The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-07-27

Tue shores of the Great Salt Lake are
covered with a white iucrustatiou,
caused by the evaporation of its wa
tors. This luke is slowly dtying up
and Mt some future day will become T.
part Of the desert basin surrounding
it, Sage bushes is the only living
thing to be secn, and that is wiltcd
and looks even as if it were dead at
this time.
In about twelve hours the desert is
passed, and the appearance Of life
again gladdens the eye. Springs are
seen bubbliug up in the valleys, and
around them reeds and grass growing
luxuriautly. The hills are dotted
with pines and ccdars, which furnish
fuel for the engines on this part Of
the route.
We are soon entering the canon of
the Humboldt River, q small rapid
current.
This canon in grandeur of scenery
even surpasses those already nell
toned. 1t is more fertile, and has also
the river to add to the Impressions
produced on the bcholder by the cliffs
The railroad runs along the margin of
the river for many miles, following it
i'll its tortuous course, and often times
doubling on itself
Down this canon the train dashed 4,
turning short curves, and rounding
sharp points, at the rate Of twenty
five miles an hour. On one side was
the river, on the other bluff or pre-
cipice hundreds of feet high. some
times so near the bank, that the road
had to be cut in the sidc Of the cliff.
Just such place was the "Palisades."
On either side was precipice. The
road was cut in the side, beneath
overhanging rocks from which small
fragments are falling every day, The
mountain can almost be touched by
the hand. Were largo boulder to
come down, laundering on the track,
while the train is beneath, you may
imagine the consequences. The "Pali-
sadcs" is one of the most dangerous
points on the whole road. 1t derives
its names from its resemblance to the
Palisades Of the Hudson.
We next passed through the new
State of Nevada, containing some of
he richest silver mines, in the world
1t is being rapidly settled, chiefly by
miners and graziers. From Reno, a
branch extends to Vir..pia and Car
son cities, placee cnalfSsss.ns from ten
to fifteen thousand inhabitants each.
A great many Indians are seen here,
but, like all the Pacific tribes or s'dig-
gers" they arc miserably filthy race !;
but they are harmless.
At Trackco we cross the line and
are in California. We are now as
cending the Sierra Nevada. Here
for the first time on the route, majes.
tic forests of pines are seen, covering
all the ridges and ravincs.
On account of the elevation, snow
here in sufficient quantities to impede
travel. TO guard against this twenty
five miles of continuous snow sheds
have been constructed at great cost,
over the summit Of the ridge. Tho
danger of inconvenience is chiefly
from the drift, and, therefore, where
ever there arc heavy falls OF snow,
snow sheds and snow fences have been
erected. Ga the entire route there
are thirty-four miles Of sheds, besides
many more miles of fences.
In the winter of 1868 train was
showed in for several weeks, and all
the passengers oame near starving
This year, however, provisions and
fuel are carried on every trim, but
oven these have been unnecessary as
the sheds have prevented anything
further than q temporary detention.
After passing Summit, there is a
continuous descent for about thirty
miles, and through this distance the
oars arc run entirely by the brake
men. .nt
Although the shods cut off from
view most Of the scenery, yot, that
which can be discorned, ia we'll worth
seeing. High ridges rising one above
the other, and separated by deep ra.
vine, on tho very brink of which the
oars run. Lofty anG lordly pines and
cedars appearing like so many col
umns; and sluices are running in
every direction, conveying the noun.
tain stream to the gold mines beneath.
On the California side, oil was life
and beauty. The climate was mild j.,
and for the first time on the trip, rain
was falling. Evsrgrcens were grow
ing everywhere, and grass and weeds
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