The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-11-09
California Correspondence.

on Il journey which is consumma:ed, tie hour
is finally granted, and now will eadcavor to
state, briefly, where the writer has been since
the mailing of his last episte, July 4th), and
where he is most happy to find himself at pres.
ent did not follow the Salt Lake route, IA
was contemplated, being subsequently inform.
ed that it is one hundred and twenty five miles
farther, and little or no feed, Saying nothing
OF my Discrimination to expose myself TO Nor
mon idolatry, environcd by crinoline) and
therefore took the Sublette cutoff, deeming it
bad policy to travel more than necessity re.
quired. and grass being very important con.
sderation crossing the plains (more properly
craggy rocks and deep sands However, the
long and tedious journey is accomplished, and
after many severe struggles We have achieved
all that could consistently be anticipated.
BY travelling IT'S miles from Laramie, we
reached the Independence Rock, situated one
mile west OF the Sweetwster. This is a very
curiousy shaped rock, covering all area of ten
acres at its base, about forty five feet high, in
the form OF cone, six miles from the chain of
mountains. 1t is on this rock that Fremont
inscribed his Immortal name, and where it il
said the Indians captured him. Six miles west
OF this rock Is the notorious Devils Gate.
through which the Sweetwatcr passes. The
passage is twenty feet wide, the rocks on either
side perpendicu'arly rising $50 feet, presenting
a terrifying yet sublime appeara &c. Permit
me to add that if the emigrant forgot to large.
~ supply himself with Christian Grace he
would necessarily be very proper subject for
entrance at this celebrated gate. In a few DAVIS
more Ju:y l2'h) we campcd on . branch of
the Sweetwater, where we had access to sui.
f'clcnt quantity of snow to quench thirst and
stop perspration. 1t was no uncommon thing
to see large quantities Of snow while crossing
the two ranges Of mountains. The Rocky
Mountains have nothing growing on them, to
obstrucs the sight, except little wild sage
bush and prckly pear. Willows and sage bush
constitute all the timber between Loupe Fork
and the Truckee river, and for two hundred
miles along the Platte nothing in the shape of
wood can be seen. till within sixteen miles of
TT. Laramie. "BufE,lo chips" are used for
want of wood, which is very delicate subst;.
tute. would like to learn how they design
feeding the old Iron Horse on the Pacific Rail.
way: he will be compelled to work on one feed
a day, crossing some portions Of it, think
have seen more good farming land in half
days travel across Iowa, than all between Fl
kearney and the Sacramento Valley.
We had sufficient gaass bordering along the
different streams, but its being imprecnated
strongly with alkali, renders the land useless
Tor farming purposes however. there are some
good grass valleys in the Sierra Nevada range,
and millions OF acres of the largest pine tim. |
Der l ever saw. The mountains are dense,v
covered with trees twelve and sixteen feet in |
diameter, two and three hundred feet high
From the western base of the mountain. down
through Sacramento Valley. large white. oaks
are thinly scattered, and adding very much to
the beauty of this pleasant country. Fruit, of
the most delicious kind, is in abundance here.
attended the State Fair, held at Sacrament
to; it was IN admirable exhibition-every in.
vention ever read Of was present. The navil.
ION erected by the Agricultural Association con.
sisted of 6OxlOO feet two story brick build
ing, elegantly finished; in this were exhibited
every kind of machines known on the CONT
nent; the largest vegetables and fruit vet on
record; squashes weighing 1913 lbs;, potatoes
and lbs, beets 3 feet long, cucumbers 2 feet.
water.melons weighing 60 lbs pears lbs,
apples lbs, grapes AZ large AZ an Eastern blue
plum, a cheese weighing $50 lbs. and wagon
1900 lbs. and all that have omitted to men. |
ton. corresponding to these figures.
We LETT the Salt Lake route at the Green
River Ferry, and followed the Sublette dis.
lance of three hundred miles, to its junction
with the former route again. The cutoff"
may be regarded as quite rough, yet it has some
advantages, namely: an abundance of grass,
excellent cool water, and hy being shorter
route enabling travellers to reach the junction
week in advance Of those who follow the |
other route. am now disposed to favor the |
opinion that the best route Into o egon and |
the northern part Of California is by taking the |
new Government route, which leaves the Salt
Lake road at the last fording of Sweetwater,
it icing free from nlkali and less mountanou |
On the Sublette, at the last leaving Of Be r /
river. l26 miles above its entrance into Salt |
Lake, is . wonderful freak of nature-the |
Soda Springs. There are two, fifteen feet from |
the river, three feet apart, with water Of red
dish cast, apparently boiling, and producing a
sound like distan: thunder; the wster contains |
very heavy percentage of the soda. On the !
head waters Of the Humboldt, passing through
five mile canon, south Of the road may be seen |
q stream OF boiling water, n,ad!y rushing out |
from beneath q mountain 500 feet h"h and |
hot enough to boil potatoes. The next Hot |
Springs are semi-distant across the desert; ten
or fifteen very large ones are here, and should
judge, from the intensity OF heat, that Pharaoh
Furnace must be concealed under those waters
BY placing the hand respectful distance from
the surface, its steam will cause quite sudden |
reaction, its waters rise three feet and can be
heard one-half mile. The Humboldt water
proved much better than was represented. 1t
was very good, for all purposes. up to within
fifteen miles Of the sink at this place it Was
intolerable; salt water can be no comparison.
1t flows into lake and sinks; ran q pole |
down, at the edge of this lake, several feet.
This lake overAows about 900 feet numbers
would not enumerate the wild geese and ducks
seen swimming in it.
From this place, we travelled across forty. |
ty-fve mile desert; VIC started ut 9 O'Clock P. |
NJ, and reached the opposite side by - O'Clock
AN, the next lay. The beautiful Truckee was
apparently On its way to quench the thirst, and
revive man aud beast, after the long fatigue
across the sands. Numerous large cottonwood