The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-02-27
What a Trip to Haha Tonka
DisclOses to a Nature Lover


Written by W. % Atkeson. Of the State La
Dor Commissioners Once.
| had often read of Hahatonka,
down in Camden county, Mo. Two
years ago there was much talk about
the State buying this wonderful place,
consisting of about 1000 acres of the
ruggedest land, for State park.
| had been down the James and
White Rivers and had visited nearly
all the interesting places which Ma
ture has allotted to our grand old
State and longed to see Hahatonka.
Day after day during the hot sum-
mers l labored at my desk, l dreamed
of trip to Hahatonka. Several times
| arranged with one of my fellow la
borers to go, but something always
interviewed.
| was at the station at 7 o'clock a.
M, ready for the outgoing train to
Bagnell, village on the north bank
of the Usage and about 40 miles
southeast of jefferson City. | ar
rived there in due time and was soon
on my way to Hahatonka which is
about halfway between Bagnell and
Lebanon. Uncle Sans star route
man was at the station at Bagnell and
graciously offered to take me to Linn
Creek, the county seat Of Camden
county, 90 miles distant for one PUNK
and half; but said would have to
wait an hour for the postmaster to
sort over the mail. l took this an
nouncement cheerfully, and, as it
was sunshiny morning, after TAX
ing one square look at Bagnell, |
strolled down to the beautiful, crook
ed Usage river, where the ferry boat
swung to its cable. Thence, follow.
ing cowpath, climbed up the great
bluff some 800 feet above the river.
Here found some wonderful shelv-
ing cliffs which afford splendid
camping houses for fishermen or
others needing shelter. The outlook
both up and down the Usage, is beau
tiful.
Oh, such hills! Such roads! My
companion on the front seat did not
seem to be particularly communica-
tive, and after had made a few suit
able remarks about the glorious
and the beautiful tinted
forests, without e1iciting any response
| lapsed into silence--only OCCASION
ally giving utterance to grunt when
the Government conveyance struck
a rock or stump or chugged little
harder than l was anticipating. But
soon found that | was going to get
the worth of my one and one half
plunks. We followed the Ridge
Road (when not in some deep revine)
along the tortuous Usage distance
If 20 miles to Linn creek-by direct
inc only s miles. 1t took just 6
hours to make the 20 miles, but we
rot there in time for supper.
Soon we were on top Of the noun
aims and our driver pointed out across
limitless looking forest-a beaut-
ul scene at that time of the year
several miles away to the Water
Tower and the Castle and assured us
here was Hahatonka. The beauti-
ul vision was soon lost, for it is as
rue in that country as elsewhere
hat wherever there are hills there
re valleys or ravines and gulches;
tut we finally arrived at Hahatonka-
he most picturesque landscape in
dissouri, if we except the Bald Knob
ountry of fancy county. Our guide
itched his horses to mammoth oak
veritable king of the forest--and
1e went afoot to inspect the handi-
york of God and of man. A great
atursl bridge was the first to ciaim |
ur attention. The driveway passes
yer this bridge, which is SO feet
ride on top, and the stream below
asses through hole in solid rock
least 20 feet high and 40 wide.
plendid driveways had been laid
nd built by the former owner
trough the natural forest, and, fol-
wing one of these, we soon came
} the giant Water Tower, IS feet
Iuare at the base and about 80 feet
gh; then we came to the splendid
one stable-finished outside like a
rye city home and fine enough for
e home of a millionaire; but it was
A III