Charlevoix county herald., 1921-01-14
Wur Trip
From the Coast
A Narrative by Miss Ethel
Smith, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. E. l.. Smith.
Continued From Last Week.

We then travelled through Miles City,
Montana, the center of East Montana's
cattle district, which has one of the lar
gest range horse market in the world,
where thousands of horses are trained
for cavalry and sent to all OF the princi-
pal forts in the United States. Large
fields of enormous crops of sugar beets,
corn, alfalfa, wheat, and oats can also
be seen near the city. There also are
the two transcontinental lines, North
ern Pacific aud Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Panl Railways.
After another few hours drive, we
reached Baker, Montana, one OF the
richest agricultural districts in the
state, and especially in the production
OF wheat and other grains, raising OF
cattle and horses, also its center OF
large cereal area. But we sure kept
moving to get out of this desolate look
ing country where the sand just rolled
up ahead of us like smoke from fire.
1t almost blinds your way for a few
minutes. To one side of the city lies
huge hills, or in other words, small
range of mountains, that look as if they
might swallow you up.
AS we gradually leave our city we
travel over graded dirt, through roll
ing country. When in rainy weather
the roads are bad and it was through
this part we struck a seventy-five mile
stretch of these roads and we had to
take for the cow trail, and it was our
luck to strike it in good weather, but
so windy that we kept the side cur
tains up all the way.
That night we camped at town call
ed Hittinger, North Dakota, where we
joined again with our friends Mr.. and
Mrs. r. II. Blow, but as they were laid
up with engine trouble we had to leave
them because we were anxious to
reach our destination. We dreaded
very much to leave them as their
friendship was very much appreciated,
and hope in the near future to visit
them at their Stevens Point home.
The following day we entered the
Bad Lands which are many curious
rocks of different shapes. 1t is through
here where one will find water of a
good quality and so we carried cam
teen full all the way in case of emer-
agency. The road winds in and out of
a 1cks, as may explain, and look like
Vuge toad stools, others face, in some
places great holes found in the sides of
the rocks. Also coal is of a great
quantity where the road has been cut
out through.
Leaving the Bad Lands into South
Dakota, we travelled many miles over
dirt roads. Through this part we found
roads every mile, and by not being
careful we run off from the main road a
mile SO instead of turning around and
going back We cut across and came to
a good sized mud hole. Dad was sure
he could 90 through all right so he
made one dive for it but did not make
it and the more we tried to get out the
deeper in we went. Some farmer may
of thought, here is where | make some
money by helping pull him out, but we
just helped ourselves to some hay that
was around on the ground and after a
few moments of hard work finally got
out.
1t was getting late and we were
anxious to make our camping place and
as the roads were real good Father
made little time and reaching a few
miles from the Missouri River we
camped at the Chatauqua grounds, just
two miles from the main road, which
= was lovely place. Many Indians
Pmade this their camping ground.
= The next morning upon reaching the
Missourie River we had to ferry across.
II was cold and a stiff wind was blow.
jag across the country. Seemed rather
queer the water being so muddy, altho
the rivers in the west are the same,
but they are caused by the high tide
that comes in. Here we struck the
prairie trail where the road had not YET
been completed. In this part of the
country we pass through fertile farm.
ing district where it seemed good to see
trees and other products growing after
seeing nothing but plains.
After our days drive we were
anxious to make camp as it was rain.
! ing. This was the only day on our trip
that it rained. Father stopped at q
store in small village to get some oil
for our oil stove and lantern, and to
our surprise one of the large double
cots that was fastened on the back Of
the car was gone, and the one cot thai
was almost gone to pieces was the only
one remaining. We wouldn't hav,
minded il ii had been the old one ant
Dad said, "Well that much less load fol
the car and the ground for me-" Aftel
few hours more we reached a nict
dry camping place and the next morn
ling up for another early start.
AS we now leave the Dakotas int