The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-08-20
COMMUNICATION
A WESTERN TRIP

n YVES EHN y nIr
Mr.. and Mrs. j. II. jenkins have re-
ceved another interestign letter from
their son, Hoy:
Portland, Ore, Aug. 10, 1915
Dear Father and Mother:
We arrived here this morning about
8 o'clock; we're three hours and hall
ahead of time. Sunday, August 8, al
noon, we started north from San Fran
cisco. The sea was rough that after
noon, but smooth all the rest of the
time; was on the boat two days and
two nights. The fishes will starve II
they wait for us to feed them. We
were not sick one minute, although
several did do them kind act. We
enjoyed every minute of the journey
but it got pretty cold in the evening
The same thing we witnessed in Frisco
cloudy mornings, foggy and cold in
evening. Would not live there if they
would give me home. 1t is not much
like 1t was in Los Angeles. On board
our ship we had many Germans who
were coming back from Los Angeles
where they had been in a singing con
test, so you see we had plenty of com
pany and also good singing.
Sunday evening religious service
was held. think the preacher was g
good, old-fashioned Methodist by the
songs he sung.
Monday morning we felt fine.
slept like log. BY this time everybody
was becoming acquainted. Lots ot
young people-some from Portland
others from the east and two from
Cleveland, o.
Monday evening | stayed up unit
we crossed the bar in the Columbis
river. 1t was very smooth. Hit the
hay about 1870 this morning. We
were very fortunate in getting state
room-some had them ordered since
the first of July. After we arrived II
Portland, we took sightseeing tril
up Council Crest, 1,045 feet above the
town. 1t was beautiful.
We go up the Columbia river to the
Dalls tomorrow They are locks con
structed by the U. S. government, max
ing continuous navigation possible or
the Columbia river for it's entire course
along the northern boundary of the
state.
Will stay all night in Dalles, Ore.
then go to White Salmon to see oul
cousin, DR.. John Gearhart, and then tc
Seattle.
Well, about the fair at San Francis
co. 1t is pretty near too large to star
on. Can only tell a few of the i'm
portant places. We saw the Ohio
building and it is fine place to rest
1t is reproduction of our capitol al
Columbus, emitting the dome. / saw
that several from Knox county had reg
istered.
The Tower of Jewels is wonderful
1t is the masked system of lighting
that lends such charm to the tower
with it's hundred thousand swinging
jewels and when the search lights are
turned on this cut crystal the effect
reminds one of Fairyland.
The Palace of Agriculture contains
an endless variety of exhibits of in
terest and for study, and agricultural
machinery and latest methods of grow
ing crops.
The Palace of Education is another
fine building, 525 feet long by 400 feet
wide. 1t shows everything from the
kindergarten to the highest university
course.
The areoscope takes the place of the
Ferris wheel which | have heard you
folks talk about, which was at the Chi
cago exposition. 1t lifts you to height
of 235 feet, chance for a view of the
surrounding country.
The fireworks we saw last Thurs
day night were far superior to any we
had ever had the pleasure of witness
ing before.
In the harbor at Frisco are anchored
seven of Uncle Sans battleships. We
visited them all, but were only OF
board the Oregon. 1t surely is grea
to see the machine guns and talk witt
the sailors,
Saturday afternoon we took sight
seeing cars and went through Colder
Gate park. Ten years ago this wa'
sand and bare mountains. Now it il
covered with beautiful trees, shrub
berry and green grass, the land bein.
irrigated nine months out of the year
From there, we went to the Cliff
House. Here we got good view O