The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-03-11
REV. E. DUDBN
AT SALT LAKE
Writes Of Trip Thus Far and
ISL Tells Of Mountains and
Desert
FAILS TO SEE CLASSMATE
At Omaha, But Makes Lots Of
Acquaintance on the
Train
Salt Lake City, Utah,
March 4, 1915

Wahpeton, N. D.
Dear Sir:
Thinking that our experiences
SO far on our journey westward
may be of interest to your readers
1 should like to write a few line.
To adequately describe some of
the wonderful scenes we have
witnessed would be impossible;
but one may convey some idea to
those who have never been over
this route.
We left Wahpeton on Monday
morning, March 1st, and took the
1889 p. m. train over the North
western at st. Paul for Omaha,
arriving at 1880 a. m. Tuesday.
AS our train did not leave until
4 40 p. M, we had some time to
view the city. l sought out the
First Methodist church of the
city with the intention of inspect
ing the building but it was locked,
and l could not gain entrance. It
is very large church and l think
it is the leading church of the de-
nomination in Omaha. My special
interest in it is the fact that the
pastor graduated with my class
in college. l have not seen him
since we left o. w. U. together:
but, as he lived in another part of
the city, we did not call on him.
From Omaha we took a sleeper
through Denver to Salt Lake City,
arriving here about $3.50 this af-
ternoon. The sleeper was crowded
with tourists, the most of whom
were on their way to the Exposi-
tions. Consequently, there was
some inconvenience; but in the
two days that we spent together,
we became like one family. A
lstock breeder from Battle Greek,
4 Mich, people from different parts
of Ohio, a furniture dealer from
indianapolis, and others from va
rious eastern points, all became
fast friends.
The trip through from Denver
to Salt Lake City can hardly be
surpassed. At first the fog was
heavy, and so Pixies Peak and
Castle Garden, could not be seen.
But when we came to the Royal
Gorge we were fully repaid for
the whole trip. The rocks tower
ing perpendicularly for several
thousand feet above us on both
sides made picture beyond de-
scription. We passed above the
clouds, and malice a card to the
children at Uncle Sans highest
post office, 1O,24O feet above sea
level. 1t was dark by this time,
and our only way of knowing of
the high altitude was by the rail
road guide, and the buzzing in our
ears as though we had taken an
over dose OF quinine.
| This morning we rode for
hours through the Great Ameri-
can Desert, and for miles the only
sign of life we saw was about a
half dozen animals resembling
gophers. Then we came to a
stream and little town scattered
along its banks. 1t was the most
desolate country I ever saw.
But we soon came to the
mountains again, and for sew
eral hours we wound about in and
out the gorges, witnessing sights
that we did not suppose existed
except on post cards. Like the
man who saw Inspiration Point,
we wondered if the Creator would
forgive a person for dying with
out passing along this route and
witnessing these mighty works Of
His. So torturous is the road in
one place that we passed the same
station three times on different
levels.
We went up to the Mormon
Temple grounds after reaching
here, but were too late to be con-
Quoted through the Tabernacle.
We have that in reserve for to-
morrow; also other points of in
terest of which we may tell later.
| Yours truly,
| ELMER DTTDEN