The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-05-19
ON TEE WAY TO THE PACIFIC.
SALT LAKE CRY, May 9th, 1871.
FRIFND Jo157r- Ann RAND.

from home, and arrived at the City Of Ghica-
go enjoying ourselves as much as possible on
our pleasure trip. will try to give you a
slight sketch of our journey so far, which was
indeed very pleasant. must say I had quite
an erroneous idea of the great praries of Hi
nois, and the state in general The land is
much better and settled far more, with better
improvements than I expected to see. From
Chicago we rolled along at the rate of about
40 miles per hour, through the fine state of
Iowa, which has as fine and as rich soil az any
country that I have passed through. The
country is new, but from appearance is set
Ting very East. One can constantly see new
farms started, and very many have moved into
this part this spring. By the many beautiful
scenes along the road, our thoughts were
somewhat attracted from the many good
friends we left behind and all of whom we
hope to see again.
We crossed the great father Of waters, the
Mississippi river, Tuesday evening at six
o'clock, winding our way across the valley
about 20 or 80 smiles, then down to Rock
Island, where the Government is putting an
arsenal and has built a dam across one branch
of the river, making probably one of the finest
water powers in this part of the country. We
arrived at Omaha, at eleven, went and paid
Mrs. Lane a visit, and Johana, now Mrs:
Downs. who are living here. In passing
down streets (which by the way were very
muddy, owing to heavy rains for few days.
who should meet but Mr.. George Garfield,
looking quite well, and I think very much i'm
proved. I assure you it was quite gratifying
to meet friend from home so far away, and
after seeing none but strange faces for few
DAYS. But what change here since 1 first
crossed the plains, 81 years ago. Where
Omaha now stands, there was not house OF
a sign of any improvement at that time, now
a city of over 25.OOo people But this Is moth
ing compared with the great R. R. line across
the then perfect wilderness
Thursday morning We took walk upon the
top of hill, called Government Hill, where
once stood the capitol of the State of Ne
braska, which has been removed to Lincoln,
about 70 miles from here, on the U P. R. R.
In the place Of it is being built High School
Building, to cost about 10000, dollars. Here
we had a beautiful view of the whole City,
including the great bridge being constructed
across the Missouri river ct this point II
will be 70 feet high, and the foundation is
from 65 to So feet deep, through sand to the
rock. 1t will cost two and half millions
when complete. The foundation is made OF
round iron tubes, eight feet in diameter, in
sections, sunk to the above depth. also saw
Mr. Charles Burdick, who is stopping here
with his brother-in-law.
At twelve o'clock we started on our long
journey for Ogden, Sc miles from here: Pass.
ing up the great Platte river bottom about soc
miles, as level as floor, and rich beautiful
land which is being settled very fast, thous.
ands of migrants, having settled this spring.
This with the exception of timber, is as fine
farming or grazing land as can be found il
the United States, but when one leaves the
Platte river bottoms, the country is mostly
barren Of either grass, wood or anything
else to make it desirable, there not being any
rains for many months in the year. We fol-
lowed the old emigrant road, up the Log Pole
Greek, for $50 miles. This is another beauti
full valley, bounded with tolerable high coun.
try on either side, where recognized many
old land marks, that saw in 1850, when go.
ing to California Here we saw thousands Of
of antelopes, some wolves, but no buffalo:
along the road. They say there are any
amount Of them back in the hills few miles
from the road. Antelolopes were very tame
Great many droves would stand from l to {
hundred yards from the cars and look at ui
pass, till the train would get by, and the1
they would rake for the hills with all the
power they possessed. They can run as fast
as q train goes, and in some instances where
they were running the same way as the train
they would often gain on US. But it seems SC
odd to see such vast country, so barren ot
timber, not even a bush Of any kind some.
times for two or three hundred miles. 1 am
afraid 1 am trespassing upon your patience
writing about things that may not interest
you very much, will pass along TO the
places Of the most Importance
Passing many of the old points that rec
ognized having seen twenty-one years ago, II
seems like dream. Cheyenne City is the
first large town and the largest place between
Omaha and Ogden. Trains stop here 90
minutes for dinner (and must say here, that
you can get as good meal along the road as
any place in the country it being one of the
regular stations, the elevation of the road is
6,04l feet; distance from Omaha SIG miles
here there is branch road to Denver CITY
Colorado, 10 miles; Cheyenne City is situated
properly speaking, in broad open plain, moi
a stick of timbes or a tree in the vicinity
Here we have the first view of the splendid
snow mountain, off about $50 miles distants
and Pixies Peak about 200 miles, which ce-
be seen very plainly The streets presen-, q
lively appearance, and one feels as though he
was in civilized country once more. They
have two papers printed here, one a daiIy
The railroad has its machine shops here
From here we wind our way through the plain
to the next station of importance, Red Butts.
elevation 1886 feet; this is named from the
red sand stone bluffs or hills, which have been
washed and worn away by the elements, until
In places they rear heir peaks from 500 IN
1000 feet above the plain, and present all
shapes and figures imaginable, some might be
taken for ruins. but the grandest scenery
upon the route, so far, is Bolder Echo and
Weber Canons. The first and the last mem
toned 1 passsd through once before: but the
grandest of all, and the grandest sight I ever
saw, is Echo Canyon. This has more than a
local reputation. The left hand side attracts
little attention, compared with the opposite
side walls of solid mass, and walls of broken
masses, walls Of sand stone, walls Of granite.
rise far above us, and shut from our vision
whatever lies beyond. The beauties of Echo
Canyon are so many and so majestic, that If is
little use for me to try to give any description
Of it. But it is grand beyond description.
The only difficulty is, that the cars thunder
along among those red rocks, whose towering
openings in the Wahsatch Mountains. gave #
the name it now bears, and one can not see
half of the beautiful sights. We run here
about 70 miles, without the least bit of steam
power, the grade being so descending that all
of the breaks have to be tightened, more or
less all the way. 1t is one of those great
wonders of nature. We saw one place where
I remember having camped out on our over
land trip, at the mouth of Weber Canon, in
the Salt Lake Valley. We arrived at Ogden
Saturday, or this evening, at ID O'Clock, P.
NJ, and started at IL for Salt Lake City,
where we are now.
This morning, May 7th, we had the honor
to hear the President of the Mormon Church,
and Salt Lake Valley preach In the Tabernacle,
which seats about 1000 persons. They have
got new one, which they only use in extreme
warm weather, and on extra occasions, that
will seat 1900 people. This is really a beauti-
full place hemmed in by snow capped noun
tains on every side and they say in about or
10 hours walk, they can find snow from so to
100 feet deep, on the mountains in July or
August. The views are magnificent beyond
description. have asked several as to how