. The
water came down in sheets, tell you
they were wet sheets. The heavy
down pour faded off into heavy mist,
no trees, no bushes IN sight. a ball
of lightning struck the ground some
distance from the train, seemingly
about Is inches wide, with a vivid
dazzling light in the center, fading
to peculiar greenish tinge as it APP
preached the outer edge of the ball.
The farmers were busy drilling
wheat, having been delayed by heavy
rains. A little further on we struck
the stock ranges. 1t was quite a
sight.
Into Montana. still in company
with the Missouri river, we sped on
our way. The east part of Montana
is very sp .rcely settled, in fact the
most of the stations are nothing more
than water tank, shack for the
section hands, mountain cow boy,
and few Indians. AS soon as the
train pulls out all Of the station or
town moves out, not to be seen again
until another train is due.
We ran along the banks of the Co
lumbia river great distance and
finally came in view of the Sweet
Grass mountains, some 100 miles dis
tant. The snow caps are reminder
of cool weather; we wind around
through the canyons, at times, the
snow above and below us, when we
strike bench and stop at a station
called Summit, where we pass through
a tunnel q miles and Their come in
sight of Columbia Falls, wonderful
sight.
Now out into Washington, first
stop at Spokane, beautiful city
through which the Spokane River
passed. 1t is about as wide as the St.
Joe River, beautiful clean cold water
with very rapid current: We leave
the Columbia River at Trinidad and
come in sight of the head waters of
the river Of all rivers that we have
yet seen, the Wenatchee. Looking
up the side of the mountains some A.
900 or 5, 200 feet, can be seen small
riverlet not more than one foot wide.
AS the eye follows down the streamlet
it widens ont and becomes a roaring,
dancing torrent passing down over
rough rocks, dashed into foam and
mist falling at times 100 feet before
touching bed rocks then widening out
into quite a good sized river, flowing
over bed of level (?) land becoming
quite smooth ON the surface then
again dashed to smitherins on the
ragged: Jagged rock, lost in foam and
mist.
Well, we arrived Saturday at
Everett and on Sunday reached our
destination. Arlington has about 500
population, one good school, nine
Single nills, some with two ma
chimes. Each machine can turn out
126, 900 shingles per day. Some good
stores and when the men come out
from the timber they make Rome
how'll There are base ball games
every Sunday, and then indeed it is
the "Wild and Woolly West"
VisitingMrs. Grant s ranch, some SIX
miles up the river from this village,
we find one of the most picturesque
places yet seen. A two story top
literally covered with the most beau
tiful flowers that bloom. Some fifty
feet in front of the house runs a
mountain brook full of delicious trout,
the best pan fish that swim. About
300 feet further there is the river,
clear and the deep channel Is literally