Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-09-30
CALIFORNIA.
A Letter from Rev. A. J. Nelson

A Letter from Rev. A. J. Nelson.
Correspondence of the TRANSCRIPT.
University Of the Pacific, Santa Clara,
California, Sept. IL, 1869.
I Ipromised you some account Of my
trip to the Pacific, and the receipt Of
several numbers of your paper reminds
me of the sacredness Of promises.
THE TRIP
was made from Chicago to Sacramento
in precisely 126 hours and 40 minutes,
from the time I stepped upon the train
at the depot, until I stepped aboard
the steamer on the Sacramento.
The road all the way is in first rate
condition, whatever letter writer's may
say to the contrary. 1 have never
seen better road. The track is we'll
laid with the most improved rail; the
rolling stock is new and first class no
better cars or more powerful and mag
ni6cent engines are found on the CONT
nent. The baggage men, brakemen,
engineers and conductors are quiet,
genteel, and attend to business. No
loud talk, no profanity, no assumption
of authority - this was remarkable
throughout the entire trip. In fact,
the moral atmosphere in some respects
seemed purer than I had been accus-
toned to. I have scarcely heard a
dozen oaths, and have not seen one drum
ken man since loft Austin.
The weather was fine, except two or
three showers while we were ascending
the mountains. The sky was clear
the road was not dusty as I expected
we rode with open windows except while
crossing the alkali desert in the vicin'
ity Of Salt Lakc-here all was made
close to keep from smotherins.
This is the most desolate, heaven-de'
serted, God-forsaken portion Of country
I ever saw-worse than Sahara; it is
poison to look at it. 1t is we'll adapted
to the moral atmosphere that mixes with
it. If .lkali dust and Mormon poly
gamy will form chemical combination
and there is grease enough in the hell
ish system to form soap, there may be
some probability Of washing out tht
deep, blood-red sins Of these most de-
PRAYED sons and daughters Of Adam
The house is now divided against itself
the Josephites versus the Brighamitcs
Woemen defending their chastity
against the treachery Of men. The case
is in chancery, but chance always favor'
the right, and there is no doubt tha
Mormonism will have speedy and per
haps a violent death; another proof
that sin is self f-destructive.
The trip as whole is apleasurc trip
the scenery grand, awful and sublime
Tie FIRST object Of special attention i
t''c Waysatch. or Black Hills; as "
lt gin to ascend, mountains appear ii
the distance 60 miles, covered witt
snow they seem only 4 or 5,-but the
arc huge, monstrous, sublime and terri
bic to beholds. AS we near them thci
structure is wonderful, built of coars
granite, built, I said elected from bt
low, from a depth as deep and tar OF a
ti-:t to which Milton's Satan wandered
from the wrat1 of Heaven.
eazcd at them, wondered, then
praised, then started back at though
of such calam ity. What wild confusio
infinite contortion! amazing power! VIII
did this why done when touchc
them, there we're the scars of ages, cur
GUS marks. of forgotten centuries. Tho
arc not pyramids built by past scner'
tions as memorial of their greatness
No, these are the monuments ofthe In
finite the work of the Omnipoten
the people of Him who lived before Il
mountains were brought forth Divil