Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-06-23

uhc dcpOG platform COuuJeO SlA
saloons. mostly named something like
these The Cow Boys Retreat" THE
Lone Pine" The Pine Tree Saloon"
etc. One Of the ladies in our party
asked bystander What supports
the town." and he answered that he
did not know but he knew that the
men supported the saloons.
We went through Spokane just at
dusk Saturday evening. This is fine
city, as clean as your own home, and
right up to date. The Spokane river
runs through it. Has fine water
power and plenty Of western push and
enterprise. The streets are made of
cement and asphalt, and sprinkled
by the street cars, up one side and
down the other The view from the
car window as we leave Spokane is
fire. We passed through many snow
sheds, and seventeen tunnels in all.
The largest being the Cascade tunnel
near the creSt,Of the Cascade range.
We passed through it a little after
four Sunday morning. 1t is between
four or five miles long. L expected TO
get good view Of the Cascade but
the clouds hid their tops. We arrived
in Seattle, Wash. at 900 a. m. and had
two hours to roam around 10 see tn
sights. The water front with it's
many vessels was the most interesting.
The track and street and sidewalks
along the water are-all built over the
water, and all the street cleaners
have to do is to open a hatch here
and there and dump their Sweepings
down. Some Of the first things of
beauty we saw after landing at
Seattle were roses, all cOlOrs, and all
sizes, from the size of a wine glass
bottom to a large saucer We left
Seattle al 1l;l5 a. m. arrived at the
beautiful city of Tacoma at one. Our
train being late from there we had
five hours to view the town.
1t is prettier than Seattle, not as
large and built mostly on slope.
They have fine street car service, and
more roses.
We saw pear tree by the side walk
a few blocks from the depot which had
pears as large as hens egg and also
blossoms on it.
We got away from Tacoma at $50 p.
N. and arrived at Portland at 1855.
We passed the fair grounds just before
entering the main part of the city.
The view we got of the fair, by night
was the finest thing | ever saw.
Every building, arch and gateway is
outlined with electric lights. Even
the trees and shrubs in the parks
cleaned with their thousands of
globes in place of leaves. We crossed
the Columbia river, four miles wide
here, on a steamer, engine, cars, and
all, there being no bridges across.
We remained at Portland over
night, and at $50 Monday morning
took the Southern Pacific road and
resumed our journey for 1913 miles
farther south, to city of 5000 people,
Eugene, Oregon, where my mother
and one brother and sister live. Leay.
ing Portland we saw one Of Uncle
Sans war ships in the harbOr WithitS
guns glistening in the sun, and the
boys in blue busy on her decks, but it
was too far away to read her name.
We will take in the fair on our way
home, so can't tell you anything
about it until we return.
At present we are Tusticating on my
brothers hop ranch about three miles
out of Eugene. The main object of
interest here for US WisconSinites is
the cherries and straw berries. Such
cherries | never saw, even in my most
eXtravagant dreams and there is no
end to the quantity, fact which | am
glad to note.
| do not want our Grand Rapids
friends to have any fears however, for
Eugene has some frsr class doctors,
The climate is not nearly so warm as it
is in Wisconsin at this time of the
year, and the nights are too cool for
comfort. We sleep under as much
bedding as we do at home in February
The weather is fine however and no
rain nor storms. A little north wind
every day but perfect calm at night.
The rain and fog will begin about the
middle of September. 1t freezes
some times, and once in a while there
is little snow during the winter
time. From where | am writing,
''The Three Sisters" three lofty snow
covered mountains, are in sight, |
like sixty miles to the
east.
The largest Mount we saw on our
way here was Mount "Rainer' or |
Tacoma" about sixty miles east of |
Tacoma. 1t is 1850 feet high, |
crowned with eternal snow.
Well there is a straw berry patch |
Just block from my table which [ |
know is just longing for me to see it, |
so you will excuse me now. My |
brother keeps a supply of ''Sun
Cholera Mixture" constantly on hand,
80 have no fears.
Yours in the Wild and Woody west,