Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-21
Yves tern Trip of
Mr.. and Mrs. Mace.

The following interesting abstracts
are from the diary of Mrs. w. l.
Mace of East Winthrop, kindly sub
mitted to the Journal following trip
with her husband through the West.
From Buffalo on through New
York we rode so miles where there
was not curve in the road. This
was grape taking up many thousands
of acres. They know how to raise
them there. They keep the vines cut
back more than do the people in
Maine. They did not run more than
four or five feet high and about all
YOU could see was large clusters Of
grapes the vine of leaves being
trimmed off.
Friday, we passed through Chica
go. 1t was corn there instead of
grapes. The large fields of corn
seemed to cover everything and we
could not see where they got their
hay to feed their stock. We crossed
the Mississippi river and rode by the
fields of corn in Kansas, there they
seemed to be burnt up as it had been
very dry and the sun very hot.
Farmers must have lost hundreds of
dollars ON their corn. The corn there
is planted with only one stalk in
place and in many places it was not
over three feet high and was all
black. 1t did not lock much like the
farms of corn in Maine where there
are five stalks in hill and stands
seven or eight feet high. / wish the
farmers there could see one of our
fields of corn. The houses there are
small and fer apart. In Kansas we
saw them ploughing with steam
plough.
Huts in Colorado suppose they
call them houses-vere miles apart
Women could not get together and
gossip. Men could not get together
and swap lies. Now what real coln-
fort could those people take Sugar
beets seemed To be their erep and as
we rode along we enjoyed seeing the
men gathering and loading them on
the ears. We passed many car loads
Fields with no grass to be seen
held large herds of cattle and the ami
mails looked we'll and fat. We said
they must live ON prairie dogs. While
we were wondering our nearest
neighbor on the train told us there
was usually a little green grass that
grew round the roots of the sage
bush and it is very sweet and good
for cattle. They also eat the sage
bush
We arrived at the Springs, Satur-
day. tired and dirty from our long
ride and We're glad TO close our eyes
on those forsaken prairies and sleep
as we did not get much sleep on
train. Our stopping place was at the
foot of the mountains which locked
very near and we were surprised when
they said it was seven miles TO them.
Monday, the 10th. we had man
with a smart little pony team TO
drive us around dbout sightseeing.
We went from Colopado Springs, rode
over to Colorado City and Manitou
City then way up the mountains un-
I'll we came to the Csxe of the Winds.
The ponies took four of US counting
the driver aid followed the narrow
road that wound back and forth up
the smonntains. As we We're driving
along the driver said now you would
think You were going down hill.
wouldn't you9 Yes, of course. we
were going down hill and when he
said YOU are going up 4 steep grade
We IlOu6ill ltlt iitetIi ileiN SOt4' -
sane and to satisfy ourselves we go
out and walked. The ponies We're
pulling hard all the time and so We're
we, so we got into the carriage will
ing TO ride and also ready 70 believe
anything he told us. The high noun
tains on both sides of the narrow
road in some way gave it this down
hill look. The Cave of the Winds is
lighted by electric lights. There are
Is large rooms connected with mar
row low pass from one room to an
other. One room is Over 200 feet long
Each room is different in its beauties
and they all are wonderful sights.
After seeing the cave we rode To
the Garden of the Gods. 1t is called
that because the Indians used TO wor-
ship the different stones for their