The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-07-25

large bridge, handsome structure.
Ihls is fine town and has many beauti-
full homes and business houses. The
State University of Montana is located
here, and there are a great number of
students attending. The grounds are
dotted with beautiful flowers and trees
OF every variety grow here. Missoula
is also great railway center, there be-
ing three shops located here, affording
wark for great many men. The next
point of interest is what is called the
Bitter Root valley. The Bitter Root
river empties into the Missoula river
at Missoula and we visited this beauti-
ful spot. 1t is famous, in the west at
least, for it's beautiful fields, it's fruit
and its vegetation of all kinds. We
took train for this valley and visited
all the towns along this route, the dis
tance being forty-fve miles. At the
end OF the line is town called Hamil-
ton, pretty little place of about six
thousand people, and it has one of the
most beautiful hotels that / have ever
seen. Also the fine farm of the late
Marcus Daley comprising $4,000 acres
OF land and veritable flower garden
and park, lovely lawns, beautiful roads
Leading to all parts of it, and trees
whole distance, and one can drive over
the whole grounds without getting out
OF the buggy, as there are at the end of
every lane, patent gates that atswing open
and close again at every touch. It was
very enjoyable drive for me. On our
return to Missoula we travelled by team
twenty-five miles and had the pleasure
of viewing all the ranches which were
at this time blooming with the prospect
OF the coming fruit. This was a most
delightful trip and was more than
anxious to locate right there. We re-
turned to Missoula, however, and the
next morning took the train for Ravilli,
small town on the Flathead reserva-
tlon. Here is another of those lovely
valleys, and the high mountains covered
with growing pines looked beautiful
indeed. The valley is garden and has
an abundance of everything one can
think OF or imagine growing in it. We
were very fortunate in stopping here,
as a Canadian had purchased from
Mexican living here at Ravilli, herd
of buffalo. There were 25O head in
large corrals build for this purpose.
The price paid for them being 100000.
There were three men from Canada
there to receive them. We watched
them loading the cars with these buffalo
for twelve hours. No one attempted to
handle them except the Mexicans or
Indians. Each one was roped and tied
to the car by himself, as otherwise,
they would have injured each other,
had they been loaded as ordinary stock
are. Eight buffalo were put in car,
the young ones were put in as ordinary
stock and were not difficult to handle.
The old fellows did some great fighting
and one got away and returned to the
hills. 1t was quite sight to me as
had never seen buffalo before. We
then went westward again and our first
town in Idaho was reached, viz, Sand
Point. This is located on lake and is
very pretty place of about 5000 peo-
pie. Here we met some of our old east
ern Montana friends, who entertained
us for the evening and accompanied us
to the train where we started for the
great city of Spokane, WASH, seventy
miles distant. All along the route let
me say, especially after leaving central
Montana, we saw great lumber camps
and yards that surpassed anything seen
in the east. Pine timber grows here in
abundance, and one would imagine that
1T would be very cheap building mater
ial, but it is about as expensive as
other kinds.
We arrived in Spokane May 20. The
following day being Decoration day,
we rested, and prepared for business on
the 3lst. The afternoon of the 3Oth,
Bro. Q. +. Stevens, pastor of the Central
Christian church called on us. We en-
Joyed pleasant afternoon renewing
our acquaintance, and talking of old
friends in Leon, Iowa, he having been
our pastor at that place some years
since. The Central Christian church
has membership of 600, with Sunday
school of 352, about 800 regular attand-
ants. They are in the midst of con-
test with Walla Walla, thus far Walla
Walla is ahead in number about so mem
bers, but Spokane is ahead in collection,
being about $500 in the lead. Next
Sunday closes the contest, and of course
Spokane says they are going to win.
We are having an opportunity to attend
church now and are taking advantage
OF it. Spokane is city of $4,000 people.
One of the beautiful sights here is the
Spokane river, which flows through the
center of the city, and number of falls
are formed here which make fine
sight. People who have visited the
falls of New York, say that these are
as preCIy as niagara. l think Spokane
is destined to be the city of the west.
There are a number of electric roads
running out short distances from Spo-
kane. Mr.. w. having territory he de-
sired to make, we took one of these
lines, went to Occur D A'lene City, Idaho,
distance of thirty-three miles. The
trip was very fine. From this point we
took trip on water, distance of sixty
miles, and this certainly was treat.
The lakes and river were very smooth,
making the trip most enjoyable. / will
try to get some views Of the scenery
along this route, which describe it
much better than can.
! had letter from Ralph yesterday
at the ranch. He is we'll and working
hard. He sleeps in his tent every night
and enjoys it. s
| have nice room located just across
the street from the First Methodist
church and two doors west of the Cen
icfy a1, r Il -