New Britain herald., 1917-04-30

leaving for Philadelphia next morn ing, where we spent our second night. On the way to Philadelphia we passed through several toll gates, the charges being regulated by distances between gates; ninety cents was collected at one gate, while at another the sum of eighteen cents was the charge, which was the lowest. Our next step was at Gettysburg, where we arrived shortly after dark. The folloing morning we drove over the famous battlefield and with guide we reached the goth c. U. monument (this being my fathers reg iment). We stopped long enough to snap the camera twice, once of my son, again of myself, in each expos ure, standing near the monument about where my father stood in a pie ture taken many years ago, thus we have picture of each three gener- ations, which we naturally prize very much. Leaving Gettysburg, we soon reached Bedford, Pa., where we found a modern hotel, although this is small town. Next morning passed through Wolfeburg and Shellburg, up and down grade soon reaching the Allegheny mountains and were soon going up, but had no trouble reaching the summit. The decent on the oppo- site side seemed a greater distance, but we soon reached the lower level, over a winding, well-graded road.
 Pittsburgh, Pa., was our next stop. Here it was raining, this coupled with the smoke for which this city is fa- nous, did not help to make pro- longed stay, for the next morning we started for Wheeling, w. Va. While passing through, Washington, w. Va, We received our first puncture, but were soon on the road again. We en- countered more rain and wind, but drove on through the darkness and muddy roads, reaching Wheeling shortly after seven o'clock. Here we remained several days, or long enough to have our car inspected and minor defects eliminated. Leaving Wheeling we crossed the Ohio river, over two bridges, as the river is divided by an island,-toll ten cents. The next night we spent in ZanesEille, Ohio, then Springfield, one night, Richmond, Ind, one night through Indianapolis to Terre Haute where we remained a couple of days and partook our Thanksgiving dinner. From here we intended to go direct to St. Louis, Mo-, but were advised that the roads were in very poor condition. so we jour neyed northward for about thirty miles to a town called Montezuma and hit the Ocean to Ocean highway into Springfield, Ill.,, Passing through the state of Ohio, we saw many f1ocks or turkeys, also many horses and mules. Further on we passed large and small herds of cattle, sheep and hogs
 It being late in the season. we did not see much of the grain crop but in
 rkSf Ctand1ncp much of which did not mature owing to the dry weather, for was informed that in some localities rain had not fallen for many weeks and 1.-Two stock had been turned in to feed on the stalks. We also noticed great stacks of straw which had been piled up after threshing. We all were anxious to reach St. Louis for we expected mail and news from home, which we eager lv sought. It was a long drive, but we crossed the Mississippi river at East St. Louis soon after dark-toll fifty cents. Our stay here was two days and on a Monday morning we left there crossing the Missouri river on a small boat-toll sixty-five cents. The large bridge at this point was re- gently destroyed by fire and this small ferry boat was the only means of , reaching the other side of the river. We stopped at Columbia the same night and the next days Journey brought us into Kansas City, Mo. We crossed the Missouri river again that ! day at Boonville, and as there are no ] bridges there, we again drove onto small boat,-toll 100. after waiting more than an hour.
 | Here we drove out onto the sandy l q fYs1lN N
 road to the waters edge, as the river
 was very low, and after some fancy | driving we managed to get onto the
 boat; reaching the opposite shore we
 speeded up a bit and reached Kansas 1 City in good time. We stayed here
 nearly a week and saw much to inter-
 est us Among other places we visited 1 the Stock Yards. We were shown l through the Swift plant by 8 uni formed attendant. To mention all we
 saw here would require much space,
 but will mention few of the sights"
 After passing through a packing sec ftion, we were taken into the slaughter
 ing department and witnessed the
 killing of hogs and calves. A visit tc
 the large refrgerators and we behe1d
 great number of sides of beef. lamt
 and pork. We were also interested fin
 the manufacture of oleomargarine
 Many tons of this product were being
 made while several women were en-
 gagged in wrapping and packing. This
 branch of the business Is extremely
 busy, working night and day they are
 unable to fill all orders. Either the
 high cost of butter, or the more com.
 mon use of this commodity, must b<
 the cause of such a demand. Leaving
 KansaS C~ifv Mo- we crossed the rive, into Kansas City. kan..-toll ffteer