Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-01
NEBRASKA LIFE
SUBJECT LATEST
GRAHAM LETTER

TWO weeks have passed and about
one thousand miles separate us from
the last point of writing. We have
in this travelling experienced a great
sameness on different levels and of
varying character: the sameness of
the plains; passing through the
eastern and central part Of Nebraska
there are the plains which serve as
an Introduction to that western part
of the state which while a country
of continual assent is one great vast
ness of real plain. In vain the eye
searches for evidence Of trees or of
human beings. Then there is the
sameness of the mountain desert; as
one rides along on an elevation. for
the most part higher than Mt. WASH
ington, for hundreds of miles, moth
ing is seen but burnt waste, except
for sagebrush and an eXpanse of
beautiful larkspur in several colors.
But with the sameness has come the
change; the change of atmosphere,
and the change of prospect, for here
we are in the mountains counting
the miles as we ride while the eye is
delighted with the prospect Of rugged
and charming snowcapped peaks in
the distance.
We gained our first experience of
voluminous dust as we made our
way from Dow City to Council
in which some other travellers were
caught and drenched. In the matter
of storms we seemed to be favored.
At Council Bluffs. where Abraham
Lincoln when council for the Union
Pacific Railroad, looking down on the
site of present day Omaha called it
the logical place for the terminus
for that great system, we came to
the Missouri River and crossed from
Iowa into Nebraska at Omaha, the
gateway to the west. For two nights
we enjoyed the fine camp four miles
out from the center of the city.
We stopped for lunch at Valley,
twenty five miles from Omaha. Here
we made the acquaintance of a Mr..
Nightingale, who showed us his fine
flower beds. presenting Mrs. Graham
with a beautiful bouquet of sweet
peas and peoples. Here we learned
the art of sweet potato raising. A
pit three feet long is dug, given Il
layer of sand, filled with dressing.
covered with sand in which the seed
is planted. The sprouts from these
which look like bean vines are pluck
ed off and used for plants. Across
the road is grain elevator of which
he has charge. and from the top of
this I gazed upon five counties and
the plain country reaching for over
five hundred miles. That evening we
camped at Columbus having reache.l
this city following rainstorm which
we escaped. but not the mud ana the
slueing that accompanies the soften
ed dirt. One car advancing too
rapidly tenderly kissed our mud
ri. ~ II hoin1 p6
at each other. Previous to this we
heard the whistle behind us of the
fast rushing locomotive and as 1t
came to the crossing just beyond
saw an auto shoot out from in front
of it; one of the most hairbreadth
escapes l ever did or ever could eX-
pect to witness. AS this car passed
I noticed that the mans wife was
making a very earnest statement.
We know now the beauty of the
golden grain which waved over vast
fields, or lay in shocks as we saw
the machines in one operation leave
the grain, reaping. raking, heading
and tieing the same. Cozad, Neb., a
small community on the plains, is
not forgotten for here we pitched
tent, Toasted on fresh eggs at seven
teen cents per dozen. and listened to
the tales of Clay Wilson who secuted
with Buffalo Bill. rode the wild
ravine with an Indian boy, and of
bearing messages from General
O'Conner to Brigham Young when
the latter's men had taken our men
prisoners to which a favorable
answer was s.iven only after a shot
dropped near Youngs headquarters
He reminded us that four decades
ago no trees were to be seen on
the plains. Now clumps may be seen
at distances.
Against advice in one direction and
another We continued over the Lincoln
Highway and feel we have chosen the
right course. A short ride of 50 miles
a detour which took us over the strange
looking Platte river. shallow. broad
and sandy. 1t was Saturday noon and
we thought 1t advisable to camp over
Sunday.
Again we were IN with good fortune
for before supper heavy storm broke
and found us protected under our tent
while others had to pitch tent in the
storm, and still there were those who
were ploughing through water and mud
UP to the hubs. We found no smarter
town on the plains than, North Platte
which Is possessed Of fine residential
and business districts where goods arc
marked at attractive prices. On the
way to this town trying to pass a
stalled truck our car, too, stalled and
it was with hard effort that We got
started.
Rough roads were encountered from
North Platte to Sidney. Real western
towns were pa ssed through, and as we
talked with clerks in stores. or were
tn -ncfa oy,f ,Afr x-tt =, &c
colleauialism. you bet" a common
phrase Of affirmation or goodwill. AT
Grand Island we were served with q
roast beef dinner at the surprising
price of 25 cents. with soup for an
introduction. At Big Springs one
blacksmith was on a vacation, not ex-
pecting business. while the other black
smith after guessing over the matter
for while found he was too busy to
make nle a new shock absorter. How
ever. after climbing the grade to Cha p
pei smith was found who did the
work, and the driver of this Ford gain
ed desired peace Of mind thereby. 1t
was on the way to Chapel that a guess
was made as to the distance Of yonder
hilltop. What Mrs. G.. stated as two
miles and as one and one-half, proved
to be four and ee-quarters-such is
the effect of distance on the plains
where there are no trees and only oc-
casionally a herd of cattle. Before
Sidney was reached we received a
sprinkle of rain, and while pitching
tent in that town most beautiful rain
bow circled in the clouds. The next
day was to bring US into Wyoming,
where our first camping place was at
the state capital Cheyenne, Of sad mem-
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