The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-02-20
JAMES DUCKWORTH WRITES
HOME

Dear Sir:
A word from this cline and our
journey to it may be of interest.
We left Blackfoot, the city of op-
portunity, on Saturday, January 81.
From there to Salt Lake was thru
a country with which all of your
readers are more or less familiar.
j Leaving Salt Lake City at about
10 o'clock a. M, we travelled west
ward and around the point of the
mountain and thence southwark
through Tooele valley. This was the
first time had seen this country for
many many years and as we glided
smoothly over the steel rails could
not help thinking of the time when
Mr.. Peter G.. Johnston and I used to
tramp over the same country follow
ing sheep in the days when we were
herding for about $4,000 per month.
Every inch of the ground through
Tooele county was more or less famil-
lar to us and as we glanced at the
many familiar landmarks I could not
help thinking of the many changes
that had taken place in our lives
since we followed those old sheep
trails.
After we left Tooele county the
entire country is practically desert |
but as this was our first visit to most |
of it, it held more or less interest |
for us. The day was ideal for this
time of the year, but I imagine the
same trip would be somewhat trying
in the summer season and for the lat
ter season I would not recommend
the trip. While the weather over
head however was delightful, there
was sufficient snow on the ground |
to make the riding more or less en-
joyable.
Attached to the rear end of the |
train was an observation car and as
we journeyed southwark towards the
Nevada line the snow became scarcer
and it was possible to remain on the |
platform of the observation car, for
perhaps half an hour at time with
out suffering from the cold. Shortly
after 6 p. m. we came to a stretch |
of roadbed that was very rough and |
several of our passengers suffered |
from "sea sickness and gave way to
that generous feeling that prompts
the seafarer to surrender all he has
to the fishes with most spontaneous
and unprecedented generosity. In
this case it would be the chipmonks
and rabbits that would be the bene-
ficiaries instead of the fishes. At last
however all troubles were forgotten
and all peacefully slumbered.
On the morrow, the same desert |
met our eyes but minus all the snow
belt and speeding rapidly towards
San Bernardino. Before we reached |
this place, however, we bade good
bye to the desert and glimpses of |
green vegetation greeted our eyes.
Arriving at San Bernardino, however,
a veritable paradise met our view !
and during the short stay made here
the platform was lined with the pas
sengers who had left the train to
secure closer view of the lovely
palm trees and flowers that indicated
the semi-tropical climate that pre-
walls here. Explanations of rapture
were heard on every hand and one
tinstinctively felt tempted to end his
journey here and let we'll enough
alone. But this was not to be and
soon we were speeding on our way
once more. From here to Los An
geles was dream all the way much
of the way being lined with orange
groves on both sides of the track.
At this season of the year, the trees
were at their best and the picture
of them loaded with their ripe, lus-
cious fruit among the green leaves
was one of the moot beautiful sights I
ever saw. All we could feast was our
eyes, but we certainly Toasted them
to the uttermost free of charge. BY
the way, think that the picture of
an orange tree when the fruit is ripe
and full is the most beautiful picture
of fruit tree that have ever seen. !
Orange trees grew everywhere, on
the lawn, in the backyard, in fact. it {
seemed as though there was no place
where they would not grow. We
were tempted to ditch the train, {
strangle the conductor, anything to
have the train stop long enough go
that we could jump some of the
fences and help ourselves to that in s
lviting fruit no matter at what cost. I
But we did not do it and the train
sped on until Riverside was reached.
Here some Of the passengers left us
and among them was Mr.. Peter G.
Johnston and his newly welded