Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1919-04-03

tdItiln zen On me tucson set scene.
The long line Of cars was pushing
on with its linen-cOVered Pullmuns
and diners. stcaning down grade
toward The Sink, the depression which
had been primcvul sea and then des-
crt, and WAS now sea again. Old
Beach, rechristcncd Imperial Junction
for railroad convenience, was itself
lower than the ancient sea line where
once the gulf had reached. Richard
'u"w lac could lind shells at that des-
'rt station should he look for them.
lie picHed up his bag that the porter
had thrown on the ground and faced
line rung-lOWn curtain.
Its painted ..ei.c was yellow ste
iun house brni.ag under II deSeri
san; Il large water tank beyond, and
100 the distance ihe inevitable card
hoard mountains. like property scene
shifts fiat and thin in their unreal
hues of Furnished pink and purple. \
dusty accommodation train was back
ing ana switching. picking up the
empty refrigerator cars To- carry into
ale valley for the carly melon growers.
Already the valley had asserted its
industrial Importance; the late ram
page of the Colorado had made it
Spectacular. Those who would pay
little attention To the opening of
new agricultural district in the heart
of dreaded desert opened their ears
10 the vagary Of the river which had
spOrtNcly made of part of that dos
cri AN inland sea. Scientists were
rushing their specuatious into print;
would the sea dWindle by evaporation
a. it had done beforef or would the
overflow maintain the paradoxical
sea?
The food signs were apparent.
There cracks had split the desert
sand here water assures had men
ac,d the track and To the south II
fringe OF young willows hid the path
{ of the Colorado's dehouch
Tile men crowdirc The platform
B wore the motley OF the new country.
/ In Tucson the uniform "f the NAL
} citizens. With the exception of those
reckless ONES who found inevitably
ihai lotus is liquid was the Wilted
1 pretcuSe of "a gentle Civilizations de-
/ ,pond,nt ducks and khakis and limp
collars. Imperial junction marked ihn
downfall of the collar. Tho rest of
the composite costume 'ras irregular.
badly Numbered and torn. faded ana
>uuhurncd iiip cinth.~ of ihe dos l'
soldier. Richard saw huttonlcSS
shirts. faded ovcralls shabby hats
The sombrero of Mexico. The faces
under the hroad-hrinmed hats mad, a
| leapiue Impression upon him of youth
| and caserncss lie noted Significant
average Of intelligence and alerines>
This was not the indolcnt group OF
men which makes psetcn>e of occu-
/ laiiou whenever traiu comes in
Going inf' asked II voice nj his ear.
y pair of faded eyes 81 ~. "a yoai.,-
old face. whether early withcred OF
Well preserved ne had not time TO de.
tcrnine. was staring AT him.
He assured his interlocutor that he
was going in. His mood isolated the
( phrase; its significance vastly differ
{ rni from going on"
"Buying?"
Il think not"
III is good time To buy" Richard
Inspected real estate agent. For
! and is low--rOck bottom prices on
account of the uneasineSS about the
river. People are afraid. They want
la see the company redeem some Of
lis promises before they come in and
/ Ia. fertft In Of
hurry"
Richard asked what company he re-
Icrrrd to.
The young-old face with the faded
eyes looked AT him in surprise. "The
u. X. company Desert Reclamation,
which brought us all here"
"ScampS?" The newcomers survey
al the long line of naked mountains
and lean lands that formed the neck
"f the valley gave snuh of casual
ness To the question.
NO Fools, :" The answer was rs
swift rs bullet. Though some
people think them worse than that.
don't 20 81 far; I'm willing To Jay
they've tried. III say that much l}u
iht'N iihNfil ilit huOW-ItN.
The window seats. Richard coulC
see. were filled before the cars halted
10y the experienced ones who had mo-
waited for the train tn be made up
In the scramble he spied n vacant
window on the sunny side and mad,
for ii. \ stranger dropped into th'
seat beside him.
Every window in the car was open
Each red yelveted. dusty seat Wa'
oiled. A strong desert wind was blow
Ing sand into their faces. discolorni
che seats and covering the floor.
The engineer turned tO his compan
Ion. who was coughing.
"Do you mind this window being
Npen?"
I'D mind IL II were not. It's Away:
had at the Junction. When we ge
mto the cultivated country you vii
see what the valley will he like wher
IL