The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-07
Correspondence. oftheTercsrnpga

AUSTIN, NEVADA T., March 9Th, 1864,
Editors Keaosha Telegraph -
Although am acquainted with your paper
and have been from its early infancy, am mo-
familiar with your faces beg pardon if l take
too much interest in your periodicall: intend
ed TO write for the Telegraph before, but the
want of time or energy caused this delay.
Most Of the time for the last four months, /
have been stopping at the town Of Austin, which
is situated aboutsev miles from Reese River
Tor creek. rather. in Lander Co. This town,
when l came through in July last, was mere
mining camp of three or four cloth tents. 1t now
can boast Of having 5000 inhabitants with a
school house, court house and jail, the last Of
which is an indispensablesertic,e to the peace
and welfare Of the community. - -
Although the town is Z 700 feet above the lev
el Of the ocean, it is located just above the beau
tiful valley, through which the creek, filed with
mountain trout, meanders in Its ripping beauty,
while large mountains, with their lofty heads
white with perpetual snow tower from three to
four thousand feet above the town, apparently
surrounding the valley. In beauty of scenery
healhfulness of climate, and mineral wealth
this place is second to no other.
Since started on my pleasant and profitable
trip across the Plains" on the 9TH of April last
have become slightly acquainted with one OF
the most curious and among the most important
communities of (so~called) Chrstendom-th the
MOrmons. | have been buoyed up like feath-
er on the semi solid waves of their Dead Sea
but into the ocean of their political schemes and
their religious ,or rather rreligious) life had
not time TO dive very deep. | intend to paw an,
9TH iSif n RripiaaroiS
1 have seen too, the two grandest leaves of the
Amighty's Album those perpendicular white
granite precipices, one perpsndicRlar male IN
h2gAt! which contain the wondrous Yosemite
Valley / doubt if in Switzerland, or even in
all Europe, there is scenery, whose grandeur
can for one moment be held comparable with
that of the Sierra Nevada IN the Yosemite dis
trict.
Again, have seen Lake Tahoe once called
Bigler but re~christened by the LOYALTY and
goodstaste OF California. Since that Hon0ra6le
gent turned copperhead. Lake Tahoe which
signifies high water and justifes its name by
lying in a, thus far fathcmess rift almost on the
very summit ridge of the Sierras, an
astonishing body Of water. so crystal
clear that ON rtill days its huge pavement blocks
OF granite send up their white CLEAN and show
their perfect form to the depth of one hundred
and forty feet, fed by the trcklings of eternal
snow, which crowns its surrounding peaks and
ridges, with no outlet save to Pyramid Lake an
other mountain sea- still larger, thirty miles long
aud from five to fifteen wide, and in this too the
bottom cannot be reached by the longest pun
lines, Imagine this vast field Of emerald lying
close under The limit of perpetual snow, at u
distance o f several hundred feet above the sen
and you viii get some idea of the vision which
broke upon oar eyes, as suddenly emerged
from the giant pines on Lake Tahoe.
'Ihe Pacific Railroad, which has so long
been the theme of the orator and scholar, and
the hope of the land is about to become a re-
atty and the day is not far distant when its iron
bands, bearing ON its breast the products of the
world, will unite in interest as they ale now
united in affection and sympathy, the people of
the Atlantic and Pacific slopes. It is marching
towards US with setady aud giant strides from
the east and west, and bringing us, each day.
naaI er and nearer to our former homes This
territory, now so far removed from civilization
by lofty mountains and barren plains, will, when
this great highway is completed be the great
resting place and depot OF the nation. Already
are the eyes Of thousands fixed on our nouns
talns. as containing rich stores of undiscovered
mineral wealth, and thousands are Fastening
hither TO seek for the precious ore. We have
reason TO believe that this Territory will, at no
distant day, become Que of the richest and most
prosperous States in the Union
Yours &c,