The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-08-25
HOME AGAIN.

After two weeks spent amidst tn
rugged scenes OF the Rocky Noun
tains, the sage brush deserts alon,
their border and the active scenes o
the Lewis & Clark exposition, and tn,
Pacific slope, and two good days o
rest at home, we are glad to agaiI
take up the duties Of running news
paper.
1t Is a relief aud rest to be ava
for a short time from the humdruD
and mOnOtonOus duties Of every da,
life and pleasure to again tax.
them up, after short respit, ant
drop again into the familiar duties
J A trip Uf two weeks, mostly spent il
travel and In seeing sights that wer,
new and strange, even though accom-
panied by many discOmforts, Is surely
enjoyable, especially so after 1t is over
The heat OF that sage brush deSerl
on broiling August day, such as W.
had on Sunday, the sixth, when TO
J hours the thermometer stood at IS
and II you poked your head out of tn,
! car your face was almost bllstered b
F, the scorching wind, with nothing IL
sight as far as the eye could see bu
sage brush and sand Is almost intolei
able, yet it is a part Of the trip and j.
one of the strange things TO be en-
countered.
o. the theory that nothing wa
created In vain we cudgled our b-aii
IN vain eudeavUr to determine an.
good thing that might come out
this desert. -,
Finally as visions of.xcivil zatiOp
aud our own home In Kansas, witt
which we have sometimes become di :
satisfied. fitted through our Wearie.
and roasted brain we concluded tina
one great Office of the barren vast
might be to make men think more
theft home and be better Statistic
with their lot. There Is no home any
where, be 1t eyer SO humble. but is b
veritable paradise compared TO thi'
country.
On the edges OF this wide striI
where little water can be secure,
are vast fl ,cks Of sheep that are caret
for by solitary herderS who live 10 lit
tie shacks.
It Is said that only Mtxicans Cal
stand the depressing influences u
these vast sOlitudes aud spen nd sum
mer with the sheep, and even the
frequently lose their reason and ar
found creeping around among th'
sheep on their hands and knee
browsing the bitter sage brush.
One Of the strange sights we say
was the immense beds OF pulveriZe,
granite rock 10 Wyoming with whic
the Union Pacific is ballasting IL
most excellent rOadbed. This com
pany has heretofore used vast quaD
Titles of burnt gumbo through Kan
-as for ballast but IL mas been fOun,
unsatisfactory and the company ha
now turned tu these vast beds OF gran
lite already crushed.
There seems enough OF this mater
ial there to thoroughly ballast ever
road In the United States and ther
not miss what would be taken. W.
had no means OF knowing the exten
OF this ready prepared ballast but W.
passed through miles OF 1t and saw tn
immense steam shOvels working Or
banks OF 1t so or sixty feet high an,
the bottom seemed 10 be the sam
material. The road bed IL cut through
vast banks OF 1t for long distance.
1t stands up on either side OF th
track like the great granite cliffs anl
you can see the seams and streak
through it like IN the solid grant,
but in close inspection 1t Is found l.
be cracked and broken In every con
ceivable direction until 1t Is only a
mass OF small particles from the So
of hickory nut down, yet holdin. tn
.Iape and outline of solid grani.e
7 ie stroke or a PICK or the dig OF
steam shovel causes IL to crumble AMI
roll uuwn like sand.
These 1 immense granite beds musl