Connecticut western news., 1915-02-11
CROSSING THE COUNTRY (Continucd fro,w First rage.)

(COlunuCu 1FOr. -i1fSt I3ge.)
 sand hills, small scrub pines and moun- tain rauges. 1 have been glad that came across the continent this way as to go by any other would not give the change that is so desirable to those who are crOssi- g l had always seen green fields and verdure covered mOun- tainS, and now to see nothing but sand is great sight for me and gives me the other extreme that l so much desired, and should I ever cross the continent again it would be by a route where the extremes met. This country needs water but where is she to get it :? There is so little grass here that it seems as if the earth would fall all to pieces in her turning, but it seems no sand is lost and if there was there would be sand left in New Mexico !? The river beds are red and dry and the banks are steep and deep.
 Now wheel track can be seen in the river bed, and it seems that this is the only place for a team to travel. What a nice affair it would have been for a senator or two from some of these overpopulated states through which am passing to have plunged this coun- try into war with Mexico, and how easy it is for those who have little to lose to keep up their harangue until some editor who has a few acres to protect comes out and denounces the whole administration in power for not being patriotic. Our train is fast gO- ing towards Flagstaff where we are to have something to eat. The food served out here is the best I have ever eaten, and is known as the Harvey system of catering.
 All through this country cattle are grazing, and one wonders where they find enough to keep themselves alive. Flagstaff is a typical Arizona village and the chief industry is lumbering Here we see great piles of lumber, mostly pine. Our train has stopped and on the other side of the track is large bank of red earth or substance which looks like ore, and which is used on the railroad as ballast, and which is said to be free from dust. They have just put off a blast here and it is reported in the train that some Mexi- can had shot at us or at the train. Here one can see farther and see less than at any other place in America. All along the track can be seen the bones of cat tie and someone is trying to tell me they have been killed by the train, but I do not believe this to be true for some of the skeletons are so far from the track that it would have been impossi- ble for the train to have thrown them such distance, and from the condition of the cattle seen wandering over the sands it, is evident that large numbers have starved to death or died from the lack of water and perhaps both.
 The cattle are small, not more than half the size of the New England steer, and I am told that only certain breeds can be grown here and that the Here lords do the best. may not be here again and l am going to visit the Grand Canyon; but to do so we have to get off at Williams and wait there un- til tonight at eleven o'clock, and that will give me good long time in which to look over this place, which is quite large and somewhat of a railroad cen ter, and as all who go to the Canyon have to get off here, Williams has be- come well known to all who visit the worlds greatest natural wonder. The village out here does not resemble the New England village. The houses are not like those seen in thes East, al- though they look we'll and answer the purpose just as we'll for the conditions of climate, etc., are not so exacting.
 The people here seem to be very much alive and are from the East, most of them. Here the people seem very ap- proachable and all in for good time.
 wandered down the street and got in conversation with an old soldier from New York. From him got quite lot of information regarding the country and the people, of the greater lu mber camps, the cattle raising, etc. I was informed that great fortunes are made out of raising cattle here, and that there are many here who have come from the East on account of having weak lungs, and that they can live here when they cannot anywhere else in the world. Just how large Williams is have forgotten, anyhow it has a good water system, model in all respects. The water comes from the mountains above, which are covered with snow and as the snow melts it runs down into the valley, where it is damned up, and from this point the town is SUD- piled with it's water, and which tastes good to me. Here as along the line the food is cooked and served after Fred Harvey's ideas, and everything obtain ed in New England can be had here at the depot. One is waited upon by pretty women and that itself goes to make the food taste better.
 Continued next week.