The New York herald., 1869-05-15
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

other end; but 1t must not be expected that track
scarcely two months Old can be In perfecs
condition. The rails are well and securely iaia
down. the ends being secured with the excellent fsh
joint adopted on this road and although the road
bed is uneven In many places, still the foundation u
and there Is no danger Of the track spreading
At various points gangs OF Chinese laborers are at
work Strengthening 1t up aud before winter sets In
again the roa will be in excellent condition and the
heaviest train Will move with the utmost smooth
ness. do not pretend to say anything about the
location; for seated in car, is not for me to as
sert whether the best place for racklaying has been
selected An engineer could not do 30: hence It
would be better that should not. 1t may answer
very well for some newspaper correspondents to
give their opinion about railroad building, who ina
gine that curves and grades entirely unnecessary
and that tracks should only be laid In straight lines
and through tunnels. These writers, whose
experience extends only to the ordinary
travel Of every person, profess to know
more than those who make the building
Of railroad specially; aud as letters to journals
Of standing frequently influence, in great measure,
public opinion, 1t would be as well to find out the
reliability and knowledge Of the faulthnder before
pronounclng his assertions worthy Of credence The
Central Pacific Railroad may be very crooked-need-
essly so; it may be careessly constructed. but for
my part, with some knowledge and experience In
the matter can only say that as yet have not DIS
Beyond examining track and roadbed there Ia
little to see on this end; the few bridges we pass are,
like those the other sections, substantial and per-
manent structures. The want OF water is much fele
on this division. In some places 1t Is brought for
and when we are at the end Of the track all the
water used by those engaged IN building the road Is
This want is a great drawback, aud it Is probable
that the mountain springs will have to supply all
that is used in this vicinity for years to come II not
for all time.
Ihave no change to note in the appearance OF the
scenery and surroundings on this division from what
has been since leaving Tuckee The same plains Of
sage brush the same distant ranges Of m0untains
that border on the Humboldt river are here be seem
and the only variation from the m0nOtOny are the
tastefuly. These men are employed by the company
to cut wood In the adjacent mountains and an I'M
me o & @ ae p% % 70
the numerous tents surrounded by hardy, weather.
beaten set OF men, and the noise and revelry Of the
crowd clustered around the numerous camp fres
look exactly like army halted for the night These
camps were to us the only garden spots in tho great
Lake, near Monument Point, and then the
IS this great aud wonderful sheet OF water. Far on
to the s0uthward and eastward are the peaks or q
shSw Sse ont Of the cenc Of the Se Is ney formed
part OF an island. The bright green tinge OF the
water eas @ cont sn5 20 @ ne yaSs ys ar e 9as
seem to sparkle upon its surface with unusual bril-
liancy
enough to furnish stpnted growth OF pine timber,
that seems almost buresque upon vegetation. The
but here it is prize eagerly sought for and 1t Is
rapidly disappearing to furnish the great quantity
needed by the railroad company. 1t VIII take but q
few years to exhaust 1t, and then where viii the fuel
come from that Will satisfy SO great demands
Iope and deer are found, and on the marsh that
skirts the northern portion OF the lake, and else
where Large 81 numbers aa 81 ployer
TRACK LAYING.
To-day the Central Pacific Railroad Company's en-
ployes accomplished the greatest feat In track laying
ever known in the history Of railroading. The un-
paralleed amount OF ten miles and nifty feet OF track
five O'Clock in the afternoon. Every arrangement
had been made days before; the iron and ties were
ali sent forward, and the work was to have been
done yesterday; but an engine got or the track,
which made delay that could not be got over. To-
eniusiastic The president and superintendent wers
on the ground; oil the press OF San Francisco was
ad 81 OF e Shw RoSoad SD a
pany's people were there, and they did not think It
could be done. Bets were made, and the excitement
ran high. The men themselves were i'm high spirits,
aud 1t was evident they intended to do their best.
The organization OF the working gangs was very per-
work and didn't get IN anybody else's way. Even
tine engines used TO push forward the with iron
behaved very well and did not leave the rails. All
went smooth glass, and by eleven O'Clock 1t was
sure, thing. by five O'Clock the agony was over;
connected with the company were in high glee.
Those OF the other company left, satisfied that the
thing had been done ana wei done ana that the
been fairly beaten
For a long time past great rivalry has existed be-
tween the two companies as to who could lay tho
greatest amount OF track IN twentyfour hours, and
up TO this time the Union Pacific people aiead
but "Charlie Crockcr' as the superintendent OF the
road is famiarly called, determined 1t should not
remain So He bided his time and organized his
men for O big day, and, with his usuai energy and
scrSed BY dark ali were back from the ext extreme
handshaking, and champagne drinking took place.
Charlie Cr0cker's laugh-and an EXTRAORDINARY laugh
m ws. We he anS exceeS nSpys
Governor stanford, the president OF the road, and
his friends % were also present, and II ever party
in general 1t was the Central Pacific people, and
they had cause to be. They had been abused,
termed swindle by some Of the very men they were
then entertaining and yet with all the opposition
their great work within four miles Of completion.
they had triumphed over their enemies and could
THE sUpERIYTENDENTs CAR.
From the time OF leaving Sacramento have trav-
placed at their disposal, and il Is but fair that I
should describe this vehicle for In II one ex-
e r. nfy Was e' cpesa ras m rsm when @
front to watch over and push forward the work he
depended entirely upon caboose freight or any other
car that might serve his purpose for accommodation.
This arrangement, however, proved too fatigung,
and he determined to build car that would be-
comparatively speaking, q home and In which he
could go the front ana remain comfortably for any
required iime His outfit, n may the term, con-
ssts OF two cars: the first s arranged with berths
for his cook and steward and train hands, and store
rooms, water tanks, &c. Then comes his house. In
length. II is about the same an ordinary eight
wheel passenger Car. You enter at the forward end,
and there Is passage way, then going round
the passage to the left Is kitchen fitted complecs
hen comes tile dining room, capable III seating ten
persons; then there are two large double-bcdded
rooms, with stationary washstands &C.; then tho
drawing room, which extends TO the rear end OF tho
car furnished very nicely, All the sofas In the car,
OF which Tn ere are four are arranged TO make
double beds. SO that with the rooms, by sleeping
double twelve persons can be comfortably Derthet.
You Will perceive by this that no great disc0mf0rt
or hardship was experienced by the party. We
went In Il from Sacramento to Reno, ana when w0
returned TO the latter place " was there to meet rs.
and we went forward TO Eko. On returning 70 Elko.
there II was again. and now am about bidding fare