The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-02-09
COAST no COAST BY AUTO


Having fulfilled one of the dreams
of my lie, that of crossing the CONT
fnent from Coast to Coast by automo
bile | am DESTROYS of sharing my
pleasure with my friends by a brief
description of the trip
Our party consisted of Mr.. and Mrs
Raymond Chase and son Paul, Mr.
Fletcher and myself. We carried in
our Big 6 Studebaker full camping
outfit ten, camp beds, camp stove,
and working utensils. Our outfit near
ly covered the whole car. We could
not open either door, but as we all
wore knickers we were soon experts
lat shining over the side. On the
morning of our leaving Sites, Idaho
| "wednesday Aug. 81 we all were in
vited TO breakfast with Mr. and Mrs.
WILLIAMS to which we did full Justice.
1--WE thought it fine at the time, but
before we had another good square,
we were all convinced that was the
best meal we ever ate.
Bidding reluctent farewell to our
| friends we left Sites at 1880, hoping
to some day renew the friendship of
those whom had made ouru years
stay in Sites so pleasant.
We went by way of Kooskia over
The new road that was. just completed
between the two towns. AS we drove
up the grade to Camas Prairie we
caught our last glimpse of Sites and
waved farewell.
We went to Lewiston by way of
Ferdinand and Lapwai. We ate lunch
before reaching Lewiston. From Lew
| iston we crossed the Snake River into
Charleston, Washington. From here we
| encountered several detours which
lnaae travelling slow we arrived at
Dayton, Washington at Z P. NJ where
we made our first camp. The Commun-
Ity furInsh camp Tor tourists, which
was equipped with electric lights, rest
rooms, and a large room containing
Two tine large ranges with plenty of
wood, large SINKS with lot and cold
water to wash dishes. The tables were
outside, each large enough to accom-
ouate SIX or eight persons. The camp
also provides a large swimming pool,
which. looked good to us after the
dusty days drive.
Main Street of Dayton follows the
Old indian trail between Mexico and
British Columbia and during the ear
| ly days was the scene OF several In
dian battles.
August 10th, Thursday.
| We broke camp after having break
| fast. 1t seems we all have brought
ouru appetites with us, and we have
| 10 fry good manyho cakes, which
| by the way was regular item for
breakfast. Whether we cooked on a
wood range, gas range or camp fire.
Ten miles from Dayton is the town
Of Waitsburg, which is a very pretty,
well kept town and unique for its
water, system. The town is supplied
with absolutely pure spring water
which never reaches daylight until it
is drawn through the faucets. This is
one of the Oldest towns in Washing
ton. Twenty miles from here is Walla
Walla, County seat of Wall Walla
County which annually produces be-
tween five and six million bushels of
wheat. Here is located the old Walla
Walla Fort which sheltered and pro-
tected the pioneers during several
Indian uprisings. All day we travelled
through great farming districts. 1t
was indeed a wonderful sight to see
The combined harvesters at work in
the large fields. These machines cut
and hresh the grain with one opera
ton. Some were drawn by engines but
The majority of them used horses,
twenty-four to thirty-two head of
horses being used on each machine,
according to the size of combine used
One of the things that appealed to us
was that the grain seemed to be just
as good on the very top Of the hills
as it was in the valleys. Parts of the
farming districts in Washington is
very ally and one is impressed with
The fact that there is not foot of
waste land there. All the towns look
clean and prosperous, nearly every
one maintaining a tourists camp. We
camped at Yakima, which is the chief
city and trade cener of the famous
Yakima Valley. Near here is Fort
Since, which were Gen. u S. Grants
headquarters during the Indian Cam
paigns of the fifties The home of
the Indian Agent on the Yakima Res
ervation was General Grants resi-
dence at the fort and which three
others were built by the U. S. Govern
ment in Maine shipped, knocked down,
around the horn and up the Columbia
River to Cascade Locks and packed !
on mules from there to the fort.
Leaving Yakima for Seattle we
the most sceneic drive of |
the trip.
The road through Snoquamie Pass
over the Cascade Mountains was won
derful road engineering. In one place |
we passed over a bridge and in few |
rods travel we made complete circle
and passed under the road we had |
just crossed. There were many sharp
curves and grades in the road. From
Seattle we journeyed south to Tacoma
and visited Camp Lewis, and tried to
imagine the place while it was filled
with our boys in training. We follow
ed rolling timber and farming coun-
Al (.I