Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06
TELLS OF The WEST
Norman w. Reno, wapello County
Resident, in California.
ACQUAINTANCEs VISITED ON TRIP
Describes Entire Trip Through Prai-
ries and Mountains-Tells of Stops
in Denver, Salt Lake and San Fran.
cIsco-Is Visiting in Los Angeles.

After more than a month spent in a
trip through the west, Norman w.
Reno, well known farmer of this
county and formerly member of the
board of supervisors, writes from Los
Angeles, CAL, where he is visiting
with friends. Mr.. Reno in letter to
the Courier tells of his trip as follows:
Editor Courier: We have now been
in Los Angeles almost month We
left Ottumwa little before midnight
on November 5 and reached Lincoln,
Neb., about daylight of the next day.
However, we saw people in the fields
husking corn before We reached Lin
coin.
We found that great deal of fall
blowing had been done west of Har-
vard The country there was beauti-
full prairie, thickly dotted over with
alfalfa, hay and grain stacks. Corn
looked well, some being shocked Ev-
erything showed that they didn't have
the rains that southern Iowa received.
1t would seem that this water was not
on the surface of the ground but in
wells, as almost every house we saw
west of Hastings had wind pumps,
West of Holdredge the soil was light
colored, and the country broken with
rolling prairies. In the Republican
river valley the people seem to raise
alfalfa and live stock, while near Nc
Cook and westward We find some liv-
| ing in sod houses and dugouts. Their
principal crop seems to be tumble
weeds, of which we say acre after
acre.
Coming into Colorado, we rode for
hours over a beautiful rolling prairie,
However, for lack of water it is only
a barren, treeless tract.
Reaching Denver the evening of NJ
vember 6, we went to Salida, passing
through the Royal Gorge. From Salida
we had splendid view of the noun
tains and Marshall Pass, which we
crossed over early in the forenoon.
4 After crossing the pass l had the
privilege of shaking hands with James
Greenland, formerly of Batavia, but
now an operator at Doyle, Colo The
entire ride through the mountains was
grand and interesting.
We made the acquaintance OF a
i brakeman and his wife, who were a
great help to us by telling us about
the scenery we were seeing. Although
they had been over the road many
times, they say they never tire of the
scenery, but find new beauties in il
each time they pass over the read. We
considered the Black Canyon especially
grand. Shortly before entering the
8 Black Canyon we pass The thriving lit
tie town of Gunnison. Here, lad!
! told us they had, frost every montl
for a year. 4,
, Our first visit was near Delta, Colo
, at the home of John Luellen and hi
, Abe Connor who resided near Batavia
. We certainly could not enjoy VISITING
anyone more than we did Mr.. Luellen
His ranch consists of fruit and alfalfa
, His stock were all fat and nice. Will
there we ate some very fine apples
Mrs. Luellen's canned prunes, peaches
pears, apricots and sweet cherre
! were as fine as could be found an,
!. place. At least i have never eaten an
that were better. They spared neithe
= time nor expense in showing us tn
country around them and making GU
visit an enjoyable one.
John Connor formerly of Batavia
called on us while at Mr.. Luellen's
/ He seemed to be we'll pleased wit
: Colorado. However, since coming t
California I met a gentleman fror
L Cedar Edge, near Delta, Colo, who il
e formed me that John is no longer
d lonely bachelor. One of Colorado
$ daughters is now Mrs. John Connor
Leaving Mr.. Luellen's we next vi
n tied at j. w. Sinclair's in Grand Jun
ton, Colo Mr. Sinclair formerly live
y near Packwood and was a soldier, ha
ing served in company r, third low
a cavalry.