Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-05-30

Il from mluHA4ptH NNhAt ~ tN@N~~~ =
lterta we saw flowers bleomlnsl
which we first thought to be daisIea'
but knowing that daises grew "tall
and trlg'' we assured ourselves that
they we're NOT daisies but upon in-
curry found them 20 be crocuses. A
flower with a rather short stem.
light blue flower shaped like atulip'
Minnesota. II remember right is
spoken OF as a state OF lakes ana
this fact together with the rounded
hills and great smooth bouldera
bring US back to the knowledge OF
their origin, the glacial period Min
nesota cannot have much wind as
the forest trees retain their old fol-
iage and they still have the appear
ance Of fall. We reached Minneapolis
about noon on Thursday and had to
transfer across the city. II appeared
to be a much buster place than Kan
sas City. 1t is a great manufacturing
center as we saw the following
buildings, beet sugar factory, Case
threshing machine, Deere and Weber
Z, Manufacturing Co.. and several other
which / cannot recall now Min
neapolis also has some OF the larg-
est grain elevators we have ever
seen. and one, the Atlantic Elevator
Co.. you could not see the top from
the car window. In North Dakota
the land is principally prairie but
continues very rich farm land. In
one field we saw about fifty horses
returning from work.
Friday morning we saw snow and
continued to see 1t In the gulches
until we reached Calgary. The hill
sides. however, were covered with
crocuses. The land as we neared
J, Portal became more rough and rag
ged. About 80 miles before reach
fng Portal the Canadian emigration
agent boarded the train and asked
each one his or her name, age, oc-
+, cupation, as punt of money you were
taking into dominion with you, etc.
Then on our arrival at Portal the
Canadian custom officer inspected
our baggage before crossing the
line, When the train stopped at Por-
tai everyone that needed ticket
left the train and walked across to
North Portal to the ticket office. Or
course there was a jam, each one
wanting to be first. The line Is
marked on the U. s. side with a
large grey square stone about three
or four feet high and about one foot
or eighteen inches square, on the
Canadian side with a red post about
five feet high by one foot square at
the base, set in concrete. The dis
lance between Portal and North Por-
tai is probably four or five rods
There too, we had to turn our watch
es back one hour as the time changes
4 After leaving North Portal the coun-
try appeared more rough, Jagged
hills and deep gulches or canyons
which were filled with scrubby trees
(not much larger than the native
giant Sunflower of Kansas.) Great
rocks which wind and rain had worn
into weird shapes. one appearing
much like the head of bear, others
as though they were the ruins Of
ancient castles.
We saw the first sod house, after
several hours ride into Saskatchewan
; but had seen several log houses be
fore this. Further on we saw ar
OK team. This one was hitched t.
riding pillow, another to harrow
and another which was supposed t
draw wagon but got thirsty 81
walked to the side Of the road ant
stopped for drink. We saw sowint
and harvest in nearly all stages. W.
saw them preparing the ground
blowing, discing, narrowing, drilling
rolling and threshing. Some whea
and some oats, but great deal o
flax was in the shock yet, and som
, Just lying on the ground as 1t fel
from the harvester. 1t all looke'
bright and nice, not black and mould
as 1t would be in Kansas after layinI
on the ground all winter. No grail
, is stacked to speak of and most o
. the grain is sold upon being thresh
, ed. BY midday we reached a sectio
: which was prairie and on which tn
: alkali lay in sheet on the ground
!. looking life a skift of snow, and /
! the distance we saw great whit
: spaces which we supposed to be a
kali. At Chaplin, Saskatchewan, W
z r{nI,ad Soma nf tho cr0cusaS The