The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-02-02
THE IRON HORSE. AMONG THE sIER
RA NEVADAS. .--

within i've hours ride of Sacrame q to,
where roses still bloom in the garden, aud
the air is bsialy as the breath of spring,
snow has fallen to the depth Of three feet
on a level, and tue slegh-belis are making
music along white ighways. fenced with
spear like pines. Que can break asst here
IN tte1vsiilsy, where ice is chiefly known
as an imported luxury for, COOLING drinks
on sultrg days, and where snow is ira
driOn; dine where frozen lakes tempt the
graceful skater, where cutters and buff4:-
10 robes aud bells offer the swift and roll
licking Satisfaction. of New England
Sports, and not far from the spot where
the snow walled IN and shrouded the Don
ner party in death; and sup in tins to
see the curtain riss at the theater in Sac
rsmento' on thesame evening. TIE To-
conceive makes this conGentraton of
seasoqS-this trauition from spring f2w,
ers 10 wihtry delighls-ou the same day,
possibility. F1nss. u
TIE central Pacific railroad company
now run four PASSENGER trains daily for
a distance OF twenty three miles, within
the snow belt of the mountains-lhati is
from Alta 10 C!sco-and are already test
ing another of those 'InsurmounIable
obstacles which were coniu,edi up to
destroy confidence 10 the enterprise, but
which have been va1quishsd from time
to lime. in the PROCESS of the work by
energetic attack. 7fhe experiment is Of
great II leIest TO the coast, as we'll as to
all others Who realize, the importance Of
regular communication by the continent
al mig way but il Should be said that the
officers of the company have iittle or no
doubt about Operating the road up there
during the season Of s,orms Something
may be learned tOresbadowlng the result
| from the Equipment of the railroad for
The contest, and the manner in which the
SNOW has been, handled thus far The
snow pillow placed in front of each loco
motive is The one usually employed on the
roads in tie Northern States on the AT
iant'c side Of the continent, calculated to
clear the, track Of the white obstacle. i N
medialely after storm. provided Ihs depth
IS not more than two feet. 1t The trains
re-frequent during a etotm, Accumuia
;;,,9n e greater depth upon any cvrsider-
able section of the road is hardly .proba
bic. Heavy drifts might occur. aud, 10
the course of the winler. the snow might
be beaped tO,s great hight on. each side OF
the track, but to prevent delay from such
distractions, large force of Eaborers Al e
ready or service above Alta, aud huge
snow. plow--an independent machine
has been bulls for throwing the snow over
into the ravines, away from the line OF
the road. The first heavy storm of the
season, leaving. as We havs Infatuated, a
depth of three feet on q level. was eas;,. f,
disposed of without HAVING rec.,u -
the big machine. Dpsing ,ha, temnest.
uous visitation. it happened that train
was stopped oy 'unDing against bowlder
qua Inc snow itself did not delay the reg
;.liar passenger trains an hour.
The seton of railroad within the snow
belt is VonderfuI monument Of energy
and engineering skill. and the regio,
through which il passes is a succession
OF the grandest scenes The Sierra can At
ford. A stranger. coming from the east
ern slops and finding locomotive putin
amid the SHOWS in the shadow of Ihe
Black Butte and RattIesnake Peak. si1
thousand feet above the sea, cannot .fai
to be startled by such an apparition. and
bis wonder viii not diminish as he de.
sends and looks ct the preeipitous noun
taiBs sAd stupendOus gorgea over which
The way has been smoothed for the traeE
OF the iron horse. There are bat two
tunnels on the sectioD--one through the
ridge that divides the 1ateEs'of The Amer
icaaalrom those of the Yuba, al Emigran
Gap only Ibres hundred and City feet il
length.. The line bas been 90 ekilllullJ
run that the ascent is accom- plisked By
cuts, embankments. aud blssti7g road
bed Pin7 the solid rock Of the m0dutaiH
side. where anssxperie1csd hunter would
be troubled 10 climb. The deepest cut il
, fouHd At Prospect Hill. Sen miles above
Ala, and measures one HUNDRED and
! twenty eight feet. The embsnkments are
] bRlsny, and huge. and abs settling OF. these
during this, tbs 6Fst saasoa Of, lhsiE Rss.