The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-29

Have seen more and more snakes ev-
cry day. Saw big one this morning
| that must have been the great-grand-
| father of all Kansas reptiles. Noticed
! that the young farmer following along
behind me in buggy gave it the larg-
| est share of the road.
The bite of a bull snake is not dan
gerous but 1 imagine should one coil
| itself around the legs of a spirited horse
/ there would be something doing. Larneu
| is a beautiful town; have noticed that 1t
looks beautiful even from the railroad
| station. 1t has at least one very nice
| hotel.
| This is the great wheat region of
Kansas, I believe, but the wheat does
| not look especially good this year. Too
much cold and not enough moisture.
| Go on to Kinsley during afternoon.
Road level but sandy in places. 1t fol-
| lows the railroad right-of-way closely
and at some places encroaches on 1t.
The company has attempted to divert
travel back to its proper course by dig
ging shallow cross bitches. These cause
me considerable trouble and delay.
Kinsley is reached just about supper
time.
The two best hotels are near the rail-
road station in the southwestern part
of town. One is kept by an eccentric
German who, 1 am told, caters only to
travelling men, and to persons whose APP
pearance he especially likes. I do not
know from experience, for the other
place looked better to me, ana ROUND
it all that one could wish.
A fierce looking cloud came up this
evening and it blew up very cold. Look
ed for a time as though there would be
a big storm, but nothing happened.
An Unpleasant Day.
Sunday, May &c. This has been the
most unpleasant and dreary day of the
journey so far.
1t must have rained some during the
night but the strong south wind has
dried up the mud. Heavy cold clouds
hung overhead all morning, so low as
almost to touch the trees. That is, when
there were any trees to touch. There
were frequent showers of cold rain, and
the wind bowling in the telegraph wires
made a doleful sound.
Got to Dodge City at p. m Came IN
from the north over the famous Boot
Hill. The sun had come out and the
town certainly looked good after the
days dismal ride.
The Harvey house. at the station, is
the ONLY hotel that looks good. They
charge well for rooms, but the food and
accommodations, of course, are the best.
Had some trouble with the Irish depot
master about storing my wheel, but
tip of % cents did wonders about solV-
ing the problem.
The wind has gone down and as 1t is
clear and cold there will probably be
frost tonight.
L
fiat territory.
Monday, May 27-Bright, cold morn
ing There was frost last night. This |
is certainly a queer season. Have sew
eral purchases to make and errands to |
attend to, so do not get started until
nearly 10 o'clock.
Among other things I bought some |
whang leather to replace the copper tel |
ephone wire with which my pack has
been tied. Just as am leaving town !
there is an alarm of fire. Everybody |
makes a race for the engine house, the |
machinery is hooked to the rear of a I
passi : farm wagon and there is |
grand rush to hunt the fire, the where |
abouts of which is quite uncertain.
The road between Dodge City and |
Garden City passes for a great deal of
the way over the hills just north of the
Arkansas valley. Can look down on the |
bed of the river most of the time. |
Say bed because there is no water there |
very little, at least.
Have not yet reached the country |
where much irrigation is done. Cross |
and recross a large irrigation ditch, but |
it seems to be an old one, and perfectly |
dry. Got a good dinner at a little hotel |
in the town of Cimarron. Thought once |
this morning that 1 had run into a band |
Of tram wreckers, but it proved only to |
be some ranchmen who had found |
something wrong with the railroad |
track They stopped me to find out if |
had passed any section men recently.
See my first prairie dogs during after
noon, just east OF town of ingalls,. They