White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-09-17
Local Travellers Cover
400 Miles in IL Days

Mrs. Slavens has asked me to give
few impressions gained from our trip
by car, of over 4,4OO miles to points
in Montana, North Dakota and north
ern Minnesota, a trip which was made
in less than two weeks. We left Han
ford Thursday morning, August 20, re-
turning Tuesday, September l..
ut is impossible, in so limited a
space, to write extensively on the sub
ject uppermost in our minds-the prob
lens of the poor-the unemployed-low
prices-topics that are age-old and
which have been with us since time
immemorial but if few facts gath
cred are Of any interest will give
them, trusting they will be as cheer
ing to you as they are to me.
"The weather was ideal, the roads
fair, as our car travelled steadily and
faithfully over the dry dusty country
Of the much talked about Columbia
Basin; through smoke-hung timber
districts of Idaho, where fire had laid
it's devasting hand to the beautiful
mountainous Glacier Park; on over the
rolling Flathead Reservation lands,
lovely in their green dress, freshened
by recent rains; to the extensive wheat
fields of North Dakota, neat and or
derby; finally reaching the enhancing
wildwoods of northern Minnesota, the
region of 10000 lakes, with their sum-
mer resorts, their wooded shores, fish
and game of all description.
"The roads for the most part were
gravelled, our main trouble being UNI
erous detours and road construction,
which not only delayed us but added
milage to our long trip. But even at
that, there were several days when
we made over 700 miles per day. To
travel from sunrise through twilight
over good road, through mountains
covered with thick stand of trees;
to watch all day the stream flowing
gently by the roadside it's waters re-
flecting in opal colors the green of the
forest, the azure blue of the sky the
fleecy clouds; to have graceful deer
peer wonder-eyed at us and then dis
appear in a twinkling from sight; all
this is picture not soon to be for
gotten
Having gone from a fruit country,
I was naturally interested in that, and
inquired several places concerning it,
In Eastern Montana and Minnesota,
housewives looked at me in astonish-
ment when I spoke of crates. Call we
ever can afford here is fruit sold in
paper sacks; peaches and pears, 10
cents per pound
I'm several stores I found the fol-
lowing prices: Cooking apples, $1.60;
Tokay grapes, zoe per pound; pears,
$3.50 per box; peaches, $24O per bush
ell basket; and believe it or not, one
storekeeper ruefully stated: Gall I
make is 10 cents per bushel-the rail-
road gets the rest. No, we don't hear
much about Western fruit. One firm
in Kalispell Montana, ships in later
some from the Yakima valley to dis
tribute to various points, but it's too
high priced for the most of us"
II acknowledge that approached
the habitations of my relatives with
misgivings. I had heard so much by
letter, or through newspapers, about
the poverty, the depression of the
East. had a mental picture of them
sitting in sackcloth and ashes, crust
of dry bread in one hand, in the other,
but mug of good old alkali water
II was happily disappointed, not
only in their condition but in the state
of the country as whole. The fol-
lowing are a few of many similar state
ments made to me:
"A North Dakota business man
Yes, hard times because IS per cent
of our people have been living, not
only up to their income, but six months
ahead of it,
"A North Dakota farm woman-'No,
we will hardly make expenses this year
but it costs us very little to live. We
raise most of our own food. Here's
check just eceived, 1854 for 14O Leg
horn springers. The cost of raising
them? Only the grain they rustled from
the fields. The water I poured for
them fro mthe we'll
A char-woman: I have offered me
more work than can do I receive
40 cents per hour. There's work for
most everyone if one is willing to take
it,
"A carpenter: When work grew
slack here, just loaded up my car
and struck out to find some. Found
more than enough and at good wages,
too
"A store-keeper's wife in Mime
sofa: There's just as much money 60
ing into our banks as ever. People
won't pay their bills, though, but just
will buy cars
"A miner in the iron range in Min
nesota: Yes, it's true we work but four
days month in the mines, but many
OF us have bought small tracts of
cheap land within walking distance
OF the city There we have put up
long house, have garden chickens
COW. We aren't bad off at ALL
"A young nurse just through train
ing: I am working at my profession