Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-04
A Land of Contrasts.

a Land of Contrasts.
Lexington, KY, Oct. Interstate
tourists who visit the Bluegrass re-
gioH should avoid making the tour
in late summer or early autumn un-
less there has been great abundance
Of rain. Bluegrass thrives on soil
which rests upon limestone. The
effects of drouth and summer heat
are devastating temporarily. An Au-
gust landscape sere and yellow from
high temperatures and lack of mois-
ture is revived ~magically by the first
heavy rain The tourist who chances
to drive through Kentucky during the
drouth is likely to wonder why it is
far famed for its grass.
1t is possible to see the Bluegrass
region in a day from an automobile,
through 1t upon a new road each day.
This small section of the state has
no definitely settled boundaries. and
so proud are central Kentuckians of
residence there that no mention
boundaries in a border county is to
iQ1ure someone's feelings WithoA
declaring that this county is, and that
county is not, within the charmed
circle, it may be said that without VIC,
lating the speed limit an automobilist
may drive from Cincinnati south
VI lllC T cdSLWdIU,
across h Bluegrass region and INTO
the blue foothills Of the Cumberland
Mountains without starting before the
u rises in summer and without
driving till sunset. In no part. of
America or England. are the aspects
of rural life more pleasing.
The group of eight or ten counties
of which Lexington, in Fayette coun-
ty, Is, the hub, have had good roads
for several generations. Their early
use of limestone broken with ham
mers by hand, gave them hard white
roads long ago-roads which contrast
ed %strikingly with the green turf
along the right Of way, fed by the
lime dust made by wheeled traffic
passing over the broken stone before
scientific agriculture had introduced
Timing" In farming operations. Each
of these counties had 400 or 500 miles
of white .t%urnpikes, main roads and
minor ones included. Along nearly
all Of these roads substantial brick
resid ences. often handsome manor
houses with stately porticos resting
upon Greek columns, REFLECTED the
fertility of the. soil and the welfare
Of the landowners. e
Nowadays the oiling Of the roads.
and the use Of Kentucky rock asphalt
as an improvement upon crushed
stone for surfacing. has transformed
the main roads from white to black.
Many Of the minor ones still are
white water-bound macadam, running
between weathered stone fences and
inviting the tleisurely tourist to end
less rarnblings. About this section of
Kentucky centers the romance that
has made Kentucky's mama known all
over the world. Here the limestone
grows the grass which provides the
best pasture Tor Thoroughbred horses
and other livestocksuHer are the IA
nous nurseries Of thorouehbreds.
Here are many landmarks in the his
tory Of the Kentucky turf, including
The massive monuments 10 Ten
Brock and aL%ongfeilow at TIE once
f.mors sNartnra stool, farm. AZ
N~antura the late Frank Harper, owner
Of the two horsess lived for many
years constantly armed, after the
mvsterious murder Of Adam ara
Betsy Harper, an aged brother ana
sister who yer dubbed to death ii
theft quaint old farmhouse by some-
one whose identity never was learned.
Best Spot in tho Garden.
Nearby In W county, which
the late Senator Joseph Clay stiles
Blackburn dubbed the asparal rus bed
Of ths garden spot Of Gods country,
ts the handsome, modern home ana
breeding plant OF former Senator
Johnson n. Camden. = Waat Virginia
coal mine owner who married Miss
Susan Hart Of Spring Hill. an estate
upon which the Hart family had lived
since the Indians were driven from!
the soil by Colonel Nathaniel Hart
and othsr pioneerss
I'm this aAms observation-disclosures
which the Harpsrs developed world
renowned horses while living In q
plain old fashioned f4rmhouse--iive
the Alsxandess upon large estates in
heritsd from An Englishman 81 mi
name who@ fofsoek England tQR live III
Kentucky md abandoned i tatls { 3
becSme Kentucky gentleman. I.
tadnapg iargs income from Ensiish
mines 80 4l4tes icIkuzs ~