The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-09-15


comsto The houses are built prin.
cipally Of sun dried brick. Leaving
Weber, We proceed down the VALLEY
several miles, il full sight Of tie
snow mountains, until We enter the
Devils Gate. Plunging into this
dark canyon, keeping close 10 the
bank Of the river, which flows around
rocky bluff, the wall rock rising q
thousand feet high. Out through
the Devils gateway we see TIC
Great Salt Lake with it's blue noun.
tain borders. Before leaving the
canyon, the western range Of the
Rocky Mountains is TO be seen.
We follow tho river to Ogden. which
with green folds, cosy houses, gar
dens and orchards, and white noun.
tains in the distant, makes beauti-
fhl sight. Arriving at the station,
you change cars for California. Hav.
ing four houre to get dinner and ride
or walk and see tho little grizzley
boar, wolf and snakes on exhibition.
Carriages are to be had at the depot
for one, two or three hours. They
are quickly taken, as a carriage ride
through that beautiful country is q
luxury as we'll as rost. Here you
take the cars for Salt Lake, and here
aro seen the Indians Of the Shoshone
tribe. Leaving Ogden we continue
our journey, catching glimpses Of the
Mormon cities crossing Boar river
and turning westward keep along
the northern shore of Bear river
bay, and on We 60 TO the desolate
Promontory range. At PromoDtory
the last rail was laid and the last
spike was driven. At Monument
Point we 20 close TO the Lake and
have good view oft. We now pass
over Ia vast unintcresting desert
and arrive at Elko. Here coin instead
Of greenbacks rs used. Elko is the
depot for tho White Pine Mining
District. After leaving Carlin, We
pass the Palisades and ten mile
canyon. Here q high perpendicular
wall Of rocks rise three or four hun
dred feet above tho track, so straight
you may stand on the point aud drop
o stone on tho roof Of the cars, pass-
ing beneath. We follow down tie
Humboldt river, which becomes
more desolate as we descend. Sage
bushes and Alkali dust are ,nll.that is
to be seen. Forty miles more OF
desert and we reach Wadsworth. on
the big bend OF the Truckee river,
which stream we follow up nearly
to it's headwaters. Just north 81
here it sinks into pyramid Lake.
Leaving Wadsworth, we cross the
river and enter Washoe range, which
present some fine scenery. Emerg-
ing from the canyon, we see Reno,
the gold mines, &c. Eighty millions
Of gold and silver have beon taken
out Of the celebrated Comstock
Mine alone. Leaving Reno, We see
the monntains of Verdi and soon
cross the State line and arc now in
California, and have left the sage
bush and alkali fur behind. Follow.
ing up the Truckoe river we arrive
at Trnchec station. Here we are 10
tho valley between tho eastern and
western SUBMITS. Two milos from
here is the wonderful Donnor Lake,
Tahoc City, &c. Leaving Truckee,
VIC commence our ascent of the
Western summit. Up, up, we Glide
along the side of long canyon. We
can SEQ on the opposite side, high
above us, the railroad as it winds
around the mountain and enters q
tunnel. Soon We are up to that
higher point and can look far down
across tho canyon to the spot We SO
lately passed. Leaving tho tunnel,
We see far below US Donnor Lake.
Once more we commence to ascend
another canyon which runs right
angles with our direct course, hcre
running around the side Of the steep
rocky mountain, with Donnor Lake
400 feet below us. We pass thro'
immense snow galleries and rocky
tunnels. The snow galleries are
built Of timbers two feet apart, is
feet high, with roof of heavy planks,
so that the avalanches which descend
from crested peaks are harmless,
The snow covering extends from
Truckee to Blue canyon, distance
Of 35 miles. In many places it il
continuous, but as it approaches the
canyon, only the cuts are covered.
Passing through the summit tunnel,
cut liz solid granite 1866 feet long,
we stop at the summit. Here every
thing is rough, rocky and deserted,
Onward, once moro we descend into
tho valley of the Sacramento, thro
Summit Valley. Here the snow falls
very deep-l0 to Is feet on . level
and in some places 40 to SO feet deep,
The country is heavily timbered nm.
til we reach Cisco. As VIC stop here
you can get q glimpse outside the
snow sheds. Mountains rise on all
sides. At Emigrant Gap We cross
the back bone Of the ridge and an
now on the eastern side. Blue
canyon is passed around on both
sides, so that the track On
the opposite side can be seen ACROSS
the canyon. Passing through o
tunnel wc are in q more pleasant
country and soon pass the line,
below which the snow, rarely, if ever
falls. After leaving Shady Run, on the
left side you will see the forks Of thu
American river, 1900 feet below the
track. Leaving Cape Horn Mills We
pass around the celebrated point, call
cd Capo Horn. As We pass around
the bluff we can see the canyon and
river 400 feet below as. A wagon
bridge spans the river and from It .
road climbs the mountain side to the
mining town of Iowa Hills. Leaving
the Cape, we CROSS . ravine by q Ions
and high trestle work, and arrive al
Colfax for breakfast. Leaving Col
fax, we pass through tho celebrated
Bloomer cut ofcoment, 800 feet long
and 63 feet high. At New Castle
we pass over . high trestle bridge
and catch our first sight Of the Sacra
monte valley. We now leave tn,
mountains and are soon rattling mcr
rily over tho plains. Crossing tn,
long bridge over tho Anferican rive
We see Sacramento with its beautiful
gardens and splendid residences
Stop here, for few moments, We leav,
tho care and walk around to rest our