Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-06-30

TOURING TO THE COAST

the trip of Mr.. and Mrs. c. ii. How
land and Mr.. and Mrs. G. s. Chase
who have arrived safely at Los An
geles on their motor trip from Abb
lene to the Pacific coast. The first
chapter told of their trip from here
to Santa Fe, n. M
Santa Fe il beautifully located In
the heart of the mountains. We Wis
tied the governors house and saw the
state house Of New Mexico which
commands a wonderful view Of the
snow capped mountains. We also saw
the Saint Francis Parochial school
school and Cathedral. The statue OF
Archbishop J. b. Lamey stands In
the Cathedral grounds.
We left Santa Fee and drove to AL
buduerUue. There we camped In a
very nice camp ground. While there
we visited Wright's Trading Post, a
curio store. After having left there
we crossed the Rio Grande river
about noon.
After noon we saw nothing but
desert but the roads were good from
from Albuquerque to Las Lunas. Be-
tween Las Lunas and La Junto Is
nothing but rocks and desert. Some
Of our drive was around huge noun
tains Of rock pressed as hard as gran
lite. We could look up as high as 30
or 40 feet and 1t looked as though 1t
were one solid rock. Our next stop
was at Grants, a small railroad sta
ton. Before we reached Grants we
crossed over a huge lava flow which
had flowed in from 80 miles south
of there.
Let me say right here that this
lava rock is just like cinder in ap-
pearance but most Of it is very hard
and sharp. Gas was 35c there. We
ate dinner in that town and were
plainly in sight Of an extinct volcano
crater.
We arrived in Gallup at 6 p. m.
and as usual a hunt for the camp
ground followed, but 1t was miser-
able place. I doubt whether we found
the real camp ground but we found
a dust pile to stop on. We were
certainly glad to leave that place.
The next important point was the
crossing of the New Mexico Arizona
state line When we were just over
the line we took note Of our mileage
and found we had just driven 1000
miles. Our next stop was the world
famous city Of Holbrook.
We camped there all night and the
next morning drove to the Petrified
Forest This is one sight seeing
place that is we'll worth anyyone's
time to see. We saw the most beau
tiful specimens of trees. some $50
feet long and from 2h to 6 feet in
diameter They are perfect trees;
roots and branches. OF course some
are disappointed because they expect
to find the trees all standing but this
is not the case as they are all lying
down in the Rainbow Forest. But in
the Black Forest north Of Adamana
the trunks Of the trees are still stand
ing. In the Rainbow Forest one can
find all colors Of the rainbow. This
wood is beautiful when polished and
comes under the class Of some prec-
ious stones. This petrified forest al
together covers 1000 acres of land.
1t is supposed to be the Norfolk pine,
a species now extinct.
As we crossed the Aztec divide
and looked in either direction it ap-
peared to be either an old river or
sea bed. On our right rose great
cliffs: far away on our left was no
boundary in sight This divide is as
fat as floor for miles on both sides
of the trail.
Going from Holbrook to Flagstaff
there was nothing Of any Importance
to see except mountains Of lava and
old craters. At Flagstaff we camped
in a beautiful pine forest about 9
miles from there run by young man
and his wife. They had store in
the camp. From there we went to
the Grand Canyon which believe is
unequaled by anything Of its kind in
the world. 1t is beyond any descrip-
ton man can give. I can only quote
Zane Grey, 1T portrays life and
death, heaven and hell" 1t is with
out doubt the most awe-fnspiring
thing that nature has ever made. 1t
is a work of art, carved mile deep
into the earth by the hand Of the
Great Artist 1t is indeed one OF His
masterpieces. One can look down
and see mules on the Bright Angel
trail which appear to be no larger
than huge black ants. In some
openings in the bottom of the canyon
can be seen the Colorado river which
looks like a silver ribbon. The d.
mansions of the canyon are about 200
miles long land to ~ miles wide,
containing 95S square miles. We
were fortunate enough to see a rain
bow in the canyon which seemed to
touch the bottom of it.
After leaving the Grand Canyon
our next point Of interest was at Dat
man, Americas greatest undeveloped
gold field. Its average output for the
year 1920 was $25O,000 per week.
We did not stop there only for din
ner. They were working a few
mines but there were any number
standing idle. l hope there is gold
there for this is the only spot In Ari-
iona which had any signs Of pros
perity. 1t is the mott desolate coun-
try one can imagine. Nothing In
sight for almost a week but mesquit
brush and cactus and all the water
for miles through the state has to
ha Skinned in