Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-02-07
WASHINGTON LETTER
L. II. Webster Writes the Reeurd
From Tacoma.

Tacoma, Wash, Jan. %, 1918
{. +. Brown,
Dear Sir:--I received the Record to-
day and noted what it said about the
stormy and cold weather you were
having back there. thought that |
would write you how different the
conditions here were.
We have not had any cold or snow
here this winter. There has only been
two mornings that the mercury has
dropped to the freezing point, 80 de-
gres Twice it has been down to 81 in
the morning. In both instances it
rose TO 90 by noon. The rose bushes
are beginning to show signs of spring
The pussys are out on the willows.
, Thus far we have not had flake of
anow. and not Il single flash of light
ming or IA sound of thunder during the
entire year just past We have had
good deal Of rain, but this is our
for it at this time of year. But il
never gets up and makes such a great
fuss about it as il often does with you,
just rains, that is all never know
il is raining unless | look out for
never hear it.
Tacoma is fine place to live and is
growing fast. Everything is booming
now on account of this war There are
seven shipyards all in active opera
ton and all been built this season and
most OF the work being done for the
government. There is good deal of
talk Of a big steel mill going up soon.
1t is expected it will be located on the
sound between Tacoma and Seattle,
but near here. The largest canton
ment in the country is located on the
prairie about 10 miles from the city
and close to American Lake. II COM
prises 10000 acres. This land was do
noted by Pierce county for the pur-
pose. There are about 10000 soldiers
there at this time. The camp has
been constructed for permanent ore.
They have built complete system of
water works and sewers as good is
any city Of $4,000 population in the
country has.
The barracks are all built two
stories, sleeping rooms up stairs, din
ing room and kitchen down stairs. All
are steam heated. Each man has
spring cot with tick filled with straw.
| tell you it makes US old boys of the
Civil war sit up and take notice when
we go out there and think of the diff
ferent conditions we had IL contend
with. We had TO sleep on a rough
board with only a blanket t. soften
it, or lay on the ground. Well, this is
1918. not 1865.
Wife and l were quite agrceably
surprised on Nov Both last. The
door bell rang just as we were sitting
down to dinner. l went to the door,
and there stood Clarence Clark and
wife. Well, we were surprised and
glad to see them and had a good visit,
and glad TO get news from home. But |
after all, don't care to go back and |
shovel snow. My health has improved |
I weigh 165 pounds, lat |
was my weight, when l left Alma.
Wife has me beat, She tips the beam at
$50 pounds. Burt weighs l75 pounds,
so you see am the little one, so have !
to behave. Burt has a good position
with the Milwaukee steamship COM
pany. 1t operates between Tacoma
and Hongkong, Toxic and Vladivostok,
has three boats week. Well. so long
for now
Your old friend.
c. II. Webster.
Sl9 So. Gst.
r. 5. Am enclosing some clippings
from rosebusheS in my garden, clip
ping from q red raspberry, you will
see it has started to sprout, also
that has not shed its last
years leaves. Note the new bud just
starting A leaf from the yellow dock
mas been growing all winter as green
is in summer time. The grass has
grown since ! dug my potatoes the
asst Of October. Tho mercury stands
his morning at ~ degrees.