Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-11-07
IN sunny CALIFORNIA
SlIaS Moody Sends Letter Telling Of
Trip to the West
344 s. Shaffer. Orange, Calf.


Friends in Michigan;
We arrived in this city, Saturday,
October 18th, at ten O'Clock, some
what used up, as we left Alma Tues
day morning and only waited in Chi
cago four hours and the rest of the
time kept going night and day.
About the time we arrived in Grand
Rapids it commenced raining and kept
steadily at it until Wednesday morn
ing.
On our arrival at Chicago we we're
transferred to the Santa Fe depot and
at ten p. m. took the chair car, which
we continued to occupy until we
reached San Barnardino, about fifty
miles from here. The Santa Fe sys-
tenn is the most satisfactory system |
have ever travelled over 1t passes
through Illinois, Missouri and the cor
ner of Iowa Much of this land is
productive but does not raise near
the crop of former years.
At Kansas City we were only de-
layed TO change passengers about half
an hour, leaving the city at 1890 p. m.
Wednesday, and going nearly corner
ways of the state to the southwest
Crops are wheat and corn with many
fields of alfalfa, Hogs and cattle
were plentiful Corn was ripened and
not frosted. Our train consisted of
six sleepers, two chair cars, a smoker,
mail. baggage and express cars and
part OF the way dining car, but Fred
Harvey controls the eating nearly the
entire way. Besides Mrs. Moody and
myself Thomas Ankrom and wife Of
Shepherd. Mich, were with us and we
took plenty of eatables TO last us,
buying hot water and coffee as OPP
portunity presented Our car was
crowded all the way and when those
occupying seats before you lean back
their chairs you arc in tight place
The chairs do not admit men like me,
or even women, room TO straighten
out
But am asked how about the
mountains. Well, we began climbing
the Rockies soon after noon and by
midnight | was very much put 10 it
for breath; but next morning | was
better, as we were dropping down
rapidly October, November and De
cembcr are hard months for short
winded people 10 cross mountains.
But the trains are crowded coming
this way. From Alma 10 Orange is
about $500 miles, taking 90 hours
continuous riding. But why not take
a sleeper? Because there was not
lower berth but what was taken in
our train and so we preferred to take
our chair car ride.
Now as TO the weather here it has
been exceedingly hot since our arrival
They told Us Santa Ana winds were
the cause. which came from the north
east but today, Tue day, the wind is
southeast, but hot as ever.
Our baggage arrived before we did
and our house bc;rS eo-?t" we moved
in and now il weather permitted we
might be pretty comfortable. But Mr.
Ankrom and | have made a garden
and will continue if the hot wave lets
up some Our lot is $50 1874. and
has lately be irrigated so that it was
and is right for 4 seed bed. Our last
years oranges are nearly gone, but
our thirty trees are loaded with nearly
full grown oranges. Our blackberries
are some blossoms, some green ber-
ries, some red and we have had ripe
ones TO eat. Our peaches are gone,
but grapes are abundant. Potatoes
6Oc All kinds of garden stuff plenty
will say that we ought to have
stopped off two nights and rested,
but low rate limit was so short that
we kept going Don't do it; take
more time; be good to yourselves.
Don rush your autos to danger limit
Yours with kind regards.