Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-25
Letter from California.
NIsALIA, CAL, JAN. lst Is

NIsALIA, CAL, JAN. lst 1870.
We left Omaha Dec 18th, and travelled
in southerly direction over rolling prai-
RE for about % miles, when we reached
the Platte valley; thence westward on the
north side of the Platte river about 2!5
miles to North Platte station, at which
place we found the first bridge of any ac-
count after reaching the valley, land this
was only trestle work about mile in
length and six or eight feet above the sur
face of the water the stream being extreme
ly sluggish and easily forded.
The eastern portion of the valley is very
fertile, producing grass and corn in abun-
dance, but, as you travel westward, it de-
creases in fertility, until, about 800 miles
west Of the Missouri river, you reach land
nearly or quite worthless. This vast field
extending in breadth, in many places, as
far as the eye can reach in either direction,
is mostly unoccupied and entirely desti-
tute of timber save occasionally few trees
on the margin of the river
Westward we pass over a barren, desc
late plain for about two hundred miles,
thence over rolling and somewhat rocky
land for about 80 miles farther when we
reach Sherman, the summit of the Black
Hills and the highest point between Mis-
souri, and the Pacific coast
So gradually did we approach this point
that we could scarcely realize that We were
more than 5000 feet above tide, and as
gently did we descend the western slope OF
about 300 miles to Green river, over roll
ing, rocky prairies and plains covered on
/ ly by low scattering sage brush, and the
mountains in the distance showing no signs
of any living tree or bush.
Still farther westward. until we reach
and pass the summit of the Rocky Noun
tains, the land is one high, barren plain
until the mountains north and south con
verge so that at about 125 miles west O
Green river there is only space Of few
rods in width through which we pass
mountains towering high above us on eth
er hand for most of the way until we reacE
Ogden, the terminus of the L. P r., dis
lance of about fifty miles
Ogden, founded by the MOrmons. con
tains about 5000 inhabitants living in small
low, poor houses, many being not NOR,
than , by 20 feet on the ground and thu
caves about six feet above it Many of tn,
roofs are covered with straw and all 20
up in the very cheapest style. They hav,
a small valley that produces very well b!
irrigation, most of them having from tel
to twenty acres each. One tenth of thei
products goes for the support of the church
Tor perhaps it may become entangled witt
Brigham's deposits in England.
From Ogden to Golconda, about 40
miles, the country presents the same desc
late appearance, except now and then
, scrubby cedar on the mountain side. Here
near the track, Is a hot spring throwing o
steam like boiling cauldron. Near b
is the Humboldt river, on the banks {
which is found some very good grain
land and few cattle are now seen herd
ing in the valley.
About 100 miles west from Galconda W
strike the White Plains, where, for mile
can be seen neither grass nor bushes VOL
thy of mention, then commence some sign
of vegetation, low sage brush and a fe
scrubby cedars from to y feet high an
nearly as many inches in diameter. 4
Reno, about 600 miles west of Ogden, W
strike scattering timber, and from here Ii
trees increase in size and number till W
reach the Sierra Nevada mountains, an
from this point to the foot of the wester
slope there is no lack of timber.
Half way up on the eastern side are me
cutting ice said to be from IS to 20 inch,
in thickness. Snow on the summit is frol
, 6 to y inches deep, and the weather is
cold as a Vermont winters day.
Crossing this range of mountains "
pass under snow sheds for nearly 40 mile
having but poor opportunity to see I'll
country. There are but few heavy cut
but we travel much Of the way two mill
to get one, and, in passing Downer lake, "
go miles to gain one. In less than OF
hundred miles by this circuitous and Ii.
gag route from where men were cutting il
+ at Boca, vegetables in gardens are up
+ that the rows are plainly to be seen fro
! the cars, grass looks green in the ravin'
and cattle are seen grazing in all direction
: In San Francisco business is dull
: nearly all branches. Merchants here sa
d their best days before the railroad crosse
the plains, and many are the maledictiOl
heaped upon that institution.
= Chicago merchants through their agent
: are selling goods here lower forgreenbacl
# than they have been selling for gold.
- We left San Francisco for Visalia, De
24th Vegetation was then about as 70
c ward as it is usually in Vermont by Il
e 10Th or Goth of May
= Yours as ever,
ID NJ 1,1y