Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-04-22
3fiscellamp.
For the Bellows Falls Times.
Across the Continent.
WHAT HE SAW ANDHEARD.

an hour yourselves before theSan Fran
cisco train would leave. While waiting
we INDUCED in few lux uries at the fol-
lowing prices viz: Cigars at 25 cts. (coin)
each one shave at so cents; one San
Francisco daily paper, at 25 cents. Add
one-fourth to these prices for premium
on gold, and you have what We paid
We thought ourselves prudent, but on
entering the cars, we were S17.25 minus.
We at this point leave currency behind
and take up coin
We left Ogden at 6 o'clock, P. NJ, and
therefore did not have an opportunity to
get good view of the Great Salt Lake
as we passed around the northern portion
of this great natural curiosity during
the night. We pass Hot Springs Sta
ton, Willard City and Brigham City
all Mormon towns and arrive at Corinne
which is the only Gentle town in Utah
Territory. 1t has population of about
$500 and is the center of very exten-
sive trade. Many of the houses are con-
structed of "adobe" yet they are quite
comfortable.
Leaving Corinne we gradually ap-
proach the base of the mountains which
slope near to the waters Of the lake, be.
yond this point we cross Blue Creek on a
trestle bridge 800 feet long and 80 feet
high. After passing some deep cuts and
heavy work we pass another trestle
bridge 500 feet long and 81 feet high
We shall see many of thesethest bridg-
es along the line of the Central Pacific.
We now pass on for perhaps 100 miles
without noting anything of particular
interest until we arrive at the Snake or
Shoshone river, which is noted for its
majestic cateracts. The Great Shoshone
Falls are probably the most interesting,
and are reported to be 210 feet high
The width of the river at this point is
700 feet. The form of the Falls iscircu-
lar, somewhat like those of Niagara
Before the river reaches the cascades il
runs through narrow gorge 1000 feet
below the tops of the bluffs.
Leaving Monument Point eight miles
we approach and pass over the northern
portion of the Great Anne rican Desert
vast field of sand and alkaline soil oyel
which the eye wanders in vain for some
green spot, but all is desolation and q
dreary waste. About 80 miles further
on we are at the nearest point to the "Bo
sic Country" where extensive mines o.
gold have been worked for several year:
and still continue to attract much atten
ton. Rich gold bearing quartz mines
having been discovered since the river
mines were partially exhausted.
To the southwest are the extensive
Owyhee Silver Mines, and in short there
are gold and silver mines of greater OF
less Importance all through this coun.
try. To our right is Pilot Peak. 1t is 8
lofty pile of rocks rising about $500 fee
above the barren sands. Half way from
the base to thesummit thesides are shelly
| ing but above that point it rises perpen
dicular, the summit resembling some
grand old castle when seen in the dis
tance. To the emigrant it was vel
come landmark, pointing his course t.
Humbolt Wells, where he was sure t.
find water and food for his weary team
after crossing the barren waste of thu
desert.
The Humboldt Wells are a great natu
raj curiosity as we'll as Great Salt Lake
There are about twenty of them situated
at different points in the beautiful val
lev of the Humbolt. One of them is sit
uated about 200 yards from the station
which bears their name, and is probabl.
fair sample of the others. They ar
perhaps six or seven feet across them
and the water is still and very clear,
rises to the surface, sweeping off through
the loose sandy loom of the valley. n
bottom has been found to them, althougl
they have been sounded to great depth
They are generally throught to be tn
craters of volcanoes long since extinct
but which at one time threw up this vas
body of lava of which the soil of the ad
iacent valley is composed. Lava in har
rough blocks, lava decomposed and pow
dered, huge blocks of granite and sand
stone in the foot hills are some of th
evidences of an age when desolatio
reigned supreme.
We are now in Navada and app-'acna .
ING the valley OF the Humbols which Il
one of the richest agric,-'ural and graz
ing districts in the state. Deep oiaei
loam soil, moist enough for all purposes
-. This tract of country il
.hout -sc miles long and 10 miles wide
W. JAS down this valley along th'
,anks of the Humbolt river and tht
I train stops at Elko, town of considera
BILE importance, which is principally ow
ing to the White Pine trade, the mine.
/ abovf 1o5 miIeS srufh of Elko-