The Dickinson press., 1914-03-21
FROM NORTH DAKOTA
TO CALIFORNIA BY AUTO.

Editor PRESS:
The following is a sketch of our over
land trip from North Dakota to Califor-
ME, the surroundings and road con-
ditions as we found them.
Our car was a five PASSENGER Oak
land and considering III " weight
and luggage, which included camping
outfit, suit cases. block and tackle,
extra tire and rim, ETC.. we had a net
weight of 1850 pounds. Leaving Bella.
ED on the 18th Of September our route
led us southwest through. Bowman,
Buffalo, Macy and Belle Fourche. The
weather being line the roads were good.
Going into Deadwood we laid over
two days on account of rain. We also
visited Lead City, meeting with a
brother Odd Fellow, who showed US
through the mines. The Homestake
mine is now employing about $500
men. Here we saw some Of the best
pay ore which this mine puts out. A
square block as smooth as slate was to
be shipped to San Francisco for the
Worlds exposition. At the Assay
Office at Deadwood we were shown the
gold bricks which came from the ore
brought from the f1omestake mines.
TIE roads to Rapid City were quite
good. but from there to Hermosa it was
almost impossible to travel as the
bridges on the small U mi were washed
out. Some places which we forded the
creeks were up to the radiator. Cross.
ing Fall river the scenery is beautiful,
with the waterfalls pouring down from
the hills. furnishing power for electric
lights at Hot Springs six miles away.
Crossing Cheyenne river and going into
Nebraska the prairie is rolling. From
here we went by the way Of Alliance
to keep out of the rough country.
We were accompanied from there to
Reno by H.. M. Wilson and family who
drove a Studebaker car, a large stock
owner and a jolly good fellow. Reach
ing SCOTS bluff on the north Platte.
we find the first farming to any extent
| since leaving North Dakota. The little
valley is under ditch and the raising
of sugar beets and dairying are carried
on to quite ar extent. Going into
Wyoming we find principally stock rails.
ing. The roads were good into Chey.
enne. After travelling some distance
from Cheyenne we took a trail which
leads up into the mountains for a good
many miles. winding through a rocky
rough country, climbing and winding
around until we reach the summit
10, 900 feet above the sea level. Far
away in the distance the mountain
peaks were roDed in snow. 1t was very
cold here so we kept moving and was
soon on our way downward, passing
lodges of solid rock and coasting some
times with brakes set. Getting down
out of this high altitude we were glad
to relieve ourselves of our heavy coats.
Coming to a rolling prairie the trail
was quite good into Medicine Bow.
Again the trail leads off into a sage
brush country with hardly any vegeta-
tion. The surrounding country is covered
with loose rocks which made the hills
hard to climb. Here are hundreds of
sage hens, rabbits and coyotes which
furnished plenty of amusement for the
day. as both parties were we'll equipped
with guns. In some places on our route
were a good many ducks.
Going down Echo Canyon the scenery
was simply grand, with bold rugged
mountains towering into the sky. The
road followed the river with now and
| then just room enough between the rocky
ledge and river bank to pass. The
canyon was lined with timber, walled
in on either side with seemingly solid
rock. At intervals the road leaves the
river but soon winding back again. pas
sing many good fishing and camping
ground. Passing the Devils slide and
winding on to the Devils gateway where
| the canyon narrows and the road is cut
through lodges of rock. After leaving
here the canyon widens and comes into
a beautiful valley, in which are built
many nice homes surrounded by apple
orchards. N
Passing by the Great Salt Lake we
soon enter the Mormon city. This city
with its broad streets and water flow
ing ON either side, presents a picture
of cleanliness. In the centeE of the
streets stands the statue of Brigham
Young. In the tabernacle we heard the
history of the Mormon church from the