Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-12-18
ALetter from Sam Shy.

els from Bonne Terre, Mo-, to Wins
low, Arizona, where worked for the
Santa Fe Railway.
Weleft Winslow October 23d st2:3O
P. NJ. and drove tc Flagstaff, Arizona,
a distance of 81 miles, that night.
This is at the mouth of the Grand
Canyon, the highest peak on our
route, A great forest of big pines on
every side for thousands and thousands
of acres. We have now left the desert
and are in the mountains again. |
tell you that big pine timber sure
looked good to us as we had not seen
any trees, only what had been planted
and watered, since we left Missouri to
amount to anything, and for days we
never saw one at all. This pine is
reserved by the Government and
can not be bought at all. In this
wonderful forest are deer, antelopes,
lions, squirrels and all kinds of game.
A party of hunters were camped
noar US for three days. We stayed
there on account of rain and the
snow. The hunters had two big
black tailed deer they had killed. OF
course, I soon made friends with
them and we still had venison when
we reached California.
We passed through what is called
the "Golden Pass" For miles and
miles we went up hill until we came
to the summit of the peak. Then we
started down, winding our way in
and out Presently we came to a big
steep grade which was the last stretch
Below was d gold mine and pretty
town. They were mining on the
sides of the hills and in the valley be-
low. 1t was the prettiest sight / ever
saw. 1t looked like painted picture.
We ate lunch here and had a good
rest after onr strenuous journey up
and down the mountain. The name
of the town 10 Catman, Arizona.
We are now coming to the valley of
the Colorado river-42 miles from
Needles, California. We reached the
river at s O'Clock P. M. and camped
for the night. The southern breezes
were blowing and quite a contrast
to the snow storm we we're in few
days previously.
We had had wonderful trip and
good luck so far but we were just
about to enter the great Molava
Desert-a stretch of 269 miles which
would bring us to San Bernardino,
where we strike the paved road to
Los Angeles, 65 miles. This desert is
sand and cactus and not much life,
except tarantules and cayotte wolves
We got along fine until we broke
down 16 miles from Ludlow, little
town. Here we had to get tourist
to tow our car and we had to wait
nine days for repairs. We passed the
time very well as there were great
many tourists there from all parts Of
the country.
We had a fine trip the rest of the
way. Oh, such roads they have ou
here. You can drive on oiled streets
for hundreds of miles, any way yot
want to go. Immense groves ant
orchards of oranges, lemons, prunes
apricots, and grapes, every where
We reached Los Angeles November
18th and next day went down to se'
the ocean, 20 miles away. We spen
the day on the beach. The peopl
were in bathing and the ships on tn
water.
This is certainly fine city. 81
Louis is not in it when it comes t
pleasures and sightseeing. 1t is
big town and there is lots of work
Our second day here we went ou
and stock in the town." On the 14t
went out to look for job and had n
trouble at all getting work in tn
Santa Fe yards as switchman. Hav
worked every day since. This is th
place we intend to spend the rest
our lives. We could not rent hous
as the people are coming here so fas
SO we went out to see a friend {
mine from Bonne Terre, Mr.. Howar
Lack. His father and mother fav
lived here for years. They own lot
of good property, and gave room
their home which is big, swe
bungalow. We have met lots I
Missouri people here ] knew. Th
ia their headquarters, so we are rigl
at home. They are all well satisfie
here and making money.
Among our bunch there are fl,
automobiles and we all use them, to
A man is better Off without shoes
this country than without a car,
pleasure is all you see. So why wa
to come back and wade snow al
mud when there is such a love
country as this? We will buy Q hon
as soon as we find one to suit. ! W
- 49,