St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-03-31

| would like to speak of the Glenn
ranch, which have visited several times
the past year. DR.. Hugh J. Glenn, for
whom Glenn county is named, crossed
the plains from Missouri in 40, and
bought this great ranch in the early sos
for stock raising. 1t was at that time
covered with growth of large oak trees
intwined with a growth of wild grasses
which hid from view the great herds OF
cattle, roaming antelope, wild hogs and
deer. But the richness of the soil, the
high price of grain and the cheap trans
portation afforded by the Sacramento
river, induced this courageous pioneer
and stock man to change his avocatlon
and transform this great ranch from
stock ranch to a valley of golden gram.
DR.. Glenn sowed the first wheatin Callfor-
mia, operated the largest wheat fields in
America, raising some years more than
million bushels. This ranch lies on the
Sacramento river. is 16 miles long and
five miles wide, and contains more than
$4,000 acres. That would be large
farm for Vermont. He constantly works
1000 mules and 500 men. | have seen
the great combined harvesters drawn by
traction engines and also by 80 mules,
cutting and thrashing from 500 to 800
bushels day; have seen the gang plows
blowing 80 acres day; and the sun
shine 300 days in the year | see "a this
country the best place for a man with
moderate means to get a good living.
1t is most healthful place. The largest
oranges CROWN Willows that ever saw
and the place only lacks men to make it
one of the best places under the sun.
Now while l have told of the good
things, there is another side that every
one does not like to tell. | suppose Yer
monters are familiar with the story that
was told of a minister who went from
Springfield to a new charge, and kept
telling his new people how much better
they did things in Springfield than they
did there, until it became monotonOus.
One good old sister in Israel, at the next
class meeting, as the pastor called upon
her to speak arose and said she was
striving hard to work her way on to-
ward heaven, but had some doubts as to
reaching the pearly gates, but since our
new pastor came have taken on new
courage, and am going tomake a desper-
ate effort to get as far as Springfield at
least" | heard story once of an Irish
man travelling in strange country, and
as he came along to most magnifi-
cent mansion, with beautiful lawns,
shrubs, and fountains of sparkling
water, he was forced to stop and gaze
on the beautiful sight, when man from
the chamber window called out, Hello
there, you thought you had got to
Heaven did your? Sure l did until |
looked up and saw the devil sitting in
the window" Now he not only sits in
the window here. but goes all over the
land. We have saloons at many corners |
and dissipated men that spend all for
drink and let their poor children go des-
titute. No Sunday observance, base ball |
and other games just the same on Sun
lay as on other days. But these things
are not going to last long for the good
people are waking up to the fact that
something must be done. Already many
counties and towns are becoming dry
and the time is near when we shall join
other states as prohibition state; then
his place will be very nearly equal to
Springfield" We have some of the salt
If the earth here and want more
| have met many people here from the
new England states and some from ST.
ohnsbury.
LYMAN H. PAGE.
Willows. Cal. March 4. 1909.