DAVENPORT TO DES MOINES. 423 



it to a young girl if she could name its species. She 

 could not, and a boy claimed the prize. 



Amused some of the guests in the evening with in- 

 cidents of my journey, and they, in turn, gave me some 

 useful information about the Far West, North Platte, 

 Green River, and Humboldt Valley. 



ffinc j^^nir^b ani iriftg-fourti) JPag. 



Pacific Hotels 



Colfax, Iowa, 



October Twelfth. 



Arrived at Colfax in the evening after a glorious 

 ride over the prairie. The grain on the farms waved 

 in the breeze as the fields were passed and numerous 

 streams crossed finding their way to the rivers that in- 

 tersect the State. This prairie is not entirely devoid 

 of timber, for groves dot the extended landscape like 

 islands in a green sea; while from the higher grounds 

 I viewed the prairie decked with wild hay and autumn 

 flowers. 



"Broad on either hand 



The golden wheat-fields glimmered in the sun, 

 And the tall maize its yellow tassels spun." 



The prairie here is from twenty to forty miles in 

 width. A variety of minerals are found and mined to 

 a limited extent. Time will work many changes. 

 A quarter of a century hence, Colfax will probably 

 be known as an important mining town with large 

 and varied interests. Its growth will be gladly noted 

 by many who have faith in its future. 



