The Republican journal., 1911-12-28
From Maine to California.
Frank w. Cowen Tells of His Trip From
Monticello to Los Angeles.

Montville to Los Angeles.
started on my trip to California Nov
18th. It was beautiful morning, fol
the season in Maine, with blue skies ane
a crisp cool air. Dear old Maine, as
left her rugged shores for the sunny
cline of Southern California tears filleo
my eyes.
Farewell to dear old Maine
With thy moon-li mountains,
Thy rugged coast by the sounding sea,
Where my ancestors and loved ones lie,
My love for thee can never die.
Leaving Waterville at 6 a. M, close
connection was made in Boston at noon
with the through express over the Nickel
Plate road. We ran into snow storm
after leaving Buffalo in the night and on
arrival at Cleveland, Ohio, the next
morning found several inches of snow on
the ground and freezing weather.
My father, who is accompanying me,
and is hale and hearty at 70, is enjoying
the trip very much, as are Mr.. and Mrs.
Howard Mcfarland of Augusta, also
bound to California. AS have lectured
in all the States east of Chicago through
which we pass am more interested in
what is to be seen west of that great and
wicked city.
We left Chicago at TO- Is p M, Nov.
18th, on the Los Angeles limited ex-
press, having had a wait of three
hours in the magnificent new station
of the Chicago & Northwestern R. R.
We passed through Cedar Rapids in
the night and awoke at 7.30 the next
morning as the train was pulling into
Boone, Iowa, named in honor of the
famous hunter, Daniel Boone After
breakfast we settled ourselves for the
day. Father sits by the window and
looks out upon the acres and acres of
corn, which the farmers were then har-
vesting, and remarks. upon the greatness
of our country. Most remarkable of all
its developments has been the wonderful
progress of this great western country
Yesterday, as it were, wild race roam
ed over its plains, where today are large
and fiourishing cities and villages, and
the iron horse now goes laundering along
over it's rich soil from sea to sea.
Four hours after leaving Boone we
arrive at Missouri Valley, an important
Iowa town. 1t is a rich and fertile
Of +ba
ing sections OF the world, and we see
great feeding barns. yards for cattle,
and graineries At 1 p. m. we arrived
at Council Bluffs on the Missouri river,
which half century ago marked the
western boundary of civilization Cross
ing the river on the great double-track
bridge of the Northwestern R. R. we are
in Omaha, Nebraska, 500 miles west Of
Chicago, and the home State of Bryan.
Omaha is beautiful city of 14O, 900 peo-
pie and growing rapidly. At 2 p. m. we
arrived in Fremont, named for John c.
Fremont, the Pathfinder, for whom, in
1856, my father cast his first vote for
president. How changed are the facili-
ties for travel since the days of Fremont
and the Settlers wagon train" Today,
palatial trains carry the traveller from
Maine to California in five days
Nebraska is also great corn produc-
ing State and feeds millions of heads of
cattle, which we see roaming over her
fertile prairies.
We passed through Cheyenne, Wyom-
ing, in the night, and woke up as the
train pulled into the little frontier town
Of Rocky Springs. In every city, village
and hamlet through which We have
passed we have been confronted with
open saloons. and have seen more
liquor drinking among men and women
in one day than in four months in dear
old Maine. Maine is the most temper
ate State in the Union, and may she
ever remain so, under prohibition.
Wyoming has thousands of acres of
and as yet uncultivated, over which roam
great herds of cattle, with the cowboys
and their ponies much in evidence.
We were four hours late in arriving at
Salt Lake City, because of a disabled en-
CINE obstructing the track. This is city
of nearly 100000 inhabitants, and is the
last resting place Of Brigham Young and
his four and forty wives. Our route from
here is across the Salt Lake valley
toward the snow-capped peaks of the
Ozark range of mountains, which are
plainly seen in the bright moonlight.
10 mention all the places Of note in
Utah and Nevada through which we
pass would take up too much space, and
l will only make mention of the Las
Vegas valley, one of the most noted
sections of Nevada. The great mining
camps of Goldfeld and Tonapah are near
by, and the San Pedro, Los Angeles &
Salt Lake R. R., has erected car shops
here at cost Of $1,OOO,O The soil is
fertile, but requires irrigation when
and the climate is such that
vegetables can be raised every month
in the year.
At Nipton, 504 miles from Salt Lake
City, we are in the Golden State. Cali
fornia, what magic is in thy name.
e.