The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-29
4 TRIP TO CALIFORNIA.
The Route1TThe Sleeping cars-Imper-
tinent Stewnrds-Iowa Lands-Thc
Rocky Mountnins-T'he Sierra Nevada
First Impressions of the Cinnamon
The San Francisco Hotels, Sc.
IrroN AN occAsIoNAL cogrEspoNpENr. !

First Impressions of the Cinnamon
The San Francisco Hotels, Sc.
| [FIoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
SAN FRANCE co, December IL.
Persons who 90 overland to California, via
New York, should, in New York, take ticket for
the Rock Island route Through tickets are pur
chased in New York from railroad ticket agents.
went to Wells, Fargo & Co., the owners OF the
express land banking) business, which extends
over the whole country west of the Rocky Noun
tains. The ticket agent exhibited to ME pros
pectuses for five different routes, but, upon my
question: which one was the most expeditions
| and certain TO make connections 1T Chicago,
he answered. that he thought all were equally
good. In this my informant was mistaken, at
least in my case l chose the New York Central,
via Buffalo, simply because thus had an oppor.
tuIity of passing along the lakes, which had
never seen. left New York on Monday at $50
p. NJ, and was due in Chicago on Wednesday at 9
\. NJ But near Buffalo the wheel boxes Of one OF
the cans got on fire. II being night time. it took
the road men nearly two hours TO eXtingulsh the
conilagration, and, Notwithstanding increased
speed TO make up for the loss time, We were
finally thrceq quarters Of III hour behind time, ar
irving at Chicago at 9.4j. Had gone by the Rock
Island route could have started al 10 O'Clock
from the same depot. With my New York Central
ticket had, as The conductors told me, to go in an
omnibus TO the opposite end OF Chicago Wells
street depot though 1 learned afterwards, but
too late, that might have exchanged my ticket
at the Rock Island depot. AS it was, had to re-
main twenty.four hours in Chicago very dis
agreeable delay, forsthe weather was intensely
cold and sightseeing out OF the question.
Tie Pullman sleeping cars are exceedingly
comfortable, anu should think, be used, by Ia
dies al least. throughout the whole route. Each
car consists Of twelve sections, each OF which
contains during the day two double seats, and at
night two double berths-the number OF passcn-
gers in q full car being thus only twcnty-four.
They cos, from New York to Chicago two
nighls) s., from Chicago to Omaha tonc mighty
81 So from omaha TO PromontOry, or rather Og.
den for the Union Pacific Railroad has lately sold
the portion OF the road from Ogden 10 Promon-
tory TO the Central Pacific, two nights SIS, from
Ogden TO San Francisco two ni2hts) Sc. AS
have said the accommodation OF sleeping cars
are necessity forladies aud children; gentlemen
can with blanket and pillow, get along in the
common flrst-class car, though they should take
sleeping cars at least from New York to Chicago,
and from ogden TO San Francisco, because
on the two ends Of the route the cars are
crowded, While on the Union Pacific Railroad
from Chicago to OGDEN the number of passen-
gers is comparatively small at least at this sea-
son. so that the chances OF getting two double
seats for night travel are very good The rail-
roads are throughout in excellent running order,
and punctual as 10 time The eating along the
route was, hear, generally poor, at price OF
81 % currency per meal. carried basket full
Of provisions and bought cup OF very good col
fee mornings and evenings along the road and
would advise others 10 do likewise. There are
only two drawbacks TO the sleeping cars, the one
q strong draught OF wind, which pOulS through
the double windows, Is especially troublesome 1T
night, and causes, no doubt, the sorethroats and
colds which passengers are said 10 contract so
frequently; the other, the colorcd stewards, whO'
though they are OF unmistakable African descent,
all claim TO he descendants Of Canadians and In.
dlans, and are either pompous or impertinent, as
niggers will be, especially II, as this is done fire.
quently by Western "ladics," they are not kept ct
respectful distance. saw one of these mulat-
10 fellows pat one OF the ''la'hes,' who had
tormcnted him with very unnecessary ques-
lions very falniliarly Oh the back with the
words "Now, you have asked ME that
hundred times, and ! will not answer you
any more-I is tired OF you People who
cannot live without washing every morn
ing, have TO take the sleeping cars in which there
is dressing room; those who travel In the csri-
mon cars have no chance TO make ablutionS for
seven days, unless they are willing TO rub their
hands and faces with frozen snow. Will not ell
tertain you with description Of the route; suf
flee 1t to say that, in my opinion therchest lands
that We passed were in Iowa. There the soil con-
sists of rich, black loan, often three feet deep,
undulating prairie land bringing from SO TO S2G
per acre near the railroad. The same rich, black
soil Is again observable in the Sacramento Valley,
where, especially between Sacramento and Stock
ton, the vineyards, orchards and wheat farms
are beautiful and in high state of cultivation.
The Rocky Mountains appear for the greater part
OF the route, rather like high plateau than q
ridge OF mountains with lofty peaks. only the
so-cacd Echo Canon with the DEVILS Gate, form
ed by the Green River, presents wild, mountain
scenery There perpendicular rocks, hundreds OF
feet high, rise OIL both sides OF the railroad, so
close to the track that there Is hardly room for
second one-someiimcs the rocks hang actually
over the road. The scenery in this portion OF the
Rocky Mountains partakca altogether OF the
character Of the Tyrolcsc Alps. The Sierra Ne
yada, on The other hand, is, as far as ii can he
seen ror snow sheds, forty miles in length, pre-
vent the passenger from seeing great portion Of
the sccucryl rather romantic than wild and sub
lime in lis character. Instead Of endless wastes
OF snow anu sage-bushcs, which weary the eye In
the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada appears
as one ntcrlinkcd chain Of beautiful mountains
and valleys, covered with magnificent pines, call
ed shuddcr pines, oaks and other trees which had
not vet los, their leavcs--whc i'll the Rocky
Mountains tho only signs OF life were IN occa-
sional nock of antclopes or clGs, or here aud
there prairie dog seated Oh his mound Of earth,
or IL night the ugly bark of wolf. Everything
in the Sierra Nevada was green, ilourlshinG and
active. Mining towns are established IL. along
the route; auueducts which IN wooden trOugES
conduct the mountain streams Tor many niles
along the heights and across the narrow valleys;
roads with teams OF horses carrying the ore to
the mills; crowds OF healthy, prosncrouS'looKn5
men at every station; little Dulch-looking chill
dren. with req cheeks ard round arms; even
farms in which vegetables and fruits are grown
prove Tie general prosperity Of the new State Ol
Nevada A. Elko, in Nevada, the first Chinese
were SEEM some came on board. others were
working on Tie railroad. These SONS Cf The &C.
,o,,;,, C,,nirn b,vn IN nforn,lv made very favor