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


come to. The houses are hnilt prin.
cipally ofsun dried brick. Leaving
Weber, We proceed down the VALLEY
several miles, ia full sisht Of the
snow mountains, until We enter the
Devils Gate. Plunging into this
dark canyon, keeping close to the
bank Of tho river, which flows around
Q rocky bluff, the wall rock rising q
Thousand feet high. Out through
the Devils gateway we sec the
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
dcns and orchards, and white noun.
tains in the distant, makes q beauti-
FIJI sight. Arriving at the station,
you change cars for California. Hav.
ing four hours to get dinner and ride
or walk and see tho little grizzley
bear, wolf and snakes on exhibition.
Carriages are to be had at the depot
for one, two or three hours. They
are quickly taken, as Carriage ride
through that beautiful country is q
luxury as we'll as rost. Here YOU
take the cars for Salt Lake, and here
arc seen the Indians Of the Shoshonc
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 20 TO the desolate
Promontory range. At Promontory
the last rail was laid and the last
spike was driven. At Monument
Point we 60 close to the Lake and
have good view oft. We now pass
over Ia vast embarrassing desert
and arrive at Elko. Here coin instead
Of grcenbacks Is used. Elko is the
depot for the White Pine Mining
District. After leaving Carlin, We
pass the Palisades and ten mile
Here o high perpendicular
wall of rocks rise three or four huh
dred feet above tho track, so straight
you may stand on the point and drop
o stone on the roof Of the cars, pass
ing beneath. We follow down the
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 Wadaworth, we cross tho
river and enter Washoe range, which
present some fine scenery. Emery
ing from the canyon, we see Reno,
the gold mines, 20. Eighty millions
Of gold and silver have been taken
out Of the celebrated Comstock
Mine alonc. Leaving Reno, We see
tho mountains of Verdi and soon
cross the State limo and are now in
California, and have left the sage
bush and alkali far behind. Follow.
ing up the Truckoe river we arrive
at Truckec station. Here we are ia
tho valley between tho eastern and
western submits. Two miles from
here is the wonderful Donnor Lake.
Tahoe City, &c. Leaving Truckee'
we commence our ascent of the
Western summit. Up, up, we glide
along tho side of q long canyon. We
can SEQ on the opposite side, high
above US, the railroad as it winds
around the mountain and enters a
tunnel. Soon we are up to that
higher point and can look far down
across the canyon to the spot we SO
lately passed. Leaving the tunnel,
VIC sec far below US Donnor Lake.
Once more we commence to ascend
another canyon which runs right
angles with our direct course, hore
running around tho side of the steep
rocky mountain, with Donnor Lake
100 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, a distance
Of IS miles. In many places it ID
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
the 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 an.
til we reach Cisco. As We stop hore,
you can get glimpse outside the
snow sheds. Mountains rise on all
sides. At Emigrant Gap we cross
the back bone of the ridge and are
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 q
tunnel VIC are in q moro pleasan,
country and soon pass the line,
below which the snow, rarely, if ever
falls. fterleaving Shady Run, on the
left side You will SEQ the forks Of thu
American river, 1900 feet below the
track. Leaving Cape Horn Mills We
pass around the celebrated point, call
ed Capo Horn. As we pass around
the bluff we can see the canyon and
river 400 foet below US. A wagon
bridge spans the river and from It .
road climbs the mountain side to the
mining town ofIowa Hills. Leaving
the Cape, We GROSS . ravinc by q lonl
and high trestle work, and arrive al
Colfax for breakfast. Leaving Col
fax, we pass through tho celebrated
Bloomer cut ofcement, 800 feet long
and IS feet high. At New Castle
we pass over = high trestle bridge
and catch our first sight Of the Sacra,
mento valley. We now leave tn,
mountains and are soon rattling MGR
rily over tho plains. Crossing thu
long bridge over tho American rivel
we SEQ Sacramento with its beautifu
gardens and splendid residences
Stop here, for . fow moments, We leav'
the cars and walk around to rest our