The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-09-24
,',s7,EG ron The SIFA7EP 10
ET mn Al FIX LAhE

y ..b the wild mining lands of
arthsrn ontario. He was SO full of
i. .,neriences that he could scarcely
y shore to begin or where to end
!. ale. But it was interesting just
!. ssme-the office mans impress
=, Of the hardships of the miner.
Tatchford is the real starting
anti said he. "Latchford? Oh, it's
!, M beyond Muskoka. The Mon
-, river runs all through that coun-
: and it's the lake expansions and
aids Of the river that give all the
risty to the trip. But really though
q, surprise to find people travelling
Al way right here within a couple
Kindred miles from Buffalo. You
aht Of the luxury of our railroad
hs and steamboats, that carry you
tnight to the point you want to
,,eh and then-nO, there isn't a
az to get into that country except
il csnOte and portage.
as far as Elk lake you can make
! th the little steamers. We started
nj about seven o'clock in the morn
IN there were four little steamers
m lie first section of the way, and
Zach Of them carried about 25 passen-
ms We steamed up the lake and
pdyed at the other end. There we
nloaded everything and the cargo
nj loaded on to the trucks that wait
d there for it. 1t was all rocks and
foods of the widest kind, and
trough this we walked and carried
% grips. The trucks mentioned were
huled by horses on corduroy roads
lib tracks on them. At the end of
Ii ramp we took another little side
Eheeer and proceeded up the second
Title lake Scenery? Oh, yes, it was
.aGtful-wild and rugged of. course,
lib woods on each side of the lake,
u good fresh air.. But the black
lis we're the worst. I'll tell you
Eae about them afterWard.
And so about noon we landed
gain to make our second portage.
hTe was tent in the woods here.
lind Of inn where we had dinner.
Il enjoyed it too. AfterWard we
Flt on again and took the next boat.
he longest of those portages was
sVut, half a mile. It's 55 miles they
n, from Latchford to Elk lake, and
he round trip costs $5-such as it is.
There are three companies offer,
y 70 transport you from Latchford
biz lake, The whole trip through
GoEganda this way costs $40 for
inand trip. Freight is TX cents a
Fad To give some idea of the cost
s1lags up there, gasoline sells for
gallon in Gowganda. What dc
guse 1t for? Launches. There are
4 aunches on the lakes beyond
elty that carry passengers and
canoes to the first portage, Il
sA the balance of the way to Cow
saaa is by canoe only. We had oul
canoe There were two of us
slt the first portage and started
ne Wilds for Gowganda portag
across the rocky narrows be
20 the lakes.
aaglne narrow road, just wide
sa 10 get through the bushes, anC
s'st awkward at that with a canoe
'Vuf head, with rocks jutting VI
'Nnere and trees and underbrust
lag the view on every side. Ther
your canoe, put the paddles
y inc seats, and hoist it on YOU
80 that the paddle blades res
''af shoulders and the body of the
{ y alts back so that you can see
you walk.
'asre are no less than II por
between Elk City and Gowgan
iae whole distance is about 3;
], 0 You may suppose how bro
1e Journey is. The longest O
9'ases is about IL miles. Blu
vas one about half way aCros!
J 'S the climax of the whole trip
saw anything like it. Whel
@aueo and looked up that grade
aOpgnt that we had to get ou
" there-well, we knew we hat
.uiag before us. They say it,
Sadflers of a mile across tina
pat | never knew a longe
+ ssaltefs OF a mile. 1t winds
ssasre, and at a steady up grad
~ IKE rock staircase-anC
WY 1t gets its name. The.
ie Golden Stair. Why Golden
suppose because it's so nice ant
" silno up. But we did get VI
and then another bit of pad
before us. We reached
ssaaa at last, and began to lool
nous properties.
aoW about the flies: I tel
'aae Is to August Is is a goo,
Aeep away from that coun
IL, eM man with his face al
7 b. 2 twice its size, and bleeding
u, iust flies. They are littl
Az, oWs and they bite like mad
u ieei them until they bit
: sharp, singing bite, ant
Olood comes. Lots of mel