La Junta tribune., 1916-11-11
TOURING GREAT NORTHWEST
J. \. Hcatwole Writes of Twin Falls
Country-Was u Wilderness OF
Sagebrush Eleven Years Ago

j. 4. Heatwole. pastor of the local
three weeks ago TO attend a con-
ference of his church at Albany, Ore.
writes very entertainingly of his en-
periences and observations thus far
on the trip. which are herewith pre-
sented to our readers as follows:
II is two weeks today since | left
La Junta. came over the ID. 4 r. G.
from Pueblo to Salt Lake City,
Utah. The scenery along this line
is unique-nothing like it anywhere.
This is especially true of the Royal
Gorge. Language and art are in
capable OF expressing the sublime
majesty and grandure of this wonder
of nature. The train is provided
with an open observation car. free
for all passengers, while going
through the gorge. thus enabling
one to see directly overhead as well
as on both sides of the canyon. At
every turn OF the road the eye is
greeted with sights too wonderful
and grand to be described.
As We approach the far-famed
fruit section OF Grand Junction We
are impressed with the almost entire
barrenness OF the country. Our train
was held up for over ten hours be-
cause of bad track caused by a re-
cent prolific rain. Notwithstanding
the fact that recent rains have been
abundant, pasture is short and scat
tered. and everywhere the country
is desolate and barren almost to the
very edge OF the irrigated land.
Fruit has been plentiful here this
fall and We are told there is plenty
OF money in circulation. Business ac-
tivity shows H. We stop for ten
minutes and visit stands and secure
q supply of fruit We find the price
higher and the quality not as good as
in our great Arkansas Valley.
our stay in the Mormon city is
only two hours. As we look for a
restaurant We are disgusted with
the horrible and vice breeding sa-
loon. While We would enjoy seeing
the temple. tabernacle. great salt
lake and other sights. We are ready
to leave over the Oregon Short Line
for Iadho While waiting in the
station for our train. we
saw more drunken men In one hour
than we have seen In Colorado In
nine months.
People here In the Twin Falls
country are gathering crops. which
are usually good. although the fruit
crop is failure. Alfalfa and other
clover seeds are making from four
to eleven bushels per acre: potatoes
from 800 to 600 bushels per acre.
and onions about twice that much.
Grain and hay yields were good. and
sugar beets are doing well. The
farmers here haul their beefs on hay
racks. and throw them on the wagon
by hand on account Of the dirt stick
ing to the beet. and then scoop or
fork them off at the station. There
are two sugar factories here. but as
yet have not seen u single beet
dump.
| am visiting now with ID. +. Det.
wiler. who came here from La Junta
about six years ago. lie II making
good at farming and sheep feeding.
Many farms are for sale. and farm
ers are looking for new fields to
conquer. on the whole. however.
everything indicates prosperity.
Eleven years ago there was sagebrush
everywhere. but now there are four
thriving towns. OF which Twin Falls
Is the most important. with a popu.
lation OF about 5000. The Twin Falls
Canal Company covers som. 100000
acres OF land and furnishes abb,nant
water from the Snake river
Ny friend. Detwildcr. took mo
to visit the magnificent shonhone
Falls today. where III. water OF the
Snake river falls 81? fect-fifty-two
feet higher than Niagara Falls. The
sight impresses one with Impress
Ions most profound. Az we descend
TO near the waters edge by means
Of an angular series OF xixxag and
criss-cross steps constructed down
through the great craEs and firsures
Of the canyon. and look up at the I'm.
mense volume Of water falling into
the abyss below with a deafenins
roar and cloud Of spray. with the
rainbow Just above Il,