The New York herald., 1869-05-22
A TRIP OVER The PACIFIC RAILROAD.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


linton Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads. and sing
INC high sounding peans in honor of an enterprise
which though deservedly exciting the wonder and
admiration OF the world, is yet, though dare say
few suppose so, in anything but complete or
satisfactory condition. SO 1t occurs 10 me that ii will
pe or the advantage OF intending travellers over the
road il / can let them know through your columns
IN what position | iound afars. In company OF
several friends crossed overland to San Francisco
IN March last but VIII not trouble you with the
state in which found things then. My chief In
ducement in returning was in knowing that should
trouble Wells Fargo Co. very little with the trans
portation OF myself and baggage this time
friend OF mine left san Francisco on the Attn
instant, and, returning from visit in Nevada, l
joined him on the afternoon Of the 5th at Reno.
whence We started together, about halfpast four
p NJ. and proceeded TO Elko by half past twelve the
next day having, at the tail OF our train sleeping
and restaurant car attached which were occupied
by the directors and officials on their road to the END
OF the Central line. They brought with them the
Californian laurel tie and gold-upped spike. which
have since effected the so-caed junction OF the lines
the opening celebration OF the 10th inst Leaving
Elko at half past the 6tn, we arrived at the
end OF the road by halfpast eight A. M. on the fol-
lowing morning. Ours was the first train which
took passenger cars through from Elko. The only
luCluSut ducOtiIg oh JOuuVy was q stoppdSC VI ehO
train during the afternoon for hour order that
General stanford and family might take their ease
at dining the which gave rise to the ut
terance OF several facetie at their ex-
pense. There was also a bad portion OF the
road over winch We ratted at such rapid pace and
with sucn an amount OF Jumping and humping that
even the equanimlty OF one or the "nlgh-toned"
officials knew was disturbed and ne exclaimed at
the Inprudence; but the engineer had an object,
aud as that administered To Tie chief object we had
at neart-namely supper at Ioano Pass, whlcn we
reached al hail-past nine-We soon dismissed our
fears, when II Was over.
arrived ut Promontory Mountain ION the lth), we
at once transferred to stages anu accomplished
the remaining seven miles between the TWO termln1
by naf past nlne O'Clock. 10 appeared TO me as We
passed along the road two or three days good work
ieJuirad 10 De done before train could run
tarou. IN: out waat cdnnOt "A company which has
land ten miles IA one dag accomplish even IN an
hourg On the way ia tne stage We passed an en-
caupulent winch only a few days before had been
the scene OF qdidta.l2ular ngnt, resulting in the
death OF hye me.i, one shooting the other consecu-
uvely. Tie tieu terninss OF the Union Paclnc line
was not ited with water, ma n less with an eating
house So we had iOOlishly brought no provisions
with H., We obtained nothing 10 ea TILL i've IN the
ternOon, when We redcned laylor's Mills two and
a hall miles beyond ogden City. However we
offered time to eat at Cornne the new GENTLE
town when changes its mayor and corporation OF
zen aldermen every week, but the proprietress
OF the 'New English OAse'i mad nothing prepared
for US and seemed 70 intend planting meal on the
table Just the train should start and thus to
the Vi tuals from consumption ut our expense; SO
We Withdrew In time not 10 be done. and packed
UP our dppeltts dBdlu ldll-pdsb uNc O'COCh
when we came TO stop at Taylor's Mills
for the night. We there, at a capital
restaurant, made up for the loss Of breakfast
aud dinner and made supper DO for three meals.
Al Corlnne We overlook the people VINO had lett San
Francisco on Monday, the Sd, as they had staged il
ali the way nom the Central line to Corinne and
they crowded into our already overhled car At
TayOrs Mills we heard no end OF bad news-Of
bridges broken down and OF three interruptions to
the traiIc between Weber Canon and Echo and so
had to lay over ana pass the night crowded together
IN the solitary passenger car which the Union Pacific
Company had generously provided Tor the transit OF
LOO first class passengers. on leaving the Union
Pacific terminus about 100 railway hands, or "demo-
crats being supposed 10 be all lrishl, as they are
generally called, having been dismissed with free
passes 10 Omaha, had crowded on to the train, and
slowed themselves wherever they could find room,
there being very little accommodation Tor them; so
that at each station or change OF cars constant
watch had TO be kept that they did not invade the
little room there was for large number OF ladies
and children travelling in our company, no care
being taken at all whether the gentlemen had Sc ITS
or were saved from the forced company OF these
roughs.
