The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-04-19
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA
Mr.. H. f. COmingS Writes Interesting
Description of the West. Thanks
Grenada People for kindneSseS.

"off my base,' but some day | feel
that would like to have another word
with those good people of Grenada who
have been so courteous and kind to me
and mine since our advent into your
city on December 81. | have often
wondered whether it would be possible
for me, at my age in life, to change
my location and begin over again among
strangers; whether it would be possible
to form new ties of friendship that
would be akin to those already existing
between neighbors of long standing.
While the question may not be wholly
answered, yet have been among you
long enough to have formed strong
friendship for you, and this letter is in
part desire to testify to our appreci-
alton of your kindness of heart, your
courtesy, good manners and everything
which could possibly interest North
ern man. We have carried with US
nothing but happy remembrances of
our "winter in the South" and if any
of you ever come North, l hope we
may be able to show you that though
we live in a cold country, we have
hearts that are warm towards our
brother man.
We enjoyed our trip to the Pacific
coast, every inch of it. Even the last
mile of ride in the desert was not mo-
notonous in the least When we
reached Memphis, we had good look
at the big river; it was said to be six
miles wide there at that that time. We
crossed two other big rivers, the Ar
kansas and the Colorado. The Arkansas
struck me as being the dirtiest large
stream | ever saw. We were scheduled
to leave Memphis at 8:25 p. m, but
owing to freight wreck, it was past 2
a. m. before we left, which caused US
to lose 26 hours from schedule time of
arrival in Los Angeles.
Our ride on the top of Ozarks, in
Missouri, was very interesting. 1t pre-
sented country different from any
other the greatest fruit orchards we
have ever seen. The ride through
Texas was great; some of the most
beautiful country | ever saw. AS we
went west, there were many evidences
that something was wrong, and when
inquiry was made into the matter it
| nxxp1.,paI vim II al, roll.
ly "dry-land farming" The country
seemed to be thickly settled, however,
but as we went west the dwellings
kept growing cheaper and poorer, keep
ing pace with the soil and its natural
resources.
In Oklahoma, you can find farms of
the very best, and others so poor that
one wonders what there can be that
offers any inducement to human be-
ing to try to eke out a living under
such discouraging conditions. New
Mexico and Arizona are also full OF
just such examples. We saw some
pretty cheap looking negro cabins in
Grenada, but nothing that would com
pare with habitations all along the des-
ert way. The Great American Desert
One never gets tired looking at its won
ders. What an upheaval there mus
have some time been: Mountains anC
plains, mixed up in all sorts and condi
tions. making everything look so gran'
and awe inspiring that one feels lik
taking off his hat in reverence to tha
great Power which rules the universe
There were channels feet deep who's
banks were as perpendicular as thoug
made by an engineer, with not dro
of water in them. Evidently the
sometimes carry large volumes of Wa
ter. There are what appear to b
small lakes, but upon closer scrutin
seem to be coating of alkali. Tn
mountains are broken and Jagged; stu
pendous piles of shaley rocks-it need
one with far greater powers of de
scription than have to give anythin,
like true description of the glory O
these magnificent sights.
Friends, when you want to see som.
of Gods wondrous works, just TAX.
this trip and if you are bit like me
you will think it is we'll worth youl
while.
This is fine city; truly city Of
flowers-more roses than | ever saw
and quantities of other flowers. 1t
seemed good to see green grass every
where. The city now has population
of 3l9, 900 and is growing rapidly. We
have no plans for the immediate fu-
ture. There are many Vermont people
here.
Sincerely yours,
H. F. Comings.
1886 Aldama-st., Los Angeles, Cal.
Mote by the Editor: The Sentinel