The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-09-09
A Trip TO Alaska and the Pa
cific Northwest

ner's vacation. the question Of funds
IS generally one Of the stumbling
stones e ;he successful elimination Of
lsns. This indeed was one Of the
vital questions with the editor o; the
HERALn when she began 70 plan = tr5p
TO the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Exposi-
ton. attending the National Editorial
Association which convened in Seattle
July 18th to oath. inclusive. and q sub
sequent trip by s;eamer to Alaska.
When we had az last settled the mat
ter Of finance We thought our troubles
were AZ an end but We had hardly
started upon our long journey until We
found that we were most woefully mis-
taken The Ume We entered upon
our trip Of scenic y onder and grandeur
we were completely overcome oy the
many sights we beheld then came the
perplexing question, How shall j
paint the picture OF all this wondroas
beauty for the readers Of the HERALD1"
Even one possessed OF a much more ex-
tensive vocabulary than your humble
servant would be at a loss to find
words to adequately picture to the
minds OF those who have never beheld
all the intrinsic beauty Of such q rich
and vast domain. And, rs / said, while
I cannot paint you the picture a. !
would, / shall endeavor in my humble
way to tell you Of some Of the things /
have seen and enjoyed.
Those of you who have been fOrtu-
nate enough 10 have covered the
same ground will be most able to en-
JOY what have TO say for we all know
how much more interesting and at
tractive a narrative is IL we are familiar
with the subject in hand, but we hope
to interest those also who have not
had the privilege Of seeing. So much
in way Of introduction.
Leaving Beaver Thursday July 18th,
in company with Misses Erma Crab
tree and leila Jones, Louise and F C.
Tracy, who accompanied me to Liberal,
AgAAAAb uAA4r1a4 AdArHAAE4 EANENA
that the Golden State Limited, the
Rock Island fast train, which is never
quite fast enough to be on time, was
only two hours late and | got out Of
Liberal on good time. During the
night we passed out of Oklahoma,
through the corner Of Texas and day
light gave Us the first view OF New
Mexico. II il is true that the first i'm
pressions are the most lasting we fear
New Mexico will have no charms for
the writer.
That section is very rugged and il
covered with a low growth of mesquite
and cacti, here and there. Other por-
tions are barren and the soil Is red and
rocky. Adobe houses are found here
aud there bot the country Is very
spsrsely settled. About the only sign
q human habiIatior we saw was a few
Mexican "greasers" with their sheep.
What the sheep found to eat was 3
mystery To me. This with a few bur
rOs Nas about the only sign of life.
Arizona and Southern California af-
forded about the same kind OF scenery
l. was interesting to me iuasmucl,
as had never made n trip across the
desert before but now that | have seen
the sights | nave no great desire to r =
peat the journey. 1t certainly Is mar
%velous in travelling over this great
country Of ours to note the diversity
Of soil and climatic conditions. One
day the train would hurry Us across a
great barren waste where not a vest
ige Of vegetation was to be seen,
where rocks. sand and alkali dirts
predominant and where huge noun
t2ins, hundreds of feet high, rear their
lofty heads toward heaven with not a
tree or blade 81 grass to give a touch
Of green and break the m~onOtony OF
the gray, dull rocks. The next day the
scene is entirely changed. Luxurious
vegetation unfolGs itself. Beautiful
flowers, immense vineyards, orange
groves and other tropical yerdure sur
rounds you on every hand. such Is
the scene that presents itself to the
tourist who crosses the Great Amer
can desert Of New Mexico, AriE1na
and Southern California. There seems
to be a distinct dividing line, for the
desert shuts of abruptly and all the
beauties OF the far-fsmed Californis
are before you IL isa most accept
able change, too. for two days ride
through a desert land IS about a. much
II that particular country as the aver
age traveller cares TO encounter.
We noted one thing, however. in
crossing this barren stretch which
proves to US that, while that section
: now in = seemingly worthless state.
Jet il will become a h2bIiable country
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