Sept. 11, 1916
Dear Parents: -
We are just pulling out of Canyon Texas. Our route had to be changed a trifle, as the train was too heavy to take a route that ran through a very mountainous region.
I wrote Gerald Claybaugh to send clothes to S.M. J. Co. express collect.
The scenery is great and I think I have some fine pictures.
Our new route will possibly cut the length of the trip a day or so short, but guess it can't be helped.
I got four films at Canadian, have enough now to last me the remainder of the trip, unless it is made longer than is thought to be.
All O.K.
Howard
1st Ohio Amb. Co
Fort Bliss
El Paso Tex.
Wikimedia commons shows the above as "Historic train depot in Canyon" although it's undated. It looks later than Howard's time, but it may have been similar in 1918. Regardless, it's a stark contrast to the grand Union Station of Kansas City.
Wikimedia also helped out with the above image - obviously not to the period and potentially not visible from the train - but it at least gives you an idea of the views from the Palo Duro Canyon.
Little known fun-fact: Artist Georgia O'Keeffe lived in Canyon, Texas at the time that Howard was riding through. She was a faculty member at West Texas State Normal College at the time, and it's believe that she was inspired the Palo Duro Canyon in her distinctive Southwest style.
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