Litchfield enquirer., 1870-03-24

AtGranite Canyon. we find extensive. atone quarries, from which I learned the principal warehouses of Cheyenne were
 built. We now enter cuts some feet
 in depth, which are protected from drift
 ing snows by stone walls, and board fences
 some five feet high. It seldom snows to
 exceed five inches, but the winds sweep
 across the plains for miles, and fill cnts of
 this kind. These fences extend for miles
 through these deep ravines and cuts. The
 country presents wild, grand appearance,
 the level ground and little vallies covered
 with grass and occasionally with stunted pines, while in clusters, high, bold masses
 of granite rear their gray and reddish sides, piled one on the other in wild con-
 fusion, to the height of hundreds of feet. Sherman is at t1ength gained. We are now at the highest point reached in crossing the Rocky Mountains, 8.235 feet above the
 level of the sea, 549 miles from Omaha. and ]. 1.22O from Sacramento. To the south
 west, now plainly visible, are Longs and Pike's Peaks, some 65 miles distant. cov- cred with high and jutting rocks, clad in snowy robes. This is town of little inn portance, and trains usually stop only a few minutes, but owing to "hot journals, " the nuisance of travellers-we staid two hours. When we had received permission
 from the conductor to be absent that long,
 off we started. We had not proceeded far, when we, or some of us, found our selves ..short of wind," the ightness of the air trying our lungs to the utmost ca pacity. But, in short time, most of us recovered. Although the plateau is cov- cred with grass and small stunted trees that greet the eye, the snow- crowned hills, and feeling of utter deso- lation and isolation renders this place one of awful grandeur. After rambling about among the rocks and chasms, we return to the plain. where we find countless varie- ties of flowers of every hue. was told that the streams abound with trout; the valleys and gorges, with elk, bear, grouse. &c. Surely, this place will become a sum- mer resort for lovers of nature.
 After partaking of some fine trout at "Uncle John's." we were soon laundering along to Deer Creek Bridge; of wood work, $50 feet long, and 126 high, spanning the creek from bluff to bluff The stream looks like thread of silver below us, as it wends it's way to the canyon beyond, whose dark walls look at us frowningly in the dis- tance The scenery here is strikingly beautiful, and so in contrast with that part of the road over which We had passed, that all are in ecstacies. We are now, as the California friends express it, "on the oth- CT side of the, hill" They are nearing their beloved State, and are supremely happy. The grade is such that steam is not really necessary to prqpel the train. .and we glide swiftly along under the guidance of "down brakes" We now come in sight of the old Emigrant trail, which recalls to our friends memories many narrowing tale of horror and suffering. We are now approaching Laramie" passing along by sandstone bluffs. that have been wash ed and worn by the elements, until in pla. ces they rear their peaks some 1,500 feet above the plains, in wild, fantastic shapes. It was amusing to bear people speculating about their various shapes, imagining them forts, castles, churches, &c.,, Dave" re. marking, 1" he wished all churches as de. cent as they are, and that the precepts of Do unto others as you would be done by, and Love thy neighbor as thyself,' were more generally adhered to-" &c.,, Sc. As it was Sunday, we denominated it :" Our Sermon on the Mount" It was long Sunday, some 28 minutes over "A hours, but not long enough for once. You must remember we are travelling towards the west, and it was amusing to observe the expressions of the travellers for some of the first few days, when comparing their chronometers with Station time. There was only one gentleman who relied upon his watch, and he was from New Jersey. His agreed with western time all the way, and although some dozen of us tried to ex- plain the matter, we could not; he either was stupid, or else We not very intelligible in our explanations. You can't get such nonsense into my head; if we keep on go. ing from New Jersey making time. we will get saround home the same morning we started. "&c.-reasoning good on his part. The same question has puzzled many head not of New Jersey origin.
 Passing " Fort Laramie" we soon reach Laramie City. where we dine once more upon mountain trout" and venison steaks. "The city" is small one; in fact, twas tame compared with the mountain scene- ry, and had no particular interest in it, except feeding the "inner man." Lara mic plains are said to be cone of the best stock sections in the country" We hear that said of all these plains, and surely they are deserving of the honor. The Urasa 0nd oan oral ornaoronnn ,R 4L~ 1o~al