Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-07-07

ernacle. Salt Lake City Is one OF the
most beautiful cities in the United
States, and l enjoyed my visit there
very much.
| ought perhaps to have told you
something Of the scenery which may
| be seen enroute from Denver through
the heart of the Rocky Mountains
and across Colorado over what is con-
sidered to be one of the most beauti-
full bits of scenic railway travel to be
found In the country. But l cannot
describe the magnificent scenery OF
The Royal Gorge and other places
along the route and do them justice
so will not attempt it.
Colorado Is principally mining
state but portions of it, where the
land can be titled and water can be
had for irregation purposes, produces
abundantly of fruit, sugar beets and
garden vegetables, and alfalfa does
especially well there. The eastern
portion of Colorado is dry and barren
and being without water for 1rriga-
tion purposes is mainly a range OF
country. The Arkansas Valley In the
southeastern part is a rich fruit and
sugar beet country and the San Louis
valley In the south central part, Is a
rich fruit and grain country but the
greatest fruit district, however, Is In
the west central part, in the vicinity OF
Grand Junction in the Grand Valley.
After leaving the western border of
Colorado and entering Utah, there Is
nothing but vast waste OF desert
land--desert as far as the eye can
reach. 1t seemed that the train sped
on for hours and hours through moth
Ing but a barren waste where not
even sage brush or cactus grew, nor
could living thing be seen on this
vast waste of a desert, not even a
prairie dog or coyote. On the way
from Salt Lake City. after leaving the
Salt Lake Valley and journeying
southwark and across the south
eastern corner of Nevada, we pass
Through nothing but barren desert
land again. The same on through
southern California until we came
well on towards the Racitic slope.
In choosing q place to spend the
winter where sold Boreas" could not
reach me, decided upon Los Angeles,
and certainly spent pleasant win
ter season there. l arrived at Los
Angeles on the 10Th Of Oct. 1910, and
remained there until March is, 1911.
So there, are any rate two winters
that l have been fortunate enough
TO be away from the cold, ice and
snow. Away, yes away where Tie
wintry winds don't blow. l liked the
city of Los Angeles-liked 1t much
better than did San Francisco, and
l believe that If capitalists in en-
ploying labor at Los Angeles, will
employ Americans and discourage the
employing Of the foreign element,
who, although they work for low
wages, send their earnings out of the
country instead of spending 1t where
they live and in that way help build
up the community in which they live.
If Los Angeles and other coast
towns woEid discourage the employ
ing of foreign labor and employ Amer
leans who would spend their money
at home they would prosper far more
than they do now.
l was very fortunate in securing
work at Los Angeles considering the
scarcity of jobs. The streets fairly
swarmed with idle men throughout
the whole winter. or course many OF
these men were of the class who are
always looking for work but seldom
take job if 1t is offered them, but
nevertheless there were great num-
bers among them who actually want
ed work but could not get 1t. | got
work within thirty minutes when l
started out to look fot 1T, at a planning
mill or sash and door manufacturing
establishment. My work with this
company was to unload cars OF lum-
Der and pile lumber. They had work
for me for two weeks, or until they
had laid In sufficient stock OF lum-
ber to keep their mill going for some
months. Then after days idleness,
l secured work with the National
Lumber Co. This was large con-
cern employing on an average OF
about 200 men. With the exception
Of weeks lay off. ! was in the en-
ploy of this firm until decided to
leave Los Angeles and to migrate
northward. At first my work was to
sort and pile lum Der In the yard, later
l was promoted to the car crew who
unloaded the lum ber from the cars as
it was brought in by the trainload.
Some days there would be thirty or
forty cars of lumber shipped. On
other days again there might not be
more than ten or tweve.
The lumber yard with the sheds
for kiln dried lumber, the drying kiln,
the planning m i'll, the company's horse
stables and the Office buildings cover
ed twenty acres. 1 received 1925 per
day for my work at the lumber yard,
and board and room cost me $3.50 per
week and l had a real nice homelike
boarding place that made it pleasant
for me during my stay In LossAngeles.
I ca ypd IN about, 9SO out of nv wages