Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-04

7 pIdlneQ CIl0 lazy HOw we ooSo
these snakes for rich bait at home up
| in Maine but she insisted upon seek
| ing another neighborhood for the
night.
Beyond the Mississippi as the
! travellers grow few a kind OF free
| masonry exists. 1t is cheering to
| meet a car on a lonesome trail and
| hear the words, Hello. Maine!"
from an approaching car as it pulls
| up for a chat and an exchange OF
road lore. Through parts Of Wy
is only a trail.
! AS the trail nears Salt Lake City
| it winds through the canons and
| around the cliffs of the Wasatch
J range. Through Parleys canon We
go down and down, it seems as we
must be descending from the roof OF
the world to it's depth. Eight miles
of this grade then a sharp up slant
around the rim of a mountain where
a glance below causes a quick gasp
of breath and one grips the wheel for
dear life. 1t is magnificent. grand.
but hair raising. The road here is
fine and at the end Salt Lake City in
all its beauty in its setting of emerald
fields lies below.
+! Here we stopped and rested for
two days, one being BIS 18th birth
day She had her picture taken
standing in front of the Mormon
Temple as an act of celebration. We
had to make detour of $50 miles
from our route in Nevada on &C
count of the wretched condition Of
the roads.
From Elko we went up to Tus-
carora and the Gold Circle, a country
for the most part inhabited only by
the miner and prospector. Many
rude stone monuments marked min
ing claims in sight of the road and
numerous hills were burrowed with
prospect holes, deserted while an oc-
casional mine in operation showed
where some one had successfully
wooed the tickle goddess.
We reached Golcondo on the Ocean
to Ocean highway after two days in
the widest part of the country, but
not the most desolate through which
We were to pass.
In the desert if one is dissatisfied with
the read and has an adventurous spirit
he strikes off and makes road for
himself This Is risky as two young
men whom We came across stuck in the
sand and found out.
The worst ROAD Of all ran through the
desert for about 80 miles in the vicinity
of Winnemucker. New. While alka'i
dust clear up to the running boards
oh, hpla n
deep every car length.
We came in sight of Reno. New, tired,
hot, dusty and dirty. Just before enter
ing the city we stopped beside an irriga-
ton ditch in which was flowing clear,
cool water. Regardless of stares from
the natives, we plunged our arms and
faces into the stream for the most de-
lightful wash = have ever experienced.
Then we celebrated our delivery from
| the desert by going to the best restaur-
ant in Reno and ordering up everything
! they had in the house.
| l had cleaned the carbon from my en-
CINE twice on the road but had not
taken time to grind the valves and l
was little uneasy as t. my power
when 1 approached the climb over The
to the hard part of the grade we visited
the spot where the Inflated Donner
party was caught in the snow and all
who did not starve became cannibals.
The site of the cabins which they bull.
is marked by a pedestal. mounting
heroic figures of pioneers done in
bronze.
We took strong but light block OF
wood with us to block the wheels in
case the brakes failed and we were
forced to stop. Bee stood by the open
door to officiate with the block in such
case.
We commenced the ascent in low
gear, the road rising, according to re-
port. 1000 feet in two miles. The seem
cry here is beyond description but this
is not particularly dangerous trail.
Once our engine heated and stopped.
Bee trigged the wheels and after cool
ing we made the grade.
We passed the summit Of the Sierras
at an altitude of more than seven thou
sand feet and felt that our troubles
were over, but we rejoiced too soon for
after few miles Of down grade we
struck the hardest climb Of all. Nearly
at the top Of this our engine died"
Another car which had been following
swung alongside and stalled. our 40
cars completely blocking the way.
Two high powered cars were chugging
up the grade below US but were forced
to stop by our blockage. We all cot
out of our car and with the aid Of the
power and passengers pushed the other
car to the summit. AS 1 was returning
/ heard Bee yell Hello! Maine! and
looking down l saw a Maine license
plate on the car below. with two large
and dignified gentlemen returning with
enthusiasm Bees wavings of welcome.
These men were from Portland, Me-,
and with their elderly but massive
shoulders, at my wheels / climbed The
summit and the last pinnacle was won,
Thence down grades led through
Sequoia and Pine past running noun
tain brooks through the foothills AMI
| into the valleys. The temperaturs
changed to hot summer and we ran to
Napa over miles Of beautiful road Of
solid concrete arriving at the end of our
30 second day Of actual travel. having
run $3.50 miles. We were tired and dirty
but bronzed by sun and wind and
stronger than when We started.
With kindest regards. ~
! Doctor.
| The fourth estate" Is the news.
paper press. 1t is so designated hui
/ ntyeI,