THE GREAT NORTHWEST 269 



started, no matter how important it might be to 

 them. 



They agreed to pay an extra fare if the smoking 

 end of the car could be reserved for them, and they 

 authorized the conductor to tell the passengers that 

 they were cholera suspects or smallpox patients, or 

 anything he liked, in order to keep the " common peo- 

 ple " away from them. But all to no purpose. There 

 was but one alternative take their " medicine " or 

 stay behind. 



It was somewhat amusing to hear their criticisms 

 on Uncle Sam's "frightfully vulga' country and 

 beastly traveling, don't you know." 



The route from Vancouver, in British Columbia, to 

 Seattle, "Wash., lies through a rough, heavily timbered 

 district, where the trees measure anywhere from three 

 feet to six feet in diameter. These are of the red 

 cedar species and are being rapidly sawed down and 

 cut into lumber and shingles. 



"Why it is I cannot tell, but it certainly is neverthe- 

 less I mean that the railway is literally lined with a 

 row of bursted boom-towns, each with a bladder-like 

 name, a big hotel, a public hall, maybe, and plenty of 

 saloons flaring suggestive signs, such as the " Blazing 

 Stump Saloon," "New Idea Saloon," "Three of a 

 Kind Saloon," " Let her go Gallagher Saloon," etc., 

 etc. 



Evidence of " bustedness " looms up everywhere. 



