Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-03-15
NOTES OF TRAVEL
Interesting Letter From The West To
Mrs Frank Phillips.


Mrs Frank Phillips.
The following let err is from Blanche
Anderson, daughter of Chas. b Anderson,
old time residents OF Cooks Corners
She is nurse in one Of the large hospitals
IN Buffalo but is spending the winter in
the west:
Los Angeles. Cal, Jan. g. ! 906
Dear Friends wanted to make the
trip to California by boat. from New York
to Panama, across the stnmus by rail
and by boat again TO San Francisco. stop
ping several places along the coast OF
Central America and Mexico, always in
sight of land or islands The trip takes
four weeks and costs but little more than
overland. but SO many others were OF the
same mind that all the berths were taken
far ahead even though they have put ex-
ira boats on and now sail twice a week.
Took Mich. Central 20 Chicago and the
Santa Fe from there Left Chicago
Thursday night, reaching Kansas City the
next forenoon. knew what a flat, unln-
terestlng country we would 60 through
| from there on, so provided myself with
some crocheting as less trying TO my eyes
than reading, but had little time for work.
We found there was a very congenlal car
of people and everybody immediately be-
came acquainted. found myself IN de-
mand TO make fourth in whist with one
party OF people and a third IN California
Jack, and so ! was a very busy person
Our dining car was taken off at Kansas
City SO we had to get off at stations for
our meals. A man by the name OF Harry
has system Of restaurants all along the
route and some hotels. There is dining
room where regular course meal can be
had for the uniform price Of rs cents and
lunch room where one can pay for what
they care to have. am always hungry
when travelling, and took the regular meals,
and they certainly we're good; the meats
we're chicken, turkey or duck and steak,
roast beef or lamp. There was always
sweetbreads, lobster, terrapn or some
thing lighter for those who wanted them,
or you could have both; their salads ano
vegetables we're also very, good which is
unusual IN such places, III tact they were
entirely satisfactory.
Saturday morning we we're opposite the
Spanish peaks, the tops we're covered
with snow and as the sun came up be-
came alive with color, purple. lavender,
and pink below and white at the top, they
were in sight for long time.
We had breakfast at Trinidad and very
soon after out OF Colorado into New Mexl-
CO, There were many mountains IN sight
out the country is oesoiate, very little
vegetation besides sage brush, and the
few houses or shantles In which Mexicans
live. One cannot see what cattle and
sheep find 10 live on but they say they are
always fat
The Cactus grows here in abundance, in
their Towering season II must be beau
tful sight. 1t was dark when we reached
Albuqurbue where we had dinner | have
forgotten where we ate our lunch.
Many OF the restaurants are of adobe
and quilt after Spanish models which
seem suited TO that part Of the country
they are especially attractive to one not
dccust, med TO them. There are many
Indians here To sell their wares, they have
d very nice store near where the train
stops. We were in Arizona the next
morning for breakfast, ana at eleven OF
soon after | left the train a Williams &c
20 TO the Grand canyon. was sorry &c
part with the congeniai fellow travellers
had met on the trip, but expect TO meet
some OF them again IN Los Angeles.
forgot TO say there was considerable
pine timber IN the part of Arizona we
went through and the soil looks quite
rich.
In New Mexico and Arizona the alti-
tuoe is from 5000 to 1000 feet ABOVE sea
level and the ar while cold is very Dry
There was more snow in Arizona than
had seen anyw here except at Niagara
Falls. IL is three hours ride from Williams
10 the Grand canyon. The hotel at which
! stayed is up many steps, from terrace
10 terra above the railroad station anc
is but few feet above the rim Of the can
yon, which is miles wide at this point
IL is not the llfeless gray stone in the
earth that had pictured II, but mountains
upon mountains OF beautifully colorec
stone. At the top white and brilliant rec
sandstone and farther down brown, green
black etc, under different lights take or
all the colors OF the rainbow. One Car
only hold ones breath in wonder anc
admiration. 1t would have been worth
the trip down from Williams and back hac
seen no more than that first view IN the
early morning sunlight from the balcony
of the hotel. The hotel itself is built O
logs and the parlor is like a living room
is finished with logs inside, with large
fireplace in which logs are burned. Tn'
floor is polished and on it are rugs wover
Dy the T1Opl lnuldnSs on JUS walls are IIO'
phes Of their tribe. The dining room j:
also Of the same style and the furniture II
both rooms is mission furniture; the hous'
has all modern equipments and is unde
the management OF the same man wnt
had the restaurants along the route. Tn,
canyon is 2lZ miles long and ! 3 miles
wide and one mile deep we're it possib,
TO go straight down. the trail is sever
miles long before il reaches the river.
There is narrow trail down, winding
in and out by which tourists wishing L
go down can go to the bottom on horses
or mules. was booked for this trip a
$3.50 m. but it was raining and deel
mist (really clouds) hung over everything
: As the first part of the trail was covered
with ice or snow, they refused TO let those
intending to 60 have horses About !
became clearer and party Of twelve de.
cided to walk down. There were in i
two old gentlemen, in the seventies, thu
son and his wife and child aged six years
and two daughters, one old gentleman. I
man and his wife from Kentucky, tive
young men and myself. BY tying burlaE
on our shoes they aid not slip on the snow
| 4 & n 4 IN