Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-20
Writes His Parents about Trip He
and Harold and Claire Mckinney
Had to Camp.
WITH co. f, 318 ENGINEERS
AT VANCOUVER, WASH.
From What He Has Seen of the West
Thinks Iowa and Decorah Best
i'm the u. S. A.
Vancouver Barracks,
Vancouver, Wash.
Tuesday, Feb. IL, 1918.

Tuesday, Feb. IL, 1918.
Dear Folks:
This is the first time I have had
very much time to tell you about my
trip. We arrived in St. Paul about
three hours late, and then had to
wait until about 1890 p. M, when
we got on the Columbian and started
to explore the West. /, OF course,
went through where l used to be in
Dakota, and l was very much sud-
pr6sed at the rapid progress they
have made in the last six or seven
years. We stopped at Butte, Bill
lings, Miles City, aid Havre, Mon
time, and Butte to my notion, is the
best of ALL The city of Butte is
very wealthy city, and it has several
retired millionaires who made their
money years ago il the cattle and
mining business. In fact, we rCde
with an old gentleman most of the
way, out of whom / drew conclu-
siol of as being a very wealthy man,
as he did nothing but traved around
looking after his interests in Mexico,
New York, AID at his home in Butte.
| Other characters one meets IN his
travels was a sailor of good rank
who has been in the service seven
| teen years. He would have liked
very much to have gotten us in tie
navy with him. The1 some people
who visit Waukon, Iowa, and an or
chard owner from Oregon were on
the train. Well, at about Havre
night overlook us, aid when we
woke up we were about 100 miles
from Seattle.
l would advise any one who wants
to make a trip this way to take the
c. M. & st. p. r. R., as you see
some of the most beautiful scenery
that nature can paint. The electric
engine takes you through the best
part, as it is too steep for one steam
locomotive, and as you wind through
the tunnels you get none of the
smoke and dust that follows the or
di1ary train. AS you ride along you
can look as high or low as you want
to, and If one can imagine lookin s
up through the green spruce trees at
the snow-capped mountains and see
the green water winding down the
mountain sides, it is the most beauti-
full picture one can see. We were il
Seattle for few hours and took in
a vaudeville show and spent a good
share of the time down at the water
front watching the ships sail out and
in, and also looking over the differ
ent kinds of fish, crabs, Holsters, etc.
There is one place where you can
buy any kind of a novelty you want
to, from a walrus tusk down to a
PAINTED pebble. Then we took a
large steamer to Tacoma, which is a
TWO hours run, and 1t is sure worth
the fore. We stayed in Tacoma a
few hours, and then started for Van
couver. l don't like Seattle or Ta-
coma at all. l call both of them the
cities of 'squeaks," as you hear
nothing but people putting on their
car brakes. 1t is very hilly and also
rainy in this country, and when You
come from the best state and town
in the U. S. A. you sort of get dis
gusted with this country. At about
! 6 a. m. we landed at Vancouver,
where we will stay for some time,
and will write about the barracks
next time.
With love,
| RAYMOND