Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-07-28
Julesburg,3 400 feet above tide water.

antelope eampering across the fields, also
small animal called the coyote, besides
numbersDf Prairie dogs. To the right
of the railroad is a camp of United States
troops, aid half mile away to the north
upon th heights, the appearance Of
mountedsentinels indicate that we are
already 7ithin the precincts of hostile In
dians. ..a ....... .......
Before noon on this day we are at
Cheyenp, Wyoming Territory, twothou-
sand miss from Rutland, and five hun
dred ant sixteen from Omaha. This place
has an levation of 5000 feet, and is the
largest own on the Union Pacific Rail-
road, wst of Omaha. It's buildings are
mostly,f small dimensions, yet there are
some whose size and appearance are quite
credita1e. A stop of twenty minutes and
we arelgain in motion and run of thirty
three miles brings us to Sherman, highest
point IN the Pacific Road, 8,235 feet
above tide water. From this point Longs
Peak distinctly visible, seventy-fve
miles t the southwest, also, Elk Noun
tain n'nefy miles to the northwest. These
mountfns have an elevation of more than
10,000'eet and are covered with snow.
We soot find ourselves on descending
grade aid are in a short time down upon
the Laamie Plains. The Black hills
are hee distinctly visible, far away
to the nght. These prominences are most
singulaI in their appearance and are un-
doubtedy of volcanic origin. We pass
more tpops. Night draws near and we
soon ri(e on into darkness.
MAY 31.-Two inches of snow this
morning. We are now in land of ap-
parent dessolatiop, though it has been
little better for the last two hundred
miles. Fantastic mountains rear their
heads on every side covered with the in.
termi1 1able sage brush by which we are
every where surrounded.
Wecross Bitter Greek, noted for its at.
tractite qualities, and are moving through
secton of country where the earth is
strongly impregnated with alkali, the in
crustaions of which are plainly visible
for bng distance.
1t is noon. The snow still fingers on
the mountain tops and we move ont into
an open valley. Long ranges of noun
tains far away in the distance with innu.
merable depressions on their sides dark
and deep, scooped out by volcanic fires.
Scarcely tree visible for the last two
days except a few scanty willows and
shrubs along the water courses such is
the general feature for hundreds of miles
This day we pass through Echo and
Weber Canyons. Through the latter, be-
side the railway, rushes the Weber River
swollen by the dissolving SHOWS of the
nj puntains. These canyons are great Gu.
f4osltles, ana pattaAO 4atsv~y 49,.
lime in nature. On either side hang al.
-nne+ pnrpendicular walls of rock rising
from five hundred to u ulIv,.s--a -
presenting to the beholder a constantly
varying prospect. At one time we see
formidable projections standing out from
the mountain side, resembling impregna-
BILE Notifications. Then huge protuber-
ance of old red sandstone with horizontal
strata cropping out. Then deep ravine
reaching far up the lofty SUBMITS nearly
overhead. Then onward we go down a
steep grade and on sign-board conspicu-
ously posted we read the injunction to
the engineer, "Slow, 104 feet to the
mile" AT last we pass out into narrow
valley where, by irrigation, a poor looking
people are trying their skill at agricultur-
al husbandry, with some indications of
probable success. During the afternoon
OF this day we reach Ogden, U. s., where
we find the terminus of the Union Pacific
Railroad.
Below this point the Weber River
enters the Great Salt Lake. After a rest
OF two hours we change to the cars of
the Central Pacific Railroad, and pass on
nOrtherly around the end of the lake.
At dusk we cross Bear River, large
stream discharging its waters into the
lake at this point. A little further on is
Oorinne, Gentle town of some import
ance, twenty-five miles from Ogden.
JUNE 1sT.-Daylight reveals to us that
We have already entered the Humboldt
valley, with towering mountains in the
distance on either hand. We followed
this stream nearly all day, which seems to
Increase in volume for time, but at our
hst view, some distance above Humboldt
Station, it has very sensibly diminished,
and is finally lost in the Humboldt Lake,
which has no outlet.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2D.-At early dawn
Fe are at Truckee, an Important station
lear the summit of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. Here for the first time in the
distance of hundreds of miles we see
timber, and the monotony of
age brush and wild and dreary desolation
3 broken. Soon we are at Summit Sta
ion, 7042 feet above tide water, and 105
niles from Sacramento. We are now in
he snow sheds, which stretch along here
or thirty miles, and on the western de-
livity of the Sierras, with steep grades,
hort curves and multifarious windings. |
1t last we are clear of the snow sheds, |
nd here We come upon scenery at once
ublimely grand and picturesque. On one
and the towering cliffs lifting their lofty
ummits to the skies, while on the other,
nd in fearful proximity, we look down
housand feet into deep canyons and ra-
ines, at the bottom of which we see rip
ling waters making their way down into
he valley of the Sacramento. Thus we
ass on adown the mountain slope, and
DON reach Colfax, distant from Sacrament
D fifty.fve miles. We are now among
he foot hills. Thirteen miles by stage
rom this point carries you to Grass VAL
sy, and fifteen miles to Nevada City, both
important mining towns. Leaving Col
AK, we soon pass Auburn (seat of justice
Or Placer county,, Arcade aud interven-
ng stations, cross over the American
River, and at 1145 a. m we are in Sacra- |