The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-06-14

Vermont Auto Tourists for California
Forced Out of Way By High Water.

of Logan, Iowa, or about 80 miles from
Omaha, Neb., June Z, 1850 We hav
been through some OF the worst soaked
country to-day we ever saw. They claim
they have had the worst freshet eve
known at this time of the year. Thous
ands of acres of corn are under waite,
now. We are following down quite .
large branch of the Missouri, which Is in
food, but not as high as few days ago
All of the time west of Pennsylvania
we have been about two or three days
behind heavy rains, but we have almost
entirely escaped them, and have had
pleasant weather and only one hot day
and good many cold windy ones.
All Of us are yet in excellent health
and are enjoying ourselves. We have
had to travel here in Iowa probably so
unnecessary miles in making detours on
account of high water and through vii.
lagos and cities. Every village of any
size calls itself city here. We came
through the famous city of Dow, found
ed by Neal Dow, to-day. Population
probably l00 all told.
To follow the red white and blue signs
on telephone posts we are led many I'M
necessary miles through villages and cit
les. Roads leading east and west are
much more hilly than north and south
roads all over the country. Iowa is as
billy as Vermont with the Green noun
tain removed.
We stopped yesterday and visited
tile and brick factory. The tile is made
of clay only; clay loaded on cars and
dumped into a large vat, water added,
then stirred by powerful machinery, then
run through machine that puts it in
shape. Then it is dried and later baked
in kilns and burned. Large quantities
are used here for draining the soil.
June 6 we camped in schoolhouse
yard near place called Jordan, and
found it cold place. In the morning
we crossed the Des Moines river, which
was about one -half mile wide, with the
banks overlooked.
The highways through the West are
very broad. Most of the way there Is
in wet spell, only two, one on each
side on a side hill, as the middle of the
road is very browning. They drag roads
after a storm, and that brings the dirt |
towards the center of the road. We have |
no trouble in meeting or passing teams |
here in the West. They give the auto
the whole road. So far we have foxad |
very little sand in any highway since we
eft Vermont.
(9;30, June o. We are passing the
Missouri bluffs. We have to climb 207
grades and go through cuts in bluffs 20
20 80 feet deep. Howard is now taking
photos of one of the deepest cuts Ne
nave seen. We are about four miles east
II Council Bluff, which is nearly oppo-
lite Omaha, across the Missouri river.
They find this cut 40 feet deep. Iowa
las spent a great deal of money on her
highways, but nearly all roads are dirt.
At Dennison, we were stopped on the
principal street in the city by carnival
'arade which beat any parade we ever
aw. In New York we saw dredges at
york deepening the Erie channel Here
re have seen a land dredge made on the
anne principles and used to deepen the
Dad cuts. IL is run by IL horses or
lules, eight in front and four pushing
ehind on a pole. About dozen teams
ere drawing the dirt, which was dumped
y the machine in the wagons. II is !
allied road grader and il is a wonder |
Ate dinner at a restaurant in Omaha !
lille the car was being overhauled at
he assembling plant here. (2.30 p. M {
ar out; very few repairs needed. We ,
sme in sight Of Omaha at about 1880
M, about Is miles away on the bluffs. I
toward took photos OF the city at that I
istance. Omaha is live place. We +
d l0-cent gasoline here-the last place !
n cheap gasoline, they say, this side OF '
alifornia. At Chicago we bought for 5
~ cents. Nowhere so far have we paid
rer 10 cents, and at such places we got a
lly enough 10 last until we got TO a /
Iilroad center where there is eompeti- 5
on. So far we have averaged TO use a a
'llon for each is miles. Indiana bad n
ads and Iowa mud used gasoline, but
2 were lucky that we did not start
eek earlier and hit the rain, when the
ads in Indiana were almost impossible.
(Eveningl We are camping on hill
sight of a very large stream west of u
!. We met DIR. Bailey of Barre to-day il
the streets Of Omaha. Had not seen n
m since we met him az Niagara Falls. =
Morning, june o.. The river we saw a
& evening was the Platte We can n,
: il for several miles and they say Il l. ~
over a mile wide in it, flooded condi. :,
IN. The best farm lands we have seen :
our trip are here in eastern Nebraska. =,
4 vegetation is the most advanced. i.
'ying Is in fun blast. alfalfa mostly, 4,
a many are stacking in the field with y
Y stackers. which work similarly 10 i.
rmont lay loader. We have found I,
"a roads 20 far in Nebraska. We are
ling the southern route out Of Omaha. = =.
ich Il called the Continental. We have -
trouble IN following Il. a. nearly every
eph0nc postsis marked with a white -
nd. We had our Ford car thoroughly ~
sfhauied az the Ford assembling plant ~
Omaha al the great cost % s379. II is 70
arge plant. doing q large business. Din % 81
i ! paid too much. A. in short time on
can get a neg Ford car for - cents. ~
n n - ~