Milford chronicle., 1920-05-28
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA
Mrs. Lilly B. Cannon Writes Letter
About Trip Out to California.

l street, Milford is visiting her brothe
in Southern California, and in lette
to Mrs Pauline Hanley, tells the stor!
of her interesting trip across the con
tinent. Her letter follows:
a Chino, California, May goth, 1920
r At last l have attained one aim o.
: my life-I have reached the land o.
= flowers and sunshine. and it is every
> thing that l had eXpected-and more.
< ! had, of course. a wonderful triI
4 out After leaving Chicago, we settled
S down to the real life of a traveller and
about eight of us chummed together
A and we certainly got everything out
. of the trip that was worth while
, While going through the southern
2 part of Colorado We ran into real
snowstorm, which lasted about three
hours. 1t was difficult to see for even
/ a short distance out the car windows.
: and thenoh. those mountains! TO
/. me they were wonderful. We had
} three engines to get US up and over
the mountains safely. | have forgot
ten just how many feet above sea lev
el We were in crossing these noun
tains, but it was about seven thousand
and upwards. II made by ears crack
and snap.
Our route then was through New
Mexico and on into Arizona. with the
desert waste lands and cactus. To me
/ it was a great sight, but it made me
sad to imagine how a person would
/ feel stranded and alone, here, nun
dreds miles from nowhere.
The prairie dogs were a novelty in
which | became much interested and
| learned later from ranch girl
met while at the Grand Canyon, that
these little animals are a dreadful
pest. They burrow in the grounds,
and their holes are frequently the
habitatiOn of the rattle snake, ground
owls The burrows dug by the prairie
dogs are blind tunnels, and cattle fire.
quently step into them and in falling
break a leg. She told me that the
government has made plans TO eXter-
inmate thece little animals from the
desert lands if possible, and that they
are paying MeXicans S15 per month to
distribute poison in the villages OF
these animals under the ground
l would like to try a month OF life
on ranch in Arizona. The air is
great, and one almost feels as though
you were walking upon it,
There are so many things | would
find time to write it. l am too excited
| guess, but l must mention my trip
to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
How shall l start? What can l say?
My mind cOnnOt compass and words
cannot express the wonders of that
place. AS we stood and gazed upon
the awful beauty" of that awe in
spiring work of nature, | could hardly |
speak Our train arrived too late in
the morning to secure the ride around
the rim, so we had to content our
selves with walking and climbing as
best we could, until the afternoon, /
when we then rode most of the after
noon.
l was actually afraid to ride along
the rim of the canyon. Believe me,
looking down into those terrible
depths, was no sure or easy feeling
to me AT the rim the canyon is about
thirteen miles wide and four thous-
and feet deep. There are two can
yons; the first, the upper one, and the
other below is the chasm thru which
the river runs. Compared with the
upper one, it is a mere rift fifteen hun
dred feet deep with walls almost per-
pendicular.
The next day we planned for the
burro trail down into the canyon, and /
it takes all day for one trip. The sec
ond trip requires two days. Our lunch
is sent with us. and we dress up in
donkey clothes" Ii would not do for
me to go into details here about the
greatest ride of my life. VIII see you
later
Ii may interest you. and those who
may be tourists and visit this part of
the world, to say, that the lowest hO-
tel rates here is six dollars per day.
The rim ride sets you back seven dol
lars more. One burro trail ride cost
six dollars and the two-day trip to-
tails exactly $1625 of real money; so,
bring along your loose change should
you come this way-but it is worth
every cent, so come out
After leaving the canyon with real
regrets, we started for the land
where l am now abiding, and arrived
in splendid health and spirits.
We were met by our friends in a
dandy new auto and you know just
now happy smooth running machine
makes me feel.
l can see from my bed the snow
,apped mountains in the far distance,
md | go down and out into the open
air. where l gather grape fruit from
he tree for my breakfast.
| think the Eastern Lady as / am
:alled is going to have a wonderful
ime, and in my next letter l will tell
'Ou about the trip that we have plan
led to visit the mountains. l am told
hat or this trip we will have to fol-
ow the last part of the trail for six
niles on foot, before gaining the top
If the peaks.
There are endless beautiful roses,
md then thousands of more roses at
as we move about the
streets, the homes and the highways
The air is so fragrant
With the bloom of the lemon, the or
Inge and the roses, that l almost lost
ny breath at first, after leaving the
rain.
We are in the centre of the great
orange belt of Southern California,
md in my next letter 1 will describe
,ur home, etc. 1 think that Roy cher
lusband) will live here some day.
Observation-Disclosures and all beautiful.
Bood-bye and love to all from your
riend, Lille B. Cannon.
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