Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-07-11
Rambling Impressions of a Motor Trip
fBy the Editor

EDITOR
Cowell ranch on Swamp creek, was
building two new porches onto the
ranch house, that Office Maze had
more stumps bowed out for clearing,
and that John Schneider had d large
patch of brush cleared and the ground
plowed ready for crop. Before ieav-
ing Lincoln county eight deer crossed
the road before us and left pleas
ant memory in our minds that We
were to carry with us into the more
sedate middle west. Stopping a lew
minutes in kalispell for gas, we
skirted beautiful Flathead lake, one
of the prettiest lakes we visited on the
trip: passed through Somers, Poison,
historic ST. Ignatius where the early
Catholic fathers had established
mission and where there is still
large Indian school, and arrived at
Missoula, our first days destination,
about $50, with heavy shower Just
setting in which fell without ceaslng
all night. but which had stopped by
the time we were ready TO hit the
trail the next morning. Turning east
on the Yellowstone Trail we made
livingston the second night, passed
through Billings, Miles City, Glen
dive. entered North Dakota at Beach
and drove almost in bee line east
ward across North Dakota to Fargo,
where we stopped to visit a sister
over night and then proceeded to st.
paul which we reached Friday eve
ming about $50 after five and half
DAYS of easy travel with half days
lost at both Miles City and Fargo.
There is one impression left in our
minds concerning our own state OF
Montana after taking this trip and
that is that it is a state Of immense
size. 1t took US nearly three and
half days to cross its eastern bor-
der. Another pleasant impression left
with us was this that we had much
better knowledge of the richness and
resources of the Treasure state Kohl
ing along at the start of the journey
on spring roads almost as smooth
as boulevards and surrounded with
dense forests, we could not but be
impressed with the richness of the
timber wealth. Then we passee
through the fertile Flathead valley
that is always delight, and came int
Missoula after a days drive through
land smiling with every evidence
of prosperity. This--kssppy CONVICTION
followed us on the way to Butte, Whers
/ we were reminded of the states I'M
mense mineral wealth as we passed
"the richest hill on earth, and alst
/ watched the smoke pouring from tn
1 smelter's smokestack in distant Ana
conda. Driving east from Livingston
we entered the Yellowstone valley ant
had one of the greatest surprises @
the entire journey. Mile after mil
and hour after hour we sped along
wonderfully rich valley, with thou
sands Of acres on the lower vale
under irrigation. On all sides Wer
seen large red barns and spaciou
white farm houses, indicating prosper
itv of no small degree. This contin
| ued eastward to Miles Citv and eve
beyond, and even after the irrigate
| sections had been left behind crop
| looked fine, and for the greater pal
| indications pointed to a fine harves
this year. 1t was an enjoyable SUI
prise to us to see such extensive an
apparently such prosperous farm dc
velopment in Montana.
The same conditions extended acros
North Dakota, via Medora, Dickinson
Bismarck, jamestown, and Fargo an
on into the Twin Cities, although il
rigation grew less as we proceede
eastward. At Miles City we were tol
| there had been more rainfall than &c
Il years and crops and grass ind
! Gated that to be true. Green fields an
| green hills stretched around us Q
every side and every moment was
| delight. Later we will have somethin
to say about how alfalfa and the 81
gar beet are invading the midd
west and how the growers Of sugs
beets are importing Mexicans int
eastern Montana, North Dakota ar
Minnesota to work in sugar be-
fields, a practice that is almost SUI
to bring trouble later.
/ After reaching st. Paul we wei
Il interested, IN picking up Weotei
| News, to see that the Libby Red Gro
| had asked donations for the Wibal
| flood sufferers. Going eastward Y
| passed through Wibaux less than
hours before that disastrous cata
trophe, and after reading of it's RAJ
ages in Twin City daily we felt tn;
the god Of the traveller must hay
been with us in that we were M
caught in those mad waters as the
swept down upon that little vilfsg
Returning westward we again passt
:, through Wibaux and saw some OF II
| results of the flood.
| Beaver creek, meek little strear
flows about q half block east OF II
! main street and parallel with it. Fl
flood had washed out a concre
| bridge and we crossed on tempo
airy structure. We should judge IL
bed of the creek IS some Is or 80 fe'
below the level of the main stree
We crossed main street and stoppe
~ L, -