A tramp across the continent

This is an account written a few years after the fact, of the author's walk from Cincinnati Ohio to Los Angeles, CA in 1884. The author made a deal with the publisher of the LA Times that if he walked the distance, and submitted reports to the paper along the way, then he would become editor upon his arrival. The book is well written. It is not really a gripping story, but today it is interesting to read an account of the American West during a relatively short period when it was not quite wild, but not yet overcome by civilization. It might also be interesting to read the original reports. I don't know if those are available. ( )