Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-11-20
NUMBER 46.
-, The Alkali Plains of Nevada.

The Humboldt valley is from ten to twenty
miles wide, probably the latter, as the pure
atmosphere enables one to see at great distance,
and deceiSes the eye of the inexperienced. All
is subimity, desolation and grandeur. with
the single exception of few rods from either
bank of the Humboldt, there is no earthly sign
or token of vegetation. All the mountain sides
are bare, covered with stones, as if just thrown
out OF volcanoes; not q tree, not shrub, save
the sage grass not bird: not living animal
not sound save the rafting of the coach. All
Is silence, desoiation. Mighty mountains bask-
ing in burning sun, and plain covered with
ribbon of bright green, lying in the center, while
its broad edges are deep yellow or dusty brown.
The soil is simply pulverized aiksli and the
dust, in Clouds covers the stage, blankets the
horses, chokes aud blinds and stiles those inside,
while We on the outside shielded BY green wells
and seated high up, escape in some measure its
sutocating aud binding power. We leave Elko
at ten o'clock, lying 5000 feet above the sea,
and are doomed for twenty-five hours to follow
the Hum ldt until We climb gradually along up
and mp TO Il, 900 feet above it, where now write,
and even here look up Treasure bill, 400 feet
higher. do not exaggerate at all when say
that this one days journey for positive discom-
fort, exceeds any other of the same distance on
the earth, unless it be in the center Of Africa.
The silence and desolation that everywhere meet
the eye impress all men, aud they grow moody
and finally sink into utter dumbness.
The mist thickens and hangs in dark clouds
like tropical thunder storm on the carriage and
its inmates. The horses snort aud cough, as 1t
fills their lungs it permeates the nose and eyes
and ears of the passengers, it makes them blind,
and deaf and dumb it permeates the clothes,
creeps under your under-clOthing, thickens
around the eyes, makes them red like q drunk
ards you eat it, drink it, breathe it, snuff it it
clothes you, covers YOU fills all the pores and
interstices of the body, and each man and woman
is a living, moving mass of alkaline dust. The
horses, lost to sight, dash on, up hill and down
hill, at the rate OF seven miles per hour, though
the dust crumbes beneath their feet at least ten
inches in depth, and they are actually blanketed
with alkali. Here and there the Humboldt
crosses the road and with lis bright laughing
waters, gurgles along, making the dust and
thirst more sitting By contrast. The horses
snort as we stop to give them drink, and the
passengers climb down and rush to the water
like the camel of the desert. A. breathing
moment, and away again We 60, higher, yet
higher, and still enshrouded in the same dusty
cloud. The sun pours down into the c0ach and
it rises to its meridian height, it scorehes and
soon like Indian ham, dirty rec, until all
identity is gone Mems whiskers, moustsches,
and hair AL stifened with alkali, and the
very highest point of discomfort and misery is
reached. As we dash along no bird sounds
note to soothe US not living, moving thing is
seen, save and then, At long intervals, an
Indian fishing for trout in tue HUMBOLDT not a
horse, not sheep, not an antelope; not a house
barn field fence meets tue eyes, as We
drive onward.-Letter in Chicago Post.