Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-06-18

narts of the town are not pleasant to
he in. especially the saloons; one
which we visited was packed with a
motley crowd of men smoking cigars
and women drinking whiskey and /
smoking cigarettes. A young woman
in dazzling attire was playing the
niano. some men were singing to ire
music but as was not up in classical
music | hardly appreciated it. Many
were playing at faro and other games.
All were peaceable that night but
word would bring on a fight and
revoIyers comeein sight on short
notice.
Next day we went on to the mines.
The agent gave us pass on the rail-
road up the incline in car drawn by
oable on the mountain side. then
through two tunnels, each half mile
long, after that walk of half mile
brought US to Morenci, mining town
on the top of the mountain. This is
a very nice place with good hotels,
public library, reading rooms, church
es, etc., but in that part of the town
where the copper plant is situated
about the same conditions prevail as
at Clifton. The road down the noun
tain makes four loops and passes
through three tunnels so that after
riding several mics we had advanced
only half mile from the depot. The
road is of course owned by the Copper
Co. and as we paid six cents per mile
for our tickets it ought to pay divi-
dends if they have any passengers.
1t is most delightful climate here,
day af5%r day without a cloud, the
sun warm and bright in the middle of
te day, almost uncomfortable, good
place fer those who don't like the
cold eastern winters, and good money
has been made raising cattle, fruit
and vegetables for the mining camps.
But on the Goth of February I bid
goodbye to Duncan and am writing
| this in the hotel at Lordsburg while
waiting fer a train; the same old
crowd in the saloons; hogs, dogs and
Mexicans ia the streete; and still
several hours before nay tain is due,
go [ am going out to see if [ can start
a dog fight, or something of thai kind,
for | have become so fond of life in
the "wild and woally Westn that
when I get back to Vermont shall
probably wear wide trimmed hat,
run saloon, carry revolver and
ride bucki g bronco.
But all things have an end for at
last the train hove in sight. / shook
the dust of Arizona and New Mexico
from my feet aud g much as possible
, from my clothes, boarded a crowded
i. car and turned my face toward Pasa-
, dena. Next morning soon after day
! light we passed along in sight OF the
, salt sea in Southern California. Two
} years ago it was a barren waste; fo1
= = irrIgating purposes water was turned
a Eofffb it from the Colorado rive but
{ when shut eff the water still covered
i the land and continued TO: rise and Ii
f, still rising at the rate Of half an lnck
I per day. There is no visible Inlet o.
. outlet and it is now a lake sixty miles
2 long by twenty five wide. 1t has
. covered many miles OF Southern
y Pacific railroad track, and they have
coliC-nI ~ 1.,fl n cSrnTnf
:, of road on higher ground. Some
d think the water comes by under
: ground passage from the Gulf of Cali
if fornia; there are many theories aoou
q it however.
o After getting to the height Of lant
n in the Sierra Nevada Mountains W.
q leap9d almost at one bound from tina
% barren land into groves Of orange
Il olive, palm and pepper trees, ield
n OF barley six inches high, green peas
=, III full bloom, Gala lilies, roses ant
t. geraniums. Men were blowing ant
- cultivating the fields, and after rur
Ia of seventy five or one hundred miles
a through this sort of a country with
a the mercury at seventy five in the
n shade reached Pasadena, the mos
l. beautiful spot I have ever seen, ant
d although tired and dirty have had g
(. very nice trip. I only hope that yor
% children may enjoy reading this hal
n as we'll as enjoyed the trip.
" CD. GROSS.
Q March I, 1906.
%
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