Milford chronicle., 1933-09-15
FROM MILFORD TO CALIFORNIA
Two DelaWareans and Farmers Keep
Diary of Trip and Tell OF
Experience.

The following article is an ac
count of what Joseph Gray Davis
of Milford, Delaware, and Horace
Bennett of Slaughter Neck, farmer
near, Milford, kept as daily log" ol
their auto trip across the continent
1t is their own language, and told in
Editor.
Horace Z. Bennett and Josepr G.
Davis left Milford at a. m, Thurs
day, August 1st, 1888, and went tC
Wilmington, Del, where they were
met by Mr.. r. A. Baur, (Mr. Ben
nett's nephew and the three then
went on a tour of IS states, taking
them from coast to coast and return,
a total of 1872 miles.
Their Diary
Aug. Through Delaware, Penn
sylvania and Ohio to Kunsington,
Ohio, where they spent the night.
Aug. 2-Through Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois to Chicago.
Aug. 3, 4, 5-Three days spent at
the Century of Progress where
many things of interest were en-
joyed. We also enjoyed many of
"Amos n Andy" hamburgers. Spent
the entire fourth night viewing the
amazing spectacle of the balloon
ascension of st. Settle attempting to
go 13 miles into the earth's strato-
sphere, which unfortunately ended
in failure.
Aug. 5-Left Chicago at noon and
drove through Illinois and Iowa and
spent the night in central Iowa, near
Iowa City.
Aug. 6-Toured through Iowa, Ne
braska and spent the night at Hast
ings, Neb. Enjoyed very much the
farming and cattle raising activities
of this plains country.
Aug. ARRIVED at noon at the
ranch of Winter Roach, just out
side of haywood, Nebraska. Mr..
Roach was former resident of Mil
ford and we spent the day and night
with the Roach family, talking over
old times and old friendships.
Aug. S-Continued through Ne
braska and Colorado to Fort Lupton,
Colorado, where we visited Ernest
Davis, a nephew of J. G. Davis.
The night was spent at this ranch,
and for the first time we were shown
how farming was done on a large
scale by irrigating from the rivers
through bitches. Mr.. Davis also
maintains large herds of cattle and
sheep.
Aug. 9-Arrived at home of Mr..
Davis brother, w. H. Davis, former
ly of Milford, Del, at 4030 Teyon
street, Denver, Colo, where old
times were again hashed over. Met
Mr.. Theo. Bennett here, who also
spent his boyhood days in Milford,
Del. The family of Mr.. w. H. Davis
were delightful and their hospitality
was unbounded.
Aug. 1O-Taken for a days trip
through the Rocky Mountains
around Denver, by Mr.. Sophris, SON
in-law'of Mr.. w. H. Davis. Saw and
enjoyed many grand scenes in this
magnificent range of mountains.
Ascended by auto Mr.. Evans, 14,260
feet above sea level on the worlds
highest automobile road. Saw lots
of snow and at times were above the
snow.
Aug. 11-Drove through Colorado,
(took along Mr.. w. H. Davis) into
Wyoming and on to Rawlings, where
we visited Mr.. Alonzo Roach, ward
en- of the state penitentiary. Were
shown the institution from top to
bottom, and were thoroughly pleased
with the way this prison is man
aged. Had dinner with Mr.. and Mrs
Roach and spent the night with
them and were treated as royal
visitors.
Aug. 12-On through Wyoming
and Utah to Wendover where the
night was spent. This country
mostly open grazing range and des-
ert. Enjoyed Salt Lake City and
valley very much.
Aug. 13-Through Nevada and on
to Truckee, California, in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains. Beautiful coun-
try here and the night was spent
right in the heart of these noun
tains.
Aug. 14-On to Sacramento thru
the valley of the same name, and |
down to Berkeley and Oakland on the
east side of San Francisco Bay.
Spent the night at Oakland. Had |
dinner at the home of Mr.. w. Ingh-
ram in Berkley and a friend of Mr..
w. H. Davis. Enjoyed eating ripe
apricots right from a tree in Mr..
Ingraham's yard. Were taken for a
tour of sight seeing by Mr.. Ingra-
ham through tn these cities.
Aug. 15-Spent on a sight seeing
tour of San Francisco and vicinity.
The Pacific fleet was at anchor in
the bay. Saw Leland Stanford Uni
versity at Palo Alto, and also the
home of Ex-President Hoover. Can
not describe in detail all we saw
this day. Left at p. m. and drove
through San Jose and spent the
night at Silver City.
Aug. 16-Saw our first slew of the
Pacific at Pismos Beach and ate
,lams right from the ocean. Fol-
owed the ocean boulevard right
lown to Santa Barbara. Then cross
through the citrus fruit
Saw grove after grove of
lemons and grapefruit and
llso nut groves of all kinds. On
through Hollywood and into Los
angeles, where we spent the night.
Aug. 17-Through California east
ward to Needles where we spent the
light. This day spent mostly on the
lohave desert, where the heat was
errific. Vast expanse of waste land
nd hardly living thing to be seen