The Penn's Grove record., 1911-12-01
THE WONDERS OF THE NORTHWEST.
A PENIS Grove Boy Visits
British Col umbia

BLUSH Col unnDla
Victoria To Vancouver,
October, Is, 1911.
MY DEAR Mr.. SUMMERILL:-
just a few lines to let you know that /
am still living aud in the land of the free
and the home of the brave. / believe l
had better correct the above sentence as /
am now in Canadian waters and 1 should
Justify say "God Save the King"
l have travelled extensively during the
past four years both in United States and
Canada, but have never been west of
Kansas City. Having covered about
$4,000 miles during this time, travel to
me is somewhat of a bore and I seldom
enthuse over anything l see, but 1 be-
lieve I have caught the western spirit of
Boast" I see more interesting sights
and more beautiful scenery in this section
of the country in one day than I ever had
before in all my travels.
! started my western trip from Winnie
peg, Manitoba, which, for a town of $780,
600, is some cosmopolitan city. In leav-
ing Winnepeg for the Dakotas l went
through mile after mile of nothing but
wheat fields, where they were harvesting.
Some of these wheat fields are miles long
and it takes several minutes on a fast
train to pass one.
I came West over the Northern Pacific
R. R. Going through North Dakota 1
passed through the Bad Lands. 1t is
hard to imagine that you ride miles and
miles and never see a house, tree, human
being nor any living thing; nothing but
barren land and small hills; not even any
grass on this land. 1t is correctly called
the Bad Lands.
There are few trees in Dakota any,
where. Even in the towns they are
rare. The towns are built on tie fiat
prairie along the railroad tracks. In one
town l did not see a tree anywhere. l
mentioned this to the editor and wne
of the leading newspaper there. He
was offended and said, | was entirely
wrong. There were three trees grow
ing in the north end of the OWL He
was 30 proud of it he wanted to take me
there in his automobile and show them
to me.
The Westerners are the greatest boast
ers in the world. They always boost the
town they live in and boost it hard.
Some of the towns are the nlost God for,
saken places to live in you could imagine.
| would like to show some of them a real
place to live in, Penn's Grove, for in
stance.
Montana is a most interesting state
from a scenic stand point, as the Rocky
mountains claim a large portion of it.
An interesting sight is going into Butte
at night. AS you 60 over the divide
from the east you see the many thous-
ands of lights OF Butte, several thousand
feet below you. While you are only four
miles away it takes about two hours to
circle the mountains to get down to the
lower plain.
My most interesting ride on the North
ern Pacific was from Misoula, Montana, to
Wallace, Idaho. The train consisted of
only four cars, but part OF the time we
had two large engines back OF us pushing
and helping the IL engine ahead. At
one place they told me they rise 5l2 feet
in ole mile OF track. On this trip you
reach the summit of the main range of the
Rockies. 1t is a most wonderful. sight
from this summit. You can see below
YOU Six sketches of tract that you had
..lready came over to reach the top.
On this ride we passed that famous
of "Taft," which gained a reputa-
ion two years ago OF being the toughest
town in the world. AT the present time
III ere are only about twenty five inhabit-
ants, but two years ago it had a popu-
lation of $500, nearly all men who were
boring a wonderful tunnel through a
mountain for the Milwaukee and Puget
Sound Railroad. There averaged their
for over a year II person killed either
by accident or murdered for every day III
the year. When the snow melted in the
spring they found % bodies on the noun
tain side. There were 200 houses there
and 1872 were saloons, music halls and
houses of a kindred nature.
Another most interesting trip was from
Wallace, Idaho, to Spokane, Washing
ton. You go by rail to Harrison where
you 90 aboard a boat and you ride for 80
miles on one of the most beautiful lakes
N the world called Occur dA'lene. 1t is
situated right in the heart of the noun
tains. 1t is hard to think of a more
picturesque trip, with the big snow capped
mountains towering on every side OF you.
I was somewhat disappointed in one
thing during my several trips over the
mountains. l had read so much about
the grizzly bears on the Rock MOUNTAINS
that l expected to see a big grizzly every
mile or So, sitting on a long and waving
to the passengers OIL the train, but up to
the present not one has been in sight.
One of the most spectular trips that l
have had and enjoyed the most, was my
trip yesterday on the steamer | am o
on from Seattle, Washington to Victoria,
British Columbia. The scenery issimply
gorgeous, az you have in sight during the
entire trip that wonderful Olympic
range of green clad. snow capped noun
tains, rising as it seems right out Of the
Pacific ocean,.
To be continued neat peek.
RAYMOND N. HARRIS.