THROUGH AMERICA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 248, 18 September 1929, Page 2

THROUGH AMERICA

RECORD OF TRAVELS, SOME INTERESTING EXPERIENCE'S. Mlt BUCHANAN’S IMPRESSIONS. Impressions and experiences highly interesting in their nature have been gained by Mr David Buchanan, of Tiakitahumi, during his recent trip abroad and he has given an account of his travels through the United States, Canada,. and the British Isles to a “Standard” representative. In recording some aspects of his travels, Mr Buchanan stated that he met quite a number of people who took more than a passing interest in Palmerston North. A HORSELESS CITY.

Describing San Francisco as a wonderful city with a fine harbour, Mr Buchanan' commented on the absence of horses. He stated that during his stay there he saw only five equines, three being cavalry mounts, while the other two were drawing vehicles in the early morning. Another noticeable feature was that cars were parked nose in the kerb and backed out. Tho traffic was controlled by automatic signs and there ‘ was splendid organisation. When a breach of the regulations occurred, an officer blew a whistle and even pedestrians had to stop. The offender was issued with a summons immediately without argument and traffic resumed. Next day the unlucky one appeared in Court and was relieved of a few dollars. There was a steady stream of traffic all the time and cars travelled as fast as forty miles per hour, three and four abreast.

During the period which was spent in San Francisco, Mr Buchanan was one of a party which visited a cabaret in Chinatown, and he stated that it was well conducted, though there was evidence of liquor.. .The Oriental quarter was quite respectable. Mr Buchanan was driven all through San Francisco and its environs, and visited the National Park, obtaining a beautiful view of the Golden Gate. There was some wonderful scenery in the Senlefel districts. What made the visit all the more pleasurable was that Mr Buchanan was driven round by Mr Menzies, whose wife was a cousin of Mr J. M. Johnston, of Palmerston North. ■

Constructional works were iindertaken with rush and bustle, and it was an animated scene to see workmen engaged on some large building. Under tho illumination shed by thousands of electric lights which twinkled in the darkness, work went on at night as well as during the day, and. it was surprising to note that activities were continued on Sunday. ' The same principle of haste applied 'to roadmaking, and 'districts seemed to change in a day. It was marvellous to watch the work in, progress with the latest machinery.. Over a stretch of 36 miles of road leading into San Francisco the volume of traffic was so great that there was a constant flow of cars over the whole length of highway, with only a distance of a few yards between each vehicle. Speaking of . the prohibition-question in the State of California, Mr Buchanan mentioned that since the advent of the- dry law'th© working population had. saved’, a wonderful amount of money,, a'iid -the- hanks were -literally at their wits’'end to find an- avenue of investment - for tlio, paper • millions.

" SALT LAKE CITY. Travelling from San Francisco to Salt Lake; ,oity; included a six hours’ train journey across a white sand desert on which there was not a vestige of life. Three-quarters of an hour was "occupied in crossing a, bridgo just before reaching tho capital -of Utah.. The trains were slow and did not travel as fast, as might be expected. Although fares' were dear the accommodation was good. “Sait Lake City is laid out in the finest manner I have ever seen,” commented Mr Buchanan when speaking of the Mormon capital of Utah, a district rich in minerals. Carrying a letter of introduction to the head of the Mormon Church, he there met Mr Armstrong, formerly of West End, Palmerston North, who was now. ln charge of the temple at Salt Lake City. It was a remarkable building, cleverly designed, arid could be 'emptied'' in a few seconds. The State Capital building was another fine monument to constructional art, and ho inspected it thoroughly. On one of the domes was an oil pamting of the first child born iu Utah, and at the celebrations that same person, now an old woman aged 82 years, was brought by aeroplane to bait Lake City to see the picture of her likeness as a child, giving her great joy. From the steps of the state Capital one could gaze down a street twelve miles long and see the traffic fading to mere specks in the distance. All the streets were similarly constructed and there was no doubt that Brigham. Young was a clever The seagull was a sacred bird at Salt Lake City. It was related in all good faith by the Mormon inhabitants, stated Mr Buchanan, that when the settlement was first created it was visited by a plague of locusts which destroyed all the crops, and the people were threatened with rum and starvation. After they had prayed earnestly for three days, a flock of seagulls arrived and consumed the locusts. Before that, they were stated never to have been seen. The sacred birds now flew over Salt Lake City in thousands. En route to. the Colorado Springs, Mr Buchanan passed along the brink of the Grand Canyon. He stated that one felt like an insect after gazing into the vast and gaping depths between the walls of rock. At. Colorado Springs be had the pleasure of meeting Mr Sinton, whose acquaintance he had previously made during a visit by the latter to New Zealand a few; years ago. Many of the State institutions were located at that centre. FERVOUR OF EVANGELIST.

