Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-07
ACROSS GREAT AMERICAN
 DESERT BY AUTOMOBILE

when the first railroad crossed the continent "The Great American Desert was as real as the Sahara. And how many of the Forty Miners perished in the attempt to cross 1t in the rush for the California gold mines Now there are railway traversing, it and Trans continental Auto Trail. Recently woman, who has visited in this city, wrote some of the experi- ences encountered in crossing it, by automobile coming east. She writes:
 Leaving Los Angeles on Tuesday ev- ening, September 23rd. We drove to San Bernardiro that day. Then got an early start across the desert. We stopped at Barstow that night at the ''Pesa Fl Desert" Next day we made many stops across the desert so on1E got as far as Amboy. which is only very small place, but has the only good garage after leaving Needles and many of the Trans-continetal au- to tourists West bound stop there for supplies and repairs. Most of them are in need of tubes and often of tires. All we could get in the way of ac- commodations was a bed on the yer anda of the house (if one could call it a house), of the owner of the garage. However 1t was screened in
 
 doorss but we had to get up and dress before daylight as there were no cur tains and many people camping all around us. Cars were arriving all night and as soon as one crowd would get quieted down another crowd would get up and cook their breakfast over a camp fire and start on their way, hence we had very little sleep.
 The next night we made Needles and put up at the Harvey house again where we had very pleasant room, with bath. and had very good rest, as well as getting cleaned up once more. Temperature at Needles was 102 degrees and crossing the desert it was very hot. but I suffered as much from heat last June and July in a little village called New York City. Yesterday morning it started to rain at Needles. and cooled things off considerably. We left there about 1.30 in the afternoon and crossed the Colorado river hy ferry. Wish I could have taken a picture of that ferry. It is wonder! A small barge would more nearly describe it. They can crowd three Fords on it or one good sized truck It is pulled by small gasoline tug and takes about half an hour on each side to make land ing - the landing spot depends upon the rise and fall of the river. They said the river was very high when we crossed, but at most times the na- tives wade it. An old Indian was the chief pilot. Have never seen such natural looking Indians as we met around the river. There was eer- tainly nothing artificial about them. and their mud hnte and wigwarrns were plentiful. They charged us $S.60 for the trin across. It cnntin- ued to rain and the path through the swamp was very muddy and slippery even without chains it was hard ploughing for about five miles. Fort unately we only met two cars and | these were at turnouts, so to speak. Then we came to a very rocky coun- try and although the roads were very | rough, we were out of the mud. After ten miles we began to climb. Passed l through Oatman, where they had one of the largest mining booms in the history of the country. It was a very interesting spot We kept go- | ing up and up and up. Passed through i Gold Roads, another thriving nlinine center (the mountains all through this district are full of mines high UT on the steep sides of the mountains)
 and still we kept going up and up It seemed impossible that cal
 could climb such steep grades. We had to stop in the middle of one ana put our chains on as it was still rain
 ing, and the wheels began to slip 1 There seemed to be no summit, but we finally reached it and stopped 6 1 few minutes to heave a sigh of re. lief, and to look about us. Golt Roads below, which we had consid cred very high was only a small speck
 miles beneath us. and all about u, was the most wonderful scenery, ant such peculiarly formed mountains anG 1 peaks. My companion admitted he had never seen anything to equal it
 It was very similar to the Grand Can yon, only spread out more, and wt
 were right in the midst of it.
 Then we began to descend very l slowly, with the chains still on, as i was very slippery although the road, were nice and wide and the curves
 well banked. It seemed an awful long
 way down, but such wonderful scenery
 and how we wished for the sunlight that We might see the wonderful col ors and take some pictures, but i kept on raining. When we finally reached the bottom we had a straigh
 road, very good, twenty miles into Kingman, which we reached just aftel dark.
 There is Harvey house in King
 man where of course. they serve ex. cellent meals. but no rooms. Ther, l Is only one descent hotel in the town
 and we were fortunate to secure ; comfortable, clean room with bath.
 Like many other automobile parties 1 we are waiting over here until il stops raining. Think it will soon rair 1 itself out as it has certainly beer pouring all day and well seasoned witt
 plenty of thunder and lightning.
 There are many interesting ex
 changes of tales here from peopl | travelling in both diprections. Tn l desert at this time of the year fl
 beautiful wish I could make col
 lection of all the various kinds 0
 cactus we have seen. They will sool
 all be in blossom and there is potll ling in cultivated plant which cal
 compare with the brilliant and varie I gater colors of these blossoms. If [
 can learn of any way in which to pre-
 serve them I will send you box 0
 various kinds. They are So full o
 moisture I doubt if one could pres
 them with any degree of success.
 We are expecting to start for SeIig
 omoh at o'clock tomorrow morning
 weather permitting. The rains her
 do not last long and think by morn
 ing it will be clear. People here i 1 business have a very high rating an i do a thriving business Cannot un derstand why there are no better no tel accommodations.
 At Seligoman where we expect t stop tomorrow night there is goo Harvey house. witk rooms, Husban powered ear, who is going over tn : same road as we are tomorrow, s they made arrangements to travel to