New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-23

tc Mountain, where stop for an early dinner III"
fare il Unexpectedly good-beter. indeed than az any
dinlngplace between New-York and Chicago. Let mo
here inform travellers That the baskets OF PROVISIONS
which they are urged TO take and generally DO tak ~
Omaha are ouitc unnecessary They VIII nave petter
digestion by trusting 10 what they get on the lOau O
culinary sahara extends from the AHeghAhies W '"e
Rocky Mountains; the great Mississippi valley is i"hu
Of tough eefseaks porkfat, sOdden bread ana deesa
,,oeoc. lint a. soon as we reach the waters flowing
into the Pacific the weary stomach begins to tnd com
FORT When returned from fresh muttonchops andper-
feet potatoes to the ears did not envy the passengers
who were munching dried sandwiches.
The country around Battle Mountain Is rich IN MN
erals The landlord at the station gave some speci-
mems Of copper argenerous gaiena and silver ehior-
ides OF astonishing richness With the development OF
the mines even this portion OF the Humboldt Naey VIII
become inhabited, for irrigation viii conquer alkan'
The afternoon Of this day the least interesting por
tlon of my Journey the continent After leaving
the station called Golconda the valley widens into
great plain and the trcaked ranges recede far into
the distance The river loses itself in reedy swamps the
place Of vast Ooks OF pelicans Heat ana dust
become plaques and the passengers doze and sweat IN
silence Al the town Of Winnemucoa the Indians are
pronounced bore, and we look forward to supper AT
Humboldt a. slight break in the monotony Of travel
Here however we are Unexpectedly refreshed by the
sisht OF garden an orchard, and wheatfeld. Pure,
cold spring water without any alkaline flavor is on the
table and the fresh salmon is renewed treat. More
over the sun is low; the mountains far toward Idaho
are flushed with heavenly color and presently all the
near ranges are covered by the aferglow with in
tense burning vcmiion, such beheld even on
the doomte peaks OF the TyrO The dust sinks the air
suddenly puts its morning freshness, and all kinds OF
balsamic OdOrs float from the meadows and
plains.
Night comes on before reach the Sink of Humboldt
River, and all asleep cross the Desert OF GO
miles between IT and the Truckee Valley. With the first
glimmer of dawn arose. and found that we had already
entered the snowsheds beyond Truckee Station These
structures are necessary, but most provoking For mile
after mile you roll along through an endless box, con-
scOus TIM there magnificent invisible landscapes
attending your way. Now and then there is hole,
through which you catch glimpse OF mighty forest
covered mountains you have scarcely fixed an out
line in your mind before the boards interrupt vision
At the smmit 1912 feet above the stepped of the
train and found myself in gloomy, boarded gallery
with snOw-drifts peeping through the cracks
The mailagent, Mr.. Herrck, invited me TO sit in the
nacar and opened the windows on both Sides so that
had an opportunity Of seeing what little was visible;
but for further distance of nearly 80 miles, there was
only an occasional into the Sheds showing forests
and snow. without having it, doubt whether the
passage of the Sierra Nevada is very sublime.
After passing Blue Canon we began to exchange the
noisy gloom of the sheds for the open air and the bright
delicious morning We had now descended more than
the patches of climbed GnzGnitq bushes. There was
still forest everywhere-grea soaring pines and frs
fallen and rOtting giants beside the track umbercamps
carrying the work of destruction, and at last little
cleared patches where the Chinese miners were cultva
lngvegetabes This great storehouse, not only Of wood
but Of water, will need protection, and 1t can be
preserved to California by the most ordinary economy
The ties for the Central road which are the best in the
United States, came from this region.
The great shoulders OF the Sierra over which we
passed. very fresh and fair TO look upon but there
was no fine scenery until We approached Gold Run,
where superb view opened down into the OF the
American Fork The miners cabins two thousand feet
below were mere specks; bey6hd them the sleeps
again in blue shadow, until the sunlight struck athwar
their fnged crests and the ridges leaned one upon the
other the distance until the last sawteeth OF snow
cut the sky. Onward and downward through deep cuts
over great embankments and along the brink OF trenen
dous gus the road wound its way painfully but most
trumphanty overcoming the greatest obstacles between
ocean and ocean. At sharp, precpitOu mountancape,
called absurdly enough Cape Horn, there is another
grand view; and then the scenery terminates, although
the heaviest grades still before us. We have already
reached the level Of the lex and the mddTo"o; full,
splendid Summer is in the leaves in the gorgeous wild
blossoms and on the rpening heads Of the wild oats;
and now as the left behind there are fields
aud fences, gardens orchards, and vineyards.
At Cofax $3.50 above the sea, have epcurean
breakfast with strawberries and cherries. Then the
road falls the rate Of than hundred feet to the
mile and in less than hour at Auburn, among
the foothills HenceOrth, il is continuous line of set
H,lneut. Farmers cutting the ripe barley; the
heat scorchcd by the long drouth, is turning yellow
l. foliage OF the trees is dark green as In our
Augst and the pastures yellow and dry. Far over
tie arid plain through the hot trembling air we see the
u'0uutaAs OF the Coast Range.
Til, California at last; this is the African Summer Of
Cc Pacific coast. BY noon sweltering in sacra
LrltO. I.