The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-11-04
MILLER'S AUTO TOUR
From WheatlaHd, lows, to North Bend
Nehr., Is . Long. Lsng. way

FROM NueAtUu0, lOWA, ~ MOTH Dtuu
Nehr, Is . Long. Lsng. wsy
Wheatland. Iowa Is a small place,
about $50 population, and not over
ly inviting to a tourist but We did
not care to drive longer so pulled
into what they caleld garage and
got lodging at the only hotel or lodg-
ing house in town.
We got nice start the next morn
ing over real good roads but found
the Highway poorly marked for a
distance about Mechanicsville, pros
porous looking town and community
in general We reached Cedar Rapids
about $50, SO miles from Wheatland,
passing right on through without even
stopping for gas. Twelve miles west
of Cedar Rapids We were caught in
quite rain storm which sure fixed
the good roads. We found Iowa mud
Just as mucky and just as slick as
Northern Illinois mud. The roads
being well graded up or crowned it
was quite hazardous travelling. it be-
ing very essential that one kept in
the old ruts to prevent skidding into
the ditch. We soon found that we
were just entering a strech Of quite
hilly country too and upon inquiry at
a farm house we learned that with
out leaving the Highway some little
distance we would not reach town
belle Pleine) for about "a miles. Our
Ford had behaved SO nobly we decided
to pillow right along hoping to pass
through the belt visited by the rain
md possibly still be able to reach
the point we had planned to make that
night 1t took us three hours to make
that "a miles and when we did reach
Relic P'aiue at 12:3O-we were infor-
med that the conditions were no better
ahead
Just to show you how some people
will take advantage of Others when
they get the chance, will relate this
When we pulled into ii garage in
Belle Plaine to inquire about the
roads, found Des Moines car with
four young ladies' just arrived so lis
tened to their story. Being caught in
the rain the roads became so slick
that they We're afraid to drive the car
A farmer and his wife came along
in a spring wagon going to town The
girls got into the spring wagon and
rode with the farmers wife into town
The wife charged the girls $3.50 for
their spring wagon ride and the man
co charged $500 for the privilege of
riding in their car, $3.50 and did not
drive a block out their way | sup
pose that couple expects to prosper
in this world. Well maybe they will
for time-but its my opinion that in
the end one gets out of this old world
just about what he puts into it and in
my Judgment that couple would have
been way ahead if they had mixed in
little kindness and accommodations
with that mess of mud and trouble
rather than taking such advantages of
their opportunity.
Having made only SSmiles during
the morning. almost half the day
unspent and the prospects for better
roads and better day On the NOR
row being in sight, we decided to
keep to>the road" and at least reach
Tama IS miles distant. We found
the roads no worse with the except
ion OF two holes that had lately been
costing the tourists few dollars TO,
team assistance in getting through
Don't know whether Forda had been
compelled to cough up or not but
ours went right through without a
balk OR any unusual urging and We
reached Tapla a little before 3 p M
Marshaltown being - miles farther
on We DECIDED to make an effort to
reach there.
In leaving Tama We crossed the
Iowa river and in This ncighborh ood
we noticed quite a number OF Indian
farmers. meeting quite a few on their
way to town after the rain. We were
tflG that this was the Tama Indian
Reservation. We reached Marshall
town in due time and found TO our
great relief that the roads ahead ot
u" were dry so we 'prllsd right on
Westward. When we reached Ames
we felt We had had enough for ono
day and pulled in at the Ford gar
age, found hotel and retired. feel
ing We had earned good nights rest,
having made 1S" miles that day and "a
OF that WAS through mud and over
hills most of the way from, Cedar
Rapids to. Marshalltown. "a miles of
which had cost us hours of yalu
able time. Yes We were ready to