Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-08-10
VI 4 NEWKIRk
WRITES OF TRIP
IN THE WEST

r focatello, Idaho.
Dear Mitchell and Dear Old Mexico
Friends.- (
You know Missouri is the best state
in the Union and Mexico is the best
town in the State of Missouri. She
has the churches, the schools, the fac
tories, the railroads and the people
and everything.
Wife and / left Mexico June the
10th and came TO- Boulder, Colorado.
Stayed there five days and came On to
Pocatello, Idaho, and we feel like we
have gone around the world for we
travelled in a 1917 Buick car.
We met some deer, wolves and
cyottes on the road. Our road was
good almost all the way here. A
little newly worked road was eight
inches of dust. From the observation
Of all the roads we have seen we
think a hard surfaced road the best.
would rather pay $50 annually for
license and have a smooth hard sur
faced road than pay 81 annual license
on roads like some are. If Missouri
roads wer carefully looked after and
graded, dragged and drained, then
oiled, she would have a fine surfaced
road that would have that velvety
top, soft riding, easy on he cars in
every way and would be economical
in construction.
The best road is cement covered
with one-half to ttree-fourths Of an
inch of asphalt. / have seen a casing
which had travelled $4,000 miles on
this kind of a road without a defect.
One thing / notice in building a road,
not to haye too broad q crown. 1909
There are all kinds of good roads in
these, western states and they brag
wonderfully about them, and also
about the wonderful crops they raise
and boot at u country in the East.
Especially if we are a little dry. They
say we irrigate. Now who paid for
this irrigation? The Government.
They taxed us in the East and today
j fthe Government did, not keep up the
dams and reservoirs ahec ountry would
be unable to maintain herself. 20
Scenery is about al they have here.
They build rock and gravel roads so
we fasteners will come in and spend
a little money. The tourist keeps up
theconntry in many sections. There
are 2 tourist camps here and every
evening they are filled with cars.
We went to an Indian powwow held
at the, Hall Indian Reservation. 1t is
what they. call the. Sun Dance, They
begin dancing at sunset on a given
date. and continue without food or
water fol-, three days and three
nights. It is called a. religious act Of
some kind. but it seems there is no
one, able Is, explain iust what it means
All their preparations are made with
certain ceremonies, sacred to their be-
lief. We saw. deer, wolves, and cy-
ottes on. u way out here. If / had
met, a bear, would have turned around
and come back to Mexico. ~
They have deer, mountain goats,
.A ~ 4. go |l Att - -. 'ms
bear, cougar, bob cats and other game
here. But you know I have not lost
any bear or cougar. / may take chan
e with goat q deer or prairie
chicken Or sage hens, but would rath-
er sit on the bank of the Usage River
and catch q yellow catfish. They have
the mountain trout and speckled
trout here and everybody is crazy
about catching them. But a tourist
has to pay $500 for a fishing and
hunting license while a native pays
only So. Someone told me that I had
been here long enough to be natural
iezd. Our Government helps the In
dians build all their big bitches for
irrigation, makes their reservoirs and
then Mr.. Visitor has to pay SIS to cast
a line and stand on the bank and get
mosquito bitten.
Best wishes to all Missourians and
especially M~exicoans.
Yours truly,
w. A. NEWKIRK.