Stating that for language no bullock driver was his equal, Mr Buchanan gave a vivid description of the evangelistic methods of the famous Billy Sunday, whom he heard at Colorado Springs. He did not treat the gathering as a religious meeting, but ,as an entertainment. Thousands of people were present and the collection would bring in about 30,000 dollars in an evening. The great Billy Sunday was verv witty and never stopped to think for a word. The excitement began when, after wild gesticulations, he peeled off his coat, which was speedily followed by his vest, collar and tie, and any other superfluous article of apparel which he could shed. As the passages became more dramatic in character he would call for a towel with which to wipe the perspiration from his brow. He would bang the table with a resounding crash, mount a chair, and fling his hands into the air. It was more like a political meeting into which strong language had been infused. It was at Colorado Springs that Mr Buchanan saw Billy Williams begin his great peanut pushing expedition. For a wager this entity .had .undertaken to push a peanut with his nose over a distance of fifteen miles ' to

Pike’s Peak, and he was making progress at the rato of three-quarters ot a mile a day. The New Zealand visitor did not wait for the finish. A WONDERFUL SIGHT. Chicago did not appeal to Mi Buchanan and lie did not prolong hi stay there, although he visited the wonderful museum , which had been erected from subscriptions in which single donations amounted to as muen as a million dollars. There was a great memorial fountain on the shores or Lake Michigan. This was a million dollar edifice which was perhaps one of the greatest sights in the world at night as electric lights played in fantastic manner through the water. During Mr Buchanan’s visit it was a children’s day at the stadium and there was an enormous crush to witness a fire-fighting demonstration. There was about one policeman to everv ten people. In the schools, he stated, there was a cqmmendable movement for instruction in community duties ,and the pupils were divided into fire-fighting, street safety and other divisions. The organisation was splendid. Detroit provided the spectacle ot enormous motor traffic and it was hopeless to attempt to cross the street even on a Sunday unless at the end of the street where the automatic signals operated. There Mr Buchanan met relatives of Mr J. W. Huggins, of Palmerston North,- and was conducted over one of the latest and most up-to-date motor-car manufacturing works. It was amazing to see eighty cars produced in an hour, and the New Zealand visitor actually saw the manufacture of a car begin and pass through the various processes until the vehicle was sold and dispatched in an hour. Tho employees in the factories worked at a fast rate. The immigration laws in the United States were strict, but apparently some of tho officials aid not even know their own business. Mr Buchanan said that when ho landed his passport was signed for ten days’ sojourn in the country, and when he reached Detroit he was informed that the term had expired with the result that ho was unable to transact some business which he had contemplated. When making haste to leavo the United States he was told by immigration officials that he was in too great a hurry. Later, he learned that as a tourist he was entitled to spend sixty days in the country. When he reached Canada the contrast in the attitude of the officials was most marked. There was altogether a different atmosphere, and they .were courteous and obliging. The immigration and railway officials which he encountered in the United States were, stated Mr Buchanan, “the biggest lot of boors he had ever met in his life.” Apparently, the British label on his luggage could not make them nasty enough, and it was exceedingly difficult to obtain any information or directions. . Four days were spent at Montreal after Mr Buchanan had crossed the border from Detroit to Windsor and travelled to the east coast of Canada, and they were the hottest lie had ever experienced in his life. The heat was intense at nights, but out of the swelter of Montreal he glided down the St. Lawrence on an Atlantic liner and in a few hours it was chilly cold. Passing under the bridge was a wonderful optical illusion. As the vessel approached passengers held their breath in anticipation of an imminent crash of tho superstructure of the ship into the great span. It would pass by apparently with inches to spare until an officer announced in a laconic voice that the bridge was cleared by 27 feet, and all breathed an audible sigh of relief. Crossing the Atlantic the vessel was liove-to for 12 hours in the mist among drifting icebergs, and it was intensely cold. * ...VISIT TO HOMELAND.

: Returning to Glasgow—it' was 41 years since he first left there Mr Buchanan renewed many acquaintances marie on his last visit sight vears ago, and travelled throughout Scotland, attending three shows. At the Highland Show in Scotland, Mr Buchanan saw a great pork and bacon demonstration staged at the instance of the Minister of Agriculture, and said he never spent a more instruetive hour in. his lhe learning all the defects in bacon breeding and feeding. "The faults were pointed out so -clearly that the caus-es operating to differences in quality and price were etisilv traceable, every facility being afforded for inspection. He came to the conclusion that the on Is pig suitable for the Home trade write the Large White. Spending a fortnight in Ireland, Mr Buchanan witnessed the great 12th of July celebrations and' watched a procession which took two and a half hours to pass. It was a great spectacle, there being over one hundred bands. At Dubbn he saw the Grand Prix motor race The speed was terrific, -and the driving most skilful. Cars’ would spin like a top at the bends, turning complete circles, sometimes several times, before continuing on their course without an accident. Speeds of 100 miles an hour were attained on the straight of the Phoenix Park track. While in Ireland Mr Buchan.iu saw the process followed in the manufacture of liner, handkerchiefs. ' . In England he saw the crockery making process, and met a worker who informed him that . for forty years ho had occupied the same cnair in carrying on his occupation of hand--painting. A visit was paid to Oxford and after leaving the Old Country Mr Buchanan returned via Canada through the wheat- belt, where the crops were poor owing to drought. Hie Rockies were a magnificent and aweinspiring spectacle. Returning across the Pacific Mr Buchanan met another party of Palmerston North travellers who* were pioceeding back to the Dominion.