Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-07-22
CharlevOix Co.
To California
Mrs. Jennie M. Vance Writes of
Auto Trip.
Oilfields, Cal. July 8, 1921

Oilflelds, Gal. July B, 1871.
Dear Editor and Friends in East Jordan
Just few sketches OF trip home.
Started from Charlevoix County Oh
June 1st (having traversed the winding
roads and viewed the beautiful scenery
OF N. Michigan for over 300 miles, came
to visit cousin in East Bay, Grand
Traverse Co., (who by the way was
Supervisor of East Bay township for
| 10 years.. From there we went to
Detroit where we had warm welcome
from many relatives and friends. A
mong whose names are familiar to you
E. E. Hall and family many years resi-
dent there. From Central Lake, Mrs.
Thos. King, son George and family
Mrs. Archie Cameron, F. Sissen and
family, formerly of Echo, Mr.. and Mrs.
H. Vanderventer, Darwin and Noble
Scofield and families. We saw many
sights there which will not mention
as Detroit is so well known. From
there we came to River Rouge where
James Laginess lives. Mrs, Laginess
was formerly Mrs. Arthur Vance a long
resident of East Jordan. The next
stop was at Coldwater, Mich. (the writ
er's birthplace) where another batch
of cousins, nephews and nieces greet
ed us. There we renewed acquain-
tanceships of so years ago and visited
scenes of our childhood. Then for our
trip to the Land of the Setting Sun.
We found the Lincoln Highway at Elk
hart, Ind. and followed it to Ely, New.
We made many detours on account of
Road Construction, with the consoling
thought that our fellow tourists would
enjoy the future roads.
We found the roads in Indiana and
Illinois very good.
In Nebraska the Platte rivers were
on the rampage, dams and bridges
were washed out, so we detoured sew
eral miles. One of the bridges we
crossed lost abutments afterwards.
In this state we saw hundreds of acres
of potatoes in blossom which was a
pretty sight.
We soon got out of the rain belt in
to the mountains of Wyoming. That is
diversified state, even in the narrow
southern belt in traversing it. The
"wild and woolly" Cheyenne is so no
longer, but has all the earmarks of an
eastern city, with an occasional cowboy
or Indian mother with papoose strapped
on her back. The sheep industry must
have vast proportions as we saw
mammoth building inscribed Rawlin's
Sheep Shearing Association. We went
over mountains 700 feet. The Great
Divide we found here after descending
the Rockies, here we found fertile val
leys. One river, the Bear, was being
converted into canals for irrigation by
the State for experimental farms. Here
we also saw large bridges under con-
struction. We saw all thru the state
fences for railroad protection against
snow. Also snowsheds, which We re-
membered as we came through this
place by rail. One place in particular
was pleasing memory the name was
Green River. Three stately mountain
peaks with formations of rock guarded
the town. One looked like church,
the others like castles of medieval
times. Below the river went merrily
over the stones. We camped on its
banks and never will forget the grand
eur of these natural curiosities. We
came thru several canyons and mining
towns after this and at last came to
Evanston, a little town the last in Wyo-
ming and came soon into the state OF
Utah.
During this days drive we found
diversified features. One was man,
moth brick colored mountains looking
as if hewn to the line by a Masters
Hand. Perhaps 2O-story brick struct-
ures would family compare with them.
This continued about ten miles, with
occasional fissures or canyons perhaps
100 feet wide resembling cross streets
but man could never have fashioned it
or beautified it. After another series
of lakes and rivers in fertile valleys we
came to the grandest scene of all. We
started in rocky canyon with miles of
rocky heights on our right, on the left
was laughing gurgling brook probab-
ly 20 feet wide, to the extreme left
mountains, leaving valley several
hundred feet wide. The rocks were
many colored, the boulevard wide and
hard. II was one half holiday for
city people and they came in groups
and singles in all grades of autos, to
fish. Resorts were on the banks and
there was lively appearance Of sport
We followed the brook and highway
down until light broke in, but behold,
we were still on the mountain with