Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-30
Letter From c. A. South
Continued from week before last

The business part is not so bad
here and here we find Henry Conklin
who has been in-the N. p. L. employ
so long that he is considered a part
of the system, We also located Lars
Werstad, who was once a very prom
ineut Young nan OF Canton. He Is
married and is otherwise "deporting
himself to the credit OF his Almamat-
err. We visited the Navy yard across
the hay, also the Soldiers home, one
Of the finest homes in the u. S. with
out any exception. Here the com
stocks come with their wives and
each family have separate apartments
This with the natural beauty of the
location looking out into the bay and
It's social management makes the
most contcnted lot of men you could
imagine.
From here we invade the British
domain at Victoria, a sail on the
Sound Of 5 or 6 hours, l wanted to
feel their war pulse, and found it up
to about 160. 1t is good not to be a
dutchman up there, The Malta was
drilling and practising war maneuverS,
Victoria is a nice lively townlof sixty
five Thousand. You do not notice
any particular difference in their
methods except their autos take the
left instead of the right as we do.
The Island is 100 to 800 miles and has
JS0 n,i1oS nf railroad r. iS nnr thirk.
ly settled and is about the same
formation as Washington, from which
it is separated by the main channel
II miles wide. The smoke was so
dense that the Sound steamers had to
20 very slow and blow their whistle
about all the time. After seeing all
we wanted to see in Seattle we want
ed to take a look al Tacoma which
we did. On arriving there, we took a
sight seeing car, and looked at the
beauty spots tt be seen. Then we
called on our old townman and COM
rade Oscar Dunlap and wife. They
were glad to meet anybody from Can
ton and they made US feel entirely al
home. They are the same genial
neighbors as Of old and they don't
seem TO have grown any older They
are very nicely located and have a
nice home and are c]ontented and
that is the sum and total OF our ef-
forts in this world of strife. Mr..
Dunlap's daughter Emily was home
on a visit. They had not seen her for
some time and to say they were glad
to see her would be drawing it very
mild. Emily does not look a day older
than she did years ago. They also ex-
pected their son Ralph to visit them
that day. If they could have had the
rest of the family home, their JOY
would have been complete.
Our next stop was at Portland and
it rained as usual. 1t always rains
when we are there. 1t was "a fine
rain and done much good as there had
been no rain they said for u days and
it assisted in putting out the timber
fines. Portland is a good town of
over 0 10000. The city directory dis
closed several people from Canton but
we were not fortunate enough to see
any OF them. After a short stop we
headed for down the coast to pass up
the WillameJ Valley across the noun
tains Of the Rogue River to the head
waters OF the Sacramento. Down this
stream past Mount Chasta, the high
est mountain in the U. S. and one of
the famous mountains of the
Cascade range, with the Black Butte
standing at it's base and one half as
high. The Black Butte is to all ap-
pearanceS, an extinct volcano. This
route from Portland to San Franciso
I'll miles Is one Of the most scenic
and grandest routes to my mind that
has been my privilege to make. Every
mile is filed with such facination
that though weary and dusty we re-
greet when the journey is finished, and
the Porter shouts lest Oak land.
We rested here from our tiresome
ride and inspect Oakland. Much has
been said about the beauties of this
famous city. Being the home Of the
wealthy businessmen of San Franciso
it is to be expected and it fully justi-
fies and meets that expectation. The
city is level will, wide and well kept
streets, With fine residences, parks
and ~boulevards. 1t is an ideal place
for a residence. After %exhausting all
our mean OF seeing the city we turn
our thoughts to San Francisco, the
City which has the unique distinc-
tion Of being the city honored with
the privilege of being selected for the
celebration of our great National
Achievement the completion of the
Panama Cannal an undertaking which
almost ruined, financially one nation,
yet the U. S. has accomplished the
Herculean task without any effort.
Tue Exposition fever is contagious in
all California and San Francisco has
got a doub1e portion. They talk Ex-
position, they dream Exposition, and
the fever fills the whole atmosphere
with The Exposition virus. 1t is my
humble judgement tina the EXPOSE
tion buildings will be a long way from
being ready for occupancy. Then there