New-York tribune., 1869-05-08
TOtal.......l,Os0

This yas maryelOnsly rapid work for n rough coun-
trv much of it destitute of wood water. and sup
plies For 800 miles east of Salt Lake Valley the line
averages nearly 1000 feet above the sea. At this
great elevation SHOWS abound. During the first
Wintcr-lSGs-9-nO trains went through for two or
three weeks though during the same period 20 miles
of track were laid at the end of the line The Com
pany in its keen race with the Central Pacific
building eastward to meet twas naturally indifler
ent to the rage of passengers. little experience,
however, will teach how to overcome the SHOWS.
Omaha and Council Bluffs, Siamese Twins Of towns
nj the eastern terminus Of the line grow with its
growth and strengthen with its strength. Omaha
has nearly 10000 people, and Council Bluffs 10000
with railways diyergng in various directions. Dur
ing construction the terminal station" moving for
ward with each advance of the track, was usually
place of 5000 or G,OO0 inhabitants. Right
mon the desert would spriug up a crowded
CITY. with enormous warehouses, daily news
papers. streets thronged with hundreds of freight
teams starting westward, and churches banks
and cambling-saloOus In few weeks the
scene would Shift and all this varied life disappear
leaving only little station, with its water tank and
group OF forlorn dwellings, In Wyoming, for $50
miles the line traverses the dreary Bitter Creek
region. Here the akali water is not only unfit to
drink but cannot even be used in the engines, as it
"a
boilers. Until some method Of neutralizing its
noxious qualities can be discovered a WATERMAN
supplies tanks along this entire distance.
Indians have thrown one or two trains of the
track but in general have kept very clear of the To-
coynotive In Kansas. however they have committed
many Outragcs Going to California in 1867, via the
Kansas Pacific Road and thence by stage through
Denver and Salt Lake, was % hazardous undertak-
inc Near Fort Wallace, one day in June, coach
which carried five passengers. one soldier ana a
driver had a running fight for five miles with a
hundred mounted Sioux and Cheyennes. The tray-
Iors made the best resistance they could with Their
Gos and kent the savages at little distance, while
the driver put his horses TO their utmost speed
pyorv man on board, except one, was killed or scIi-
o,slv wounded. An old frontier friend OF mine'
Charles Ii. Blake. happily escaped with broken
arm and n wound in the head. At last the vehicle
with IFS bleeding and dying inmates reached Inc
sbeltcr of Big Tinbers Station, aud the saVages SUI
Ieplv retired without having taken single scalp
The foht was probably ono Of the last, and certainly
ono the in the history OF the plans
,ro Ir,;on Pacific road found for the first 800 miles
vet from Omaha the easiest route ever followed the
Central Pacific for 1870 east from Sacramento, one o
Tho hardest Before IeceyngaDy Government DondS
tho latter company must build and equip forty miles
Iicb ,ropld carry the track far up the Sevras, ana
| cost si,OOO,O00 Money was worth TWO per coi,V
mouth in California The cOrporat0rh put III thcii
! entire fortunes and obtained help Do'h NOM ""i
Francisco and the State but all was only drop IL
] the bucket 10 surmOunt the range wOulu cost MI
lions upon millions and 1t seemed iinDos'ipio u