Saturday morning and all the previous night 1t
ratued heavily, and no news Of the state OF things
from the 'front.' arriving We were not allowed TO pro-
ceed that at last made up our minds TO be de-
tanned two three DAYS in this pentup state, while
some eight nine would-be wise people took the
passing stage for sat Lake City. They had been
gone out half an hour when we were gaddened
with the news that We were to proceed ana at forty
five minutes past eleven We were of, going at q
snas pace OF course for along the best part OF the
way between here and Weber Canon, wherever the
sides OF the mountains had been cut away, success
OF landslIps mad occurred. while there seemed
every chance OF fresh slides also occurring.
Tnree miles up, at Devils Gate, in Weber Canon,
we met our first check-a broken down bridge
stretched 100 feet across the Weber river, winch
was boing below 1t fty feet or so, and across tnls
tne passengers were desired to 60, walking In sort
acrObatlc fashion, board being provided in some
place the ties through which the boiling tor
rent beiOw was visible. and IN others, wnere there
wider spaces, people had To spriug from tie 10
tie, and Lhen resteady themselves before proceed
ing; whlie each person behind kept urging on on
constractiOn AL were glad TO be over II and none
the less when nearu men on the spot exclamiug
that IL might give way altogether at any time. The
baggage anu mails could not be pulled across, so
they were taken round in carts, which was means
OF convey ance never offered suggested even for
tue adde's and children. jumping on to the trucks,
with engine attached, winch were waiting ior US,
on spot where an extensive landsllp occurred Dui
aweeS or two ago. we were conveyed one and
hau miles. ana then met the second CHECK another
uIisound bridge over less terrifl ing part OF the
river. We had TO 20 through another acrobafic per
furnlance here; the bridge was WIDER but not higi
above the water; required therefore, more care n
ol crOs-buards 70 walk Arrived across IN safety
men, women and children and roughs, we all "a
down, lee ing a. If we had passed a Red sea and
waited for the arrival OF the baggage, and then o.
the tram. which we expected would have waited FOL
"a. During this the the rOughs amused them
seives with discnargng their Henry rlnes and pls
tolls at he rocKs IN front OF them t about $3.50 the
tram from EcnO arrived, and Its passengers hau nf
sooner dlsembarked than down came tremendous
storm or rain and nan. Great was the scramble OF
the part of our passengers and rOughs
~ get slowed away before being wet through
nuu IN consequence u Huuiotf tIOWutt
into one two cars, OF which as soon a. filed th
occupants informed they were 10 be left behind
Then ensued another scramble, aud u was found tina
although there had arrived two passenger cars an'
enough cabooses for the roughs, but one car ana wv
cabooses were 10 be employed for the conveyance
IN Infinite discomfort aud unnecessary squeezing. z
the whole crowd tai we should arrive at Wahsatet
Beng deta ned In this state an hour and half 10
orders IRON Echo when TO proceed, II was not u
i've that we started, aad we reached Echo at el9h
where we endeavored TO restore our goou hnmt
aud get what little comfort we could out OF u
meagre meal which was put before people WI
had had nothing to eat SINCE seven IN the m0rf
ing. The third obstruction we had expected
meet in the shape OF n washed away bridge ma
been replaced by a sound one In the morning.
leaving Echo such passengers as mad no seats IN u
car were offered standing room as change and
favor in a caDoose kept Tor them while the rough
had to crowd together and fare as they cou'
Somehow or other while we dozed away the nigh
some on the floor and some on boxes, we found on
selves at four A. M. sunday, the eth at Wahsatc
and there we expected to end our discomforts; b'
no. two passenger cars and two cabooses or box ca
were all that was offered TO our crowd, and
precautions being taken, the roughs soon had posse
sion OF one car while IL was only by keeping u
ttl.o laAfa ND gh ron