The Penn's Grove record., 1909-10-15
A Journey TO Colorado.
DEAR EDITOR SuMMERILL;

DEAR EDITOR SUMMERILL;
So many of my friends at Penn's
Grove have asked me to write them of
nv trip to Colorado that it is almost
impossible to write each a letter, so l
take this means, Of letting my Jersey
friends know something of my trip and
the wonderful sights of Colorado.
The first end of our trip was rather
tiresome, boarding the train at Broad
Street Station, Philadelphia, at 4.30
P. M. Monday August 9th. There were
SO many passengers that an extra coach
had to be pressed into service and it was
of the most ancient type. Little low
seats, no toilet accommodations, in fact
it was a disgrace to any railroads. How
ever, we were promised better accommo-
dations after Pittsburg wal reached, but
it was not until the next morning
Tues. al Columbus, Ohio, that we were
given anything like frst-class coaches.
One incident I will never forget, that of
an Italian woman with seven small
children going from Philadelphia to San
Francisco. The oldest was about 8 and
the youngest, a babe in her arms, per-
haps 8 months old. No other than a
woman OF the Italian physique could
have managed as many youngsters in
such a matter of fact way as did this
woman.
Our first night on the road was spent
in the day coach and we were fairly
comfortably fixed. Our boy occupied
one seat. We brought pillows along and
l tell you we used them to good advan-
tage. The little girl occupied another
seat while Mrs. Hillman and myself
mapped propped back in the seat. One
of our train made acqu~aintances, an
English lady, who was travelling from
London to British Columbia, carried her
teapot and tea along and would get hot
water from the dining car ahead and
.treated us with good hot tea as only the
English can make it.
Our lunch hamper held out very we'll
on our trip from Philadelphia to Chicago.
We arrived at the western metropolis at
7 o'clock P. M. Tuesday evening, 2 hours
late. Our train left for Kansas City at
8 p. NJ, SO we took advantage of our
two hours ssashore'' and took a peep at
Chicago and to get something like a
| SQUARE meal. Only those that have been
to New York City can have any idea
| of what Chicago is like. Rustic, hustle
| hustle everywhere, over head, under
| foot and all around. We were glad
| enough TO get back to the depot
| with the youngsters, who by this
time had gotten their fill OF "choo-
choos."
AS a diversion, we took a tourist Sleep
er from Chicago to Kansas City, but !
| can't say that we enjoyed the change.
The windows being kept closed on &C.
count of cinders and it being go warm
we were not so we'll rested as We antici-
pated and when we arrived at Kansas
City with the prospect of a week or SO
| respite from the cars we were indeed
happy. Mrs. HIS father whom she
had not seen for 20 years was at the de.
pot to meet us and after a brief rest we
set out for his home.
Kansas City, Mo-, is the prettiest oil
any of THE western cities. 1t is growing
rapidly, having a population at present
of 25,O00. Being the great packing
centre, such firms as Armour and Swift
have done much to make it a city
for the ~home-seeker. The boulevard
system is the prettiest in the United
States. The oiled streets and beautiful
lamps in the centre at nights makes {
most pleasing appearance.
When we reached our destination VIZ
we're surprised to hear that fathers
home was ON an exact level with the 30(
foot spire of the Catholic Church dowr
town. From this one can imagine how
hilly western Missouri is. Our stay
among our new father's'' folks was the
p~leasantest. No pains were spared tx
make our stay enjoyable and to prepare
us for our next and final stretch west
ward. Olr tickets allowed us a ten-day
stop-off SO we took advantage OF it ant
stayed 8 days at Kansas City, leaving
~ Tr n --=deu- Auo,ast 10Th. Gu
final sire Eli was made in a chair car anc
we enjoyid it more than the sleeper
1 One cals rest more comfortably, thu
chairs beihg reclined or placed uprighr
at will. The scenery from Kansas City
to Denver is nothing to speak of, the
| ong stretches of prairie with the little
cattle town dotted here and there grow
ing decidedly monotonous. We reached
Denver at noon on Friday. Another new
relative, Mrs. HIS sister, whom she had
not seen since a little girl of 6 met us a
Union Depot and took us to the rancl
about IL miles north of Denver where
the fresh mountain air made us fee
that our long trip had indeed been wortl
while.
1 think ] had better make another in
stallment of the things we did and. saw
while at the ranch, 80 will close thil
first effort with regards to all my friends
so many Eiles away.
1 Chas. M. Hillman
Denver, Colo, Sept. 22,'0s