Pocahontas star herald., 1915-10-08
GOLDEN WEST TRIP
BY HON. ]. W. MEEES

| OuI toWhsman, Judge j, w,
Meeks has just returned from a
three weeks trip as a delegate TO
the meeting Of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge |. o. o. +. and incidentally
took m the Panama Exposition at
San Francisco during his stay in
that city. Since his return We
gathered the following in an inter.
view with HIM.
"ltis needless TO say that a trip
from the Mississippi Valley to the
Golden Gate is repleie with interest
and pleasure. After passing
through the great broad prairies Of
the west, the transition on entering
the Rocky Mountains is both sub.
lime and startling. Natures freaks
and wonders stand out in a grand
panorama, as the flying train of cars
speed on, so that one may SIT, look
and wonder to safety. As we
passed through a part Of the state
of Missouri on train Of the Mis-.
souri-Pacitic railroad, for miles we
rode IN such near proximity TO the
Missouri river that at times the
passengers would find themselves IN.
stinctively leaning in the direction
opposite the rlyer. Near Pueblo
we passed an magnificent appear.
ing stream, the shallow waters of
which looked more like immense
ribbons stretched along a vast ex.
Panse of sand than q river, aud you
may imagine my surprise on being
told that it was the headwaters Of
our great Arkansas river, even
known there in that strange appear.
ing country as the "Arkansas" river.
After passing Pueblo, for miles
we twisted our way through a vast
canyon, one minute going one di.
rectIon and ere we could realize il
being urged almost in a diametri.
cally opposite direction in an effort
to continue our journey. IL l re.
member correctly, we were ADVISED
by the trainmen that the highest
point over which we travelled was
place known as Tennessee Pass,
some u, 200 feet above the sea level,
aud | noticed that many Of the pas.
sengers bled at the nose as we were
going through this elevation, aud
on inquiry | was advised that this
was not an uncommon occurrence
and that many people were visably
effected in passing through this al
utude. As we approached the
Sacramento valley for miles we
rode along the bank OF beautiful
mountain stream and saw many by
the side Of the stream washing tor
gold. How they got there or how
they got away seemed almost a mys.
cry as ii appeared as we sped along
to,be hundreds of feet from the rail
road bed TO the water, aud on the
other side of the road equally as
high to the top of the mountain.
On arriving at the city of Oakland
one must be ferrled from the depot
across an arm Of the bay to the city
of San Francisco, a distance OF some
SIX miles. Here, one going to the
Golden Gate gets his first concep
tion Of the beauty and of the Paci.
ic. As you cross the Bay, Goat
Island, naval station, is pointed
out and the far famed San QuentIaa
prison is seen IN the distance, as is
also the Maureta Island. another
prison equally well known. ! was
fortunate enough to get one sunset
view Of the Golden Gate, but shall
not attempt to describe Its marve
lous beauty. The great ocean
steamers as seen at a distance pass
rug through the Golden Gate have
the appearance of great Leviathans
creeping along on tue top of the
water, as the distance lends the an
pearance of moving slowly and
lazilY.
San Francisco is quite city, hav
ing more than half million inhabi
5ants but IN hundreds of places il