The diamond drill., 1921-10-29

1920 p. M
Mr. Thos. Conlin
Crystal Falls, Mich
Friend Thorn:
You asked me to write you telling
how We were getting along There
were so many that asked that vtry
same thing that IL you will publish
this / will endeavor to make It ans
wer for all.
First day out we drove as far as
Denmark where we visited Mr.. and
Mrs. w. /. Rogers then to Chicago by
way of Waukegan which is very nice
road We stayed over in Chicago a day
and half, thence to Clinton, La. which
was one solid ribbon OF concrete but
there is where we made a big mis-
take. because this route brought us
through Iowa and Missouri. God bless
those two states, nobody else can. Mud
up Il your neck and no end of IT, Day
after day OF Just mud not only every
day mud that we find in the swamps
of Iron Co. but clay mud. we could
have made better time in grease, (not
Turkey but just plain grease)
The man who wrote "On a mule
through Missouri. sure knew what he
was talking about. Honestly Thorn.
Lizzie shimmied 50 much those few
days that 1t was a nervous wreck.
They have a slogan In Missouri now
Pull Missouri out OF the mud" so you
can we'll imagine how bad 1t is.
We could have avoided this and had
fine roads by going from Chi to Elgin.
Rockford, Freeport, Dubuque, Fort
Dodge down to Lindsberg then con-
meet on the "Old National Trail.
which we are now on.
But We live TO learn.
We arrived at Kansas City, Mo- 1880
p. NJ. Sunday. Oct. 9th.
/ got full directions on roads from
there right through. Got started next
morning bright and early and here Is
where we had our first flat tire. But
that worries no one, not on small
tire.
We made Counsie Grove. Kan. frs,
day. Great Bend next day. Syracuse
Kan third day, all this was monoton-
GUS because while the roads were AL
dirt 1t was certainly the finest road
ever was on, about $50 miles running
directly east and west with but few ex-
ceptions. Our next stop was in La
Junta. Colo. Colorado roads are not so
nice, but they are scenic, We crossed
the Katon Pass into New Mexico. II
was great for green horns. Had an
eight mile climb, practically all In low
gear, but that didn't send the cold
creeps up my back, got them wher
we started down and saw the road and
tree tops down below us where we
would pass later on. Since then we
have been In the mountains, and still
are. Went through the Blue Canyon
today. took number of pictures.
Tonight we are somewhere in New
Mexico between Datie and Mangas
camping in the mountains. l am writ
ing this by the light OF camp FIRE. We
hove not had chance to be lonesome
because we got in with another party
out OF Kansas and We stay close to-
gether all OF the time. They have a pet
coon in their outft and we caught o
prarie dog which We have lot OF fun
playing and teasing.
We will be In Arizona tomorrow n
Lizzie permits and Will have pretty
fair roads from there on with the ex.
ception OF 1876 miles stretch OF the Mo-
hae Desert In California which we
won't mind much as then we will be
pretty close 70 our goal.
There are some OF you that would
enjoy being here tonight I'm sure we
would love TO have you here for this
sure has anything beat I've ever tried
yet. We are $500 feet abivs sea level
tonight and the ai- while its cool Is