The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-07-12
A Letter From il. Miller Who Is En-
joying a Visit to the Old Home,
But Longs For Louisiana.

Mr.. D. r. Read.
Editor Rice Belt Journal,
/ Dear Sir:
June seems to have been a short
month, and can hardly tell why.
The first day Saturday we boarded
No. 10 at Jennings it being two and a
half hours late, however everything
went O. K. until We reached Morgan
City, which was soon after dark IA
bright moonlight night) the river was
raging torrent lower stories OF al
buildings flooded.
The whole country as far as we
could see looked like an ocean ana
reached within few miles OF Ne"
Orleans, we we're told the country that
was flooded along fhe railroad was
more than 10 miles. 1t sure made the
old man feel shakey to look down on
nothing but water from the car window
when the train was swaying up and
down and water rushing away from
track like mighty current but we
were informed there was no current.
The train crept along slowly and about
one O'Clock Sunday morning, they
pushed our train on the largest barge
IN tho world and on looking out dis
covered there was a passenger train
on each side of ours that MADE three
messenger trains engine and all, we
we're also informed there were about
forty three freight cars aboard. Sell
and wife with many others stood on
the bow of the great barge and seen
her battling with the mighty waters
We we're informed that the river mad
been over 80 feet ABOVE normal but
was only Is feet above when we crossed
II took about a half hour to cross and
when we we're on terra firma again
we certainly praised the Lord for his
protecting care, soon as they pulled
us of the barge they sidetracked the
tourist sleeper of which we were i'm
mates. aud pulled us out at $40 Sun
day morning. Had fine trip TO
Chicago. After spending one week
there, eating, sleeping and seeing the
sights we continued our journey to
Pittsburg, Pa, via Of Fort Wayne,
Ind, Had a fine trip in first class
sleeper,
Our stay in Pittsburg was OF short
duration. Then we took passage on
the Penna Limited to Altoona, ia. as
we passed thru the Alleghenies over
the great horseshoe bend we were once
more permitted to take view OF the
wonderful handiwork Of God in nature
After passing thru the great tunnel
and seeing daylight once more we
realize we were east of the Allegheny
mountains.
At Altoona we had few hours to
hunt up old friends, then took our de-
parture for East Freedom our destln.
alton by rail 1t being a distance OF
1924 miles from Roanoke, La. we
have made trip of about 80 miles
. over land at this writing. The mercury
today registers almost so degrees il
shade and we are in the hill country
t where breeze can not come unless II
comes straight down like the sun
Nv. how we wish we were in Louisiana
} to cool off.
e Wheat, rye, and oats are gooe
crop, corn very small. Wheat harves
s commenced to dav.
u The apple and cherry crop are abou
S an average crop in some localities
while there is no fruit in other places
d But oh the hills why people vii
X persist in living in the hills and wea
n out their physical strength in tryin
v to make living when thousands Q
acres of undeveloped land is waitin
l. in the Great and Fertile South TO
q some one to come and help develo
aud avail themselves of the gres
=, opportunities she offers is what "
r can not understand.
10 Nv letter is growing too long and
must stop for this time. Let me sa
= in conclusion to all the readers {
the JOURNAL in the south. stay whel
| you are and be satisfied. While "
are enjoying ourselves to the fulle
extent we will be glad when we q
back to our dear old Louisiana hom
Mora lator Mil1or