The New York herald., 1869-04-28
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
SACRAMENTO CITY, CAL, April IL, 1859.
COMPLETION OF THE PACIFIC pAIrRnAD

few weeks more Will, in all probability witness
the joining OF the ends OF the tracks OF the Union and
Central Pacific Railroads, and thus will be completed
the belt OF iron the Continent that binds the
great commercial metropolis OF the East-New
York-with that OF the West-San Francisco. Four
months more Will see the continuation OF the road
from this city to Oakland completed, and then the
iron horse that leaves the depot Jersey City may
II 1t Is so wied by those who have control OF 1t,
keep on Its journey westward until its driver can
look as the buildings and shipping OF the Golden
City across the bay, only three miles distano Until
the completion OF the latter OF we will have
10 depend upon the river boats or the route by rail-
road 10 Vallejo and from thence by boat to San
Francisco but this Ii great hardship to travellers
who have been seven or eight days in the cars; on
the contrary, little water under such circum-
stances win be found rather agreeable than other
wise, and certainly beneficial to personal appear
ance
1t Is very hard to realize that 80 few years have
elapsed since the first settlement OF this State by
our people; since the country now traversed by the
locomotive was wilderness. inhabited only by the
Indian and herds OF buffalo, antelope and other
game; when 1t took many, many months for the emf
grant tram 10 move between points that now
within comparatively few hours OF each other.
Such progress IS unparalleled in the history OF the
world, and 1t win be hard to excel. From wnere
am now writing in the heart Of the city of Sacra-
mento, within TWO blocks OF the centre of business
q gentleman informs me that only nineteen years
ago he could, with a MIME rife, have killed wild
deer. Now what do see and hear9 Steamboats,
that t to lie side by side with those of the North
and East rlvers the bell OF the locomotive that is
here to-day and tomorrow hundreds of miles away
on its track across the Continent and / am sur
rounded by blocks Of buildings wherein prosperous
trade is carried on, and dwellings that vie in beauty
and size with any IN the country the telegraph,
that conveys q message to Europe and returns an
answer in a few hours; and see a people that for
energy and enterprise first In the world; COM
munty that knows such word as fail, and that is
destined to make this portion OF our territory
wealthy and prosperous beyond all present eXpecta-
tion.
RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
IL Is evident that here Is to be the headquarters of
the Central Pacific Railroad Company. Shops for
the repair OF engines others for the construction
and repair OF cars depots, &c, are now being con-
structed on scale OF greatness that indicates the
main station OF the road to be at Sacramento.
prise, aud when finished Will be second to none Of
similar character In the country In all their ap-
polntments. When we consider the amount Of
machinery and rolling stock necessary to operate
road-ol 800 or 100 miles in length the buildings
the company cannot be considered too large; in
deed, to my eye It will be but short time before
they viii have to be increased In size. When think
OF those OF the Erie and New York Central and the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad, and how small
those roads are in comparison with the Pacific,
confess that to me they look dlminutlve, and they
might from tue commencement have been extended
without being considered too big for the work tn at
Is to be done within them. However, there Is
plenty OF room here, and when that time comes it
will be easy to spread out.
AS located now the water 'front.' the depOts OF
the company are convenient for passengers and
ceivng tae vast amount OF freight, especially That
for construction purposes, now coming up the river.
or course they are nothing yet, not more than Is re-
will be increased vastly in size before great while
have no doubt, and that station Will be erected
here that IN dimensions and architectural beauty
will be one OF the first Of its kind the Continent.
To bald such Is. l understand. the present plan OF
this company as soon as other WORK OF more imme
date Importance Is conn leted. year or more yet
will be required before much decorative work be
commenced. Now IL must be utility, nothing more.
SACRAMENTO,
that has suffered so much by lire and flood, is now
reaping the reward OF energy and perseverance, and
IS certain occupy position scarce second TO any
on the Pacific coast. 1t has now four railroads
dverging from is, VIZ, the Central Pacific, the
Western Pacific the California Pacific and the sacra
nento Valley. All of these pass through the richest
agricultural and mineral regions of the country
the world and they are destined to prove feeders to
that one can scarcely realize Ten years-yes fve
years hence VIII witness results from these enter
priseS that the most sanyuine scarcely dream of.
And he would be a fool to predict now what Sacra.
mento will be IN ony few years to come. There Is
ment. | rode through portion OF the outskirts OF
the city today, and nad polntcl out TO me property
hs " ISf s SsS was senS r y dol
are being opened in every drection the entire CITY,
"a 1t were, Is being raised to height that will pre-
vent IN future any danger OF nundation and there
Is plenty Of room TO increase the size OF the capital
OF the state to any required dimensions.
The buildings o. TINS cty-tnat H. in the portion
now used for dweiings-are not crowded; nearly, II
not quite all, have tnelr handsome grounds. and now
tney are IN the fun beauty Of spring; nowers Of
ready been cut III some places, and the entire place
looks ike a garden. Indeed, | was forciby re-
minded Of the Lafayette district OF New Orleans
when riding through the portion OF Sacramento de-
voted to private residences and their surroundings
and the reminder was increased As | approached
the water front, with It's muddy stream, swift cur
rent leyees and numbers Of light draught, high
used to Ply upon the Rayous that empty into the
Mississippi rlver
Aud then tie view to be Obtained why, it is hard
to excel anywhere. With Us the day was warm and
Clear and as we got out beyond the city, n vast
pam that looked es II carpcted with green velvet
we enjo5 cd sight tlat the verest stole could not
iai to 60 INTO ecsiasles over Far on to the south.
ward the peak OF Mount Diab0 could be seen; to the
westward tue coast range was distinctly visible; to
the northN aru were the SUBMITS OF Shasta and the
Lawson uttes, seventy miles away, while to the
eastward II fun view was obtained OF the maanlf-
their entire line, upon which the rays OF setting
sun sparked, giving them the appearance OF molten
hugh, near to winch runs the track OF the Central
Pacific Hairoad. and the great gold region OF the
State was between us and it. Verify, the sight
all that lover OF the bright and beautiful could wish
to see. may pe considered enthusiastic, but can.
not think that am 80. I can hardly imagine q
human beng who could enjoy the view less than
did or fa TO appreciate it In tue same manner as
self, and can hardly think that an old resident
even could cease to admire the picture that Is every
day. almost, spread out at his very door,
The country around sacramento is az rich as 1t |
can be, aud every thing grows in the greatest pro-
FUSION II re was grown the bale OF hops that ex- |
cited the admiration OF those who saw them at the
Paris Exposition of last years mere there aro fields OF
barley that yield ifty bushels to the acre; wheat |
and everything else Is produced In similar proper.
ton, and In act, everything that the earth can yield
In the temperate zones Ii here to be found OF |
quality not 10 be excelled. In the quantity that de-
pends upon the industry Of the grower. so 1t lss
throughout the entire sacramento valley and In |
other p0rti ms Of the STATE The mineral wealth that
lies below the surface Is as nothing almost to the |
AGRICULTURAL wealth. It seems that % soil so rich In 1
deposits can produce nothing but wealth,
let De under OF on It's surface, and surely poverty
can never come 10 the doors OF people whose lot IA
possess the energy to take advantage OF all that |
nature has done to aid them.
AN OLD LANDMARK,
,nd that should be preserved Is the old building