The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07

Salt Lake City about 1870. Ihis lnforma- |
ton gathered from gentleman employed
on the train.
The formation ofthe country along the
line Of the road is in some instances very
peculiar; the train, however, moved so rap
idly chat had very little time for close OBJ.
servation except at the stations. East of
Council Bluffs some of the bluffs appeared
as ifuighty giants in times past had reclin-
ed against their sides, leaving their impress
ions for the observation of future genera.
tons. Again they Nweald rise abruptly from
the ground in narrow ridges, taking the
form OF horse shoes. They appeared to be
of sandy formation, as indeed did all the
ground in that immediate vicinity. From
Council Bluffs the passengers are transferred
across the river to Omaha on a ferry boat
l was packed with number Of other pass
engers, into little seven-bynine transfer
COACH" in which the driver insisted there
was room for lone more" although it was
already crowded too full to admit Of an ex-
pansiou Of the chest by any of the inmates
without danger of cracking the sides of the
coach. After packing in zone more" and
zone more and still lone more, u the driver
damned the door shut and drove his cargo
of living freight down the embankment aud
upon the ferry boat, at the imminent risk of
breaking all of our precious necks. The
feat was accomplished in safety, however,
and the boat moved off from Shore | was
slowed away in corner of the coach, and
only realized that the boat was in motion
from the noise of its wheels. After the lapse
Of what seemed to me an age, and suppos-
ing we had passed over mile or two OF wa.
| ter, | managed to poke my head up to the
| window and take a survy ofthe surroundings.
| Before my eyes, almost within q stones
| throw, was railroad station, which
| thought had met nv gaze before, and upon
examining it more critically I recognized it
| as the one we had left short time before.
| By dint of hard labor then contrived to get
a glimpse out of the opposite side, and 10
there at the Omaha landing was steam
boat, lying at the only point possible for
us to land, and the ferry boat had been run
ming up and down the stream waiting for
the obstructing boat to depart and allow it
| to reach its haven. This sight showed me
where was, and quietly settled back in
| my corner, to await the issue of events.
| This, however, like all other things, had an
end and / finally found myself safely en-
sconced on board the cars, bound for my des-
| tination. .. ...
The journey from Omaha to North Platte
| was mostly performed in the night, at which
latter place we arrived shortly after day break
Here the North and South Forks of the
| Platte river meet and pursue their journey
| to the Missouri. Near the junction of the
two forks was encamped body of Indians
which was informed belonged to "Spotted
| Tails" tribe, From North Platte the North
| Fork as its name Indicates, branches of
| towards the north and, as the train advances
4 A. la Ia ~
| The South Fork runs near the track rs far
at the neighborhood of Julesburg, where i,
| is suddenly lost to view behind the bluffs
| At some points it approaches so near the
| track that person could easily jump from
| the train into its shallow waters, and at 9th
ers, threads its way miles therefrom-some
| times visible like silver thread through the
| foliage which lines its banks, and then again
| obscured from view From the junction o
| the forks, as far IS the South Fork j:
b sesa the Rgk gss ss 6
the river is density packed with them. In
| spring time, when covered with green foliage
they must present beautiful appearance.
| Near Ogallala Station / saw a number o
"sod houses" which were built on the prai
| RE near the track. Their sides we're com
posed of sods, and surmounted by q shingle
roof. From their appearance | should judge
| they are very comfortable habitations. anc
not liable to be blown down by the furiou:
winds of. this region, as their sides incline
| inward, thus forming a broad base for the
superstruetQre. The prairie in this vicint,
is charred and blackened for miles around
the effect of recent fires, originated probably
| by sparks from engines.
All along the route, from few mikes ives
oF T,loeb,,rnr nxtanA Sc n.
alternately approaching and receding from
the track The first ridge, after extending
some miles, terminates abruptly on the oper
prairie in point of rocks, where anothe
ridge gradually rises from the prairie neare
| to the track than the termination of the first
and as the train advances gradually overlap
| il. At the termination of the second ridge
the same phenomena recurs, and so on 4
| number of times in succession.
| had a view of Julesburg from the cars
and was satisfied not to approach nearer
Its glory has departed from it, and its day
are numbered. 1t is assuredly the most vii
lannon's looking place noticed on the route
1t is composed chiefly of one-story boart
shanties, which seemed to me to be thrown
together promiscuously without any regard t
the formation of streets. When Cheyens
sprung up, a large number of the inhabitant
of Julesburg moved down to it-houses snt
all almost entirely depopulating the place
A short distance beyond Julesburg, the
north side OF the track, was seen a number
of small animals grazing, which / was in
formed were antelopes. They were free
upon from the train by passenger, but the
shot had no effect beyond making then
shake their heads and caper gracefully owe
the hills. Prairie dogs were seen in mum
bers, and as the train passed they would
raise themselves upon their hind feet anC
stare in wonderment at the iron horse as
snorting and putting, it coursed madly ovel
their sacred domains.
In the vicinity of Julesburg for the frs
time noticed that curious phenomenon which
attracts the attention of every traveller
across the plains-viz: "dry creek Thi,
one (caled Pole Creek is dry, / was in
formed, for distance of seventeen miles
Between the stations of Sydney and Potter
it suddenly disappears and only dry bee
remains to denote the channel, of the stream
1t winds along the track like great serpent
now on one side and then ON the other
and at point some miles in advance o
where the channel is first observed TO bt
dry, the water again makes its appearance
and, was told, remains visible to its source
1t empties into the South Platte near Jules
burg. Ha7
At some station on the route, the name o.
which have forgotten, an Indian all painted
and feathered, presented himself at one o
Il Al il