Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-09-12

The Vale of Kashmir has become so
famous as a name suggesting superb
scenic beauty and delightful atmoS-
phere that 1t is known to all the
world-as an epithet. But few of the
worlds densely populated beauty
spots have been so effectually isolated
by natures barriers; and not nearly
so many Westerners have taken the
somewhat strenuous journey into ''the
Happy Valley" midas ideal summer
resort, as have travelled to the sum-
mer capital Of India, Simla, which may
be reached after the approved west
ern fashion by rail.
Kashmir, unlike most Of the other
Indian summer stations, is not on the
southern slope Of the HimalayaS.' 1t
is actually among those towering
mountains, and behind a portion of
them. In back of the barrier range,
passage of which, because of peculiar
geological conditions, is unusually diff
ficult, the great mountain masses
opened up, so to speak, to form the
celebrated Vale. This is a great Level
valley. it's floor a mile above the sea,
"a miles long and broad, with fer
tile soil, abundant water, most of the
products Of the temperate zone in pro-
fusion the whole surrounded by
majestic wall of towering, snow
mantled mountains.
To the visitor the Vale can hardly
fail to bring thoughts Of the legendary
valleys Of the Arabian Nights" into
which one could go only by the wings
o ia roc. Not many decades ago the
Vale was almost as safe from casual
intrusion, and even now that British
engineering skill has been brought
into play in road construction, the 200
mile journey from the nearest railroad
station at Rowalpindi, over the outer
Himalayas, is far from being an easy
jaunt. The geologic energies of the
present seem in league with the noun
tain-building forces of the past to pre-
serve something of the Happy Val
ley's seclusion. The road is con-
structed over much of It's extent
through a loose conglomerate forma-
ton, and hardly a rain occurs which
great masses Of stone and earth to
fall to the highway. The toll Of life
on this evanescent road is steady, and
squads of laborers must ever be kept
busy opening the way afresh. The
road. superseding the old trails, was
the fruit of British nervousness at the
steady southwark advance of Russia a
generation ago. BY 1888 the Russians
had pushed through Turkestan and
the Pamir to the northern border of
Kashmir, and the British felt the need
of a highway over which their troops
could move for the defense of this
Kashmir boundary. In the face of
most serious difficulties the road was
pushed forward in two years.
srinagar an Oriental Venice.
1t is a distinct surprise to the Wis
itor to discover in this valley far in
land, a mile high, and in the heart
Of the mountains, city that is a
Venice Of the East. Such is Srinagar,
capital Of Kashmir and the greatest
city of the valley and the state. The
Jhelum river, fed by icy springs from
the Himalayas, winds through the
Vale spreading out in several places
to form beautiful lakes. The main
street" Of Srinagar is the river and
facing it is the palace Of the maharaja,
government buildings, and the dwell
ings of the prosperous and humble
townsfolk as well. Some $4,000 peo-
pie live in boats on the river and the
numerous canals that intersect it, and
most of the traffic is carried on by
water.
If one is to spend some time In
Srinagar he rents not house. but q
house-boat. Such a dwelling comes
equipped" with the necessary oars
men. One completes his menage by
renting a kitchen boat manned by
cooks. Thus provided for, the visitor
may live a lazy enjoyable life, moving |
his abode from one beautiful setting
TO another, with his breakfast,
lunch or dinner in the making, trailing |
along behind.
Unfortunately the beauty of their |
surroundings does not seem to have
Inspired the Kashmiri to attempt to |
protect that quality and cleanliness in |
themselves. Many Of the people are
as dirty and ill-kempt as those in the
ugliest slums of the East. In fact |
Srinagar, away from its river high |
way, is all too slumlike itself with |
narrow, dirty, odorous streets hemmed |
In by houses devoid of sanitary facil- |
tiles. And as in all Eastern cities, |
here are swarms of beggars.
Kashmir's beauties do seem to have |