The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-05-18

Mills we entered the mouth OF the canon, SOOI
after the dark walls Of either side left but
narrow strip OF sky in view overhead even in the
night, after the eye had become accustomed to It,
that seemed almost to overhang the track. Here
and there the depths Of the ravine could be DIS
cerned, and the swift running stream warned us to
be careful how we moved, for to be turned over
INTO 1t would have been . serious and perhaps
fatal mshap, and one likely to occur If we
moved over the crooked rails at Increased speed.
The engineer appeared to understand the situation.
He evidently had an eye to number one and did not
way into the depth Of darkness below. We passed
over the two bridges that are thrown across the
Webber and another river, and tho sound OF rushing
waters told us that current Of no mean strength
and velocity was below u.s. We got over safely, and
at twelve O'Clock (midnight) reached Echo, another
station, located at the mouth OF the canon of the
same name, and here 1t was concluded to wait until
the next day. a. the railroad officers had business
to transact.
1 turned out early to inspect the new town, and
found only what saw at other points at and near
the end OF the track-a line OF rough shanties and
who inhabited the place: and rough set
they are, truly, holding life at no value and
ready for any act OF desperation. We had hardly
got through breakfast when information was brought
that the Weber river had risen during the night
and that the bridge had been washed some ten feet
This was the very bridge we had passed over only
Anew hours before, and truly we had narrow es-
cape. Darkness perhaps, prevented our seeing the
danger, or else we should have hardly ventured to
cross.
This information rendered 1t necessary for the
my companions and myself were turned over to the
Lincoln car, rs Is called. the that formerly
used by the late President. Here found comfort
able quarters: but we were compelled to forage for
meals Getting away from Echo now became a
matter OF chance; the trains were cut or going
engine that might be returning to waisatch
with empty cars. The eastern train came
sasted a. the SITUATION. TSey haS f' q s4n
and bear IT, however, as best they could. Night
came and no opportunity. We went to bed with the
promise Thai he a frain
and that we should be called In time. AT five A. NJ.
we were called, but only In time to see engine
and cabOose car 20 laundering by, leaving COM
pletey in the lurch, and again hanging by the eye
lids. Through the Kindness OF the family OF one Of
the engineer officers we managed to obtain break
fast and dinner. At two O'Clock another train was
TO start; but IN the meantime the officers came
back from the bridge and as 1t was going on took
US all aboard once more, and of we started highly
delighted at our luck and at the prospect OF being at
IA point where we could depend upon trains leaving
The track here appeared to be little better than
that we passed over the night before but not very
much. ! saw That twenty miles an hour would be
fast enough for safety and too fast for comfort We
had several freight cars ahead OF us and had gone
about tweivc niles when the forward truck OF one
Of them jumped of the track, and 1t ran "a distance
OF nearly half mile before 1t was discovered; when
brought to stand the truck was much broken and
easily to the next siding before we could pro-
coed. Here was two hours delay, and during
that time we amused ourselves shooting at a marx
with rines.
The scenery through Echo caion where the
mishap occurred, Is very interesting, but not so
wild or picturesque as In the WebDer. IL Is very
novel, and that ALL 1t is barren ana desolate the
only vegetation being some grass that grows in
the valley, II ! may term 1t so, between the
the canon we come to more level
country. Occasionally We see along the track
freight car bottom up. All these serve TO show that
rairoadng hereabouts IL not the safest thing the
world. and that going out for walk IL very apt TO
be attended with more or less danger TO person
property. We passed two very large camps OF con-
struction where the men live who are working upon
the tunnels and embankments, where the permanent
track is 10 be laid that crosses the summit OF the
Waisatch Mountains the one In use now being only
temporary. These were the only signs OF lie we
saw. When within six miles or this place we CON-
menced the steep grade thar leads 70 the track that
is now used TO cross the mountain. our engine had
all that 1t could do, ana when we got to the zig-Zag
we had to leave half the cars on side track before
commencing the ascent. This was made with COM
paratse ease although ut times the grade feet
10 the mile While going up we had good view OF
the heavy work being done for the permanent track
This Is nearly completed, and ] suppose that In 4
month more the cars VAL he running over 1t. and
the line now used VIII be dsrensed with. This Will
be a great saving OF time aud labor ana add much
TO the comfort and safety OF travel.
il was dark when the ascent was completed. and
we made our way Into this place. which Is at
present the actual terminus OF tine Union Pacific
Railroad, or from where the trains are run regu-
larry on perfect time tables. IL was rellef 10 KNOW
that train would leave tomorrow ON time, ana
that We could depart ON our journey eastward with
some probability OF gettlng through.
rms RAILROAD.
There ~ no denying the fact that from the end
OF the track 20 this point the road ~ execrable. en-.
rey united for travel and unsafe in every partcu-
lar: but why IN " In tue rst place II was built
In the winter, when the ground was frozen hard.
OF course now that the thaw has taken place the
banks have settled aud thrown the track INTO
every conceivable shape. You cannot Imagine any
tpmg more crooked: In many places the tics project
over the edges of the emDankment and the trains
pnss the earth cfutubles beneath II. On some OF tue
cuttings around the edge OF hill, especially when
you enter webber canon, the bank has settled so az
to throw the outer ROAD considerably below the inner
one thus cnd9ngering tue passage OF trains, az tho
wrecked cars In the rayne below July TESTIFY. Again.
the ties do not appear TO be suleient IN number or
large enough; they certainly do not compare IN thus
respect WITH the Central Railroad, and there are
other points with which ault found n the road
was considered nnshed, but ~ Isno and N the
excuse NV en- Tor It's prescnl condition. As I first
stated the track was aid upon frozen ground, and
uu the frost u entirely OF 1t II would be folly to
repair for then the work would all have 10 be done
over again. IL ~ the intention OF tie officers IA
soon AZ the ends oil the Two tracks have met To
tue track up 10 Its proper condition, that IL Will
give DO trouble IN future THIS done In sixty
DAYS, and ! am under the Impression that by the
first of August no fault DO found with the road
are also several temporary bridges on this station
that are to DC placed by anu permanent struc-
lures II was one Oi these over the Weber that gave
WAY the morning after passed IT, These have only
been erected for the passage OF construction trans
aud TO serve as scanoldng TOR the erection OF tue
new ones.
mlly agree with those who have written concern
ing the condition oi tins section OF the Union Pacific
Railroad, but do not agree with them ia tryIny TO
convey the idea that the road ~ nDisncf and ii-
tended be run In its present condition: this h. nm
fair to the company and 10 the public On THIS sec
ton or west Vi Wahsatch, everyth nQ has been sac
rnced ~ cOn3tructiOn--to getting material To the
lrOnt In order "a have the tracks united: this as