The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-09-30
UTAHLETTER.

) We must not forget to say few words o
Omaha. 1t is situated on the western bank Of
the Missouri river, on a sloping upland about
30 feetabove high water work. 1t is thriv-
ing, growing city, of twenty or twenty five
thousand inhabitants. The city is scarcely
fifteen years old yet Inaugurating the U. r
R. R. has given it a great impetus, and it,
growth is almost without parallel After sec
ing the sights and partaking of very fine
dinner, al. the Wyoming Hotel, at the expense
of the citizens, who rendered hospltalltes to
our party, we are ready to be of, at P Il,
via U. ?. r. r., on one Of the company's well
furnished trains, which, for comfort, surpassed
anything in the way of travelling, that have
ever seen. It was composed OF tive of Pull
mans Palace Slcepers, and under the special
care of Beverly A. Keim, Assistant Gen. Pass.
Agt, of the road, who left nothing undone by
way of az ling to the comfort of his passengers.
We are nov II the Platte VaIly, which ex-
tends for several hundred miles, and is a
beautiful level prairie, interspersed here and
there by small elumps of trees. At some future
day it will make a very fine farming as well
as grazing country. Forty-six miles west Of
Omaha, we arrive at Fremont, town of two
thousand inhabitants, with several fine church.
es, school houses, Jail and court house (the lat
ter two more useful than ornamental, 1 should
Judge from the surroundings.) 1t was over
this route, up this valley and stream, that so
many emigrants tolled in earlier times, before
the rail road destroyed the OK drivers occupa-
ton. Once the south bank of the Platte was
one broad thorough fare, covered for miles
with long trains of emigrants; now, on the
north side of the same river, in almost full
view of the old emigrant route, the cars are
bearing the freight and passengers rapidly
westward, while the oxen that used to trail so
wearily along this route have been transform
ed into "western veal"
But we have been riding very rapidly, and
are now at Big Springs, three hundred and
| sixty miles west of Omaha. We now have
passed over the best OF the Platte Valley.
| This station derives lis name from large
| spring the first found on the road, and pro-
ducing a liquid, once used as a drink, but now
almost entirely out Of use in this place. Six
teen miles further west, and we halt at Jules
burg. At one time this town contained four
thousand people, but is now nearly deserted.
Sydney, forty miles to the westward isa small
peace OF some note. The company have
round house and machine shops here. Five
hundred and sixteen miles, and we stop at
! CHEYENNE City, which contains about three
thousand inhabitants. At one period this
place contained six thousand people, but as
the road extended westward, the floating pop
ulation followed leaving the more permanent
settlers. At one time Cheyenne had more
than her share Of the roughs, gambling, steal
| ing, ''smiling in hell holes" where the "wages
of sin" was "forty rod" whiskes. When these
formed vigilance committee, who started a
little game Of tying the leaders by the neck, to
cottonwood limbs,in in order to get up and appe-
tite for meals, and in a short time roughs were
scarce.
From Cheyenne we made detour of a
couple hours ride, which brought us to Denver
City containing about five thousand inhabi-
tants, situated one hundred and ten miles
south of Cheyenne, in Colorado Territory, on
Platte River, about thirteen miles from the
eastern base of the mountains. The noun
| tains extend north and south as far as the eye
can trace their. rugged peaks, the highest of
which are Longs and Pixies Peaks, which are
visible from here in clear day, This bids
fair to be a great rail road center, at no very
| distant day. The Kansas Pacific is completed
from Kansas to this point; which, with the
Denver, Pacific 81 Colorado Central Roads,
gives it some advantage over the neighboring
cities, as a rail road town.
On our return to Cheyenne, we must not
forget to make a note OF Greedy City, which is
located on the south bank of the Cache la
Paudre River, in the midst Of a fine grazing
country, and contains some fifteen hundred
inhabitants The colony was organized by q
New York Company, consisting of Cameron,
Greely and Fisk. The first house was built
in June last.
Five hundred and forty-nine miles, and we
come to Sherman, the highest point on the
road, it being eight thousand two hundred and
fortv-tyyo feet above the level Of the sea. Near
this point, we cross Dale Greek Bridge, net
ted frame work six hundred and fifty feet long,
and one hundred and twenty-five feet high,
spanning Dale Greek from bluff to bluff
Forty six miles beyond, and we stop off for
breakfast, at. Laramie City, town of not
much Importance. Near this can be seen the
old emigrant road across the mountains. Aft
er leaving Laramie, we move on quite rapidly
1t needs but very little steam Sto propel the
train, and as the stations are all small, and of
little note, beyond Laramie, 1 forbear COM
ment.
Rawlius, Bryan, Wasach, are all regular
eating stations on the route, which we were
pretty sure to keep track OF, always being on
time when the train halted.
Ogden station is ten hundred and thirty
two miles west of Omaha. This IS tie point
agreed upon as the junction OF the Union IL
Central Roads, the companies have a union
depot, freight house, round house and machine
shops here, and it is regular eating station.
The city has 4 population Of about five thou
sand, the Utah Central r. R. connects here,
from Salt Lake City. The road is thirty-six
miles long, owned and controlled by the citi-
zens of Utah Territory.
As we travel over this route, we have a fine
view of Great Salt Lake. The road bordering
it for twenty miles or moro. The waters OF
this lake, are SO exceedingly salt, that no liv-
| ;ntr tbin,r cau eSist Therein
After ride of tlyonty hundred and fifty
eight miles by rail, we alight at Salt Lake
City, and after partaking of a sumptuous din
ner, served up at the Townsend House, we
are ready for a stroll over this famous place,
which we find to bo a beautiful city, well laid
ont, the streets crossing each other at right
angles and well irrigated from the mountains
streams 1t is situated at the foot of the
Wasach mountains, the lofty hills forming the
bacl, ground. Piles of snow can be seen at a
distance of ten OF a dozen miles, in the gorges
where the warm sun has not the power to
melt it. The principal material used in build
inc is stone and sun burnt brick. The streets
are laid out wide and regular, and a clear
stream of water runs down on either side,
which, with the shade trees, fine gardens, &C.
gives the city very fine and inviting appea-
rance. The Tabernacle is an immense struc.
ture and is the first object you behold, when
approaching the city. Its immense bell shaped
roof, has the appearance of 4 large hill, rising
above the trees. The building is oblong, and
extends two hundred and fifty feet, from east
TO west. and one hundred and fifty north to
south. is sixtv-five feet from floor to ceiling
with roof finished in one unbroken arch, form.
ing one of the largest self-supporting roofs on
I l. II,,sr- - Il