The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-02-15
Letter From California.
OAKLAND CRY, CALIFORNIA, !
.Januorv Is. 1871

january IS, 1871.
ED. STATES d UNION Il have no
doubt, my good, kind Ashland friends,
yourself among the number, think me
very delinquent as a correspondent;
but when I tell you that we have BEEN
since we left Ohio, as unsettled as
"Noah's dove when absent from the
Ark; that my correspondence is quits
extensive, and that my health hae
been miserable, you will ct least make
some allowance for me and pardon my
seeming neglect. Owing to my phys
ical condition at this time, | must ne
cessarily be brief. After leaving u
kind friends in Ashland, we proceed
ed to Bucyrus where we spent a
week with kind relatives. Before
leaving 1 already began to realize the
damaging effects of the efforts put
forth in getting ready for this long
Journey. From Bucyrls we %journeyed
to Newton, Iowa, where have a sis
ter and many other relatives residing.
Owing to the now impaired condition
of my health, and the inclemeney of
the weather, we remained in Newton
10 days. 1 had the pleasure of meet
ing Mr.. & Mrs. Gates, our mutual
friends and former fellow-citizens OF
Ashland county. October 81, we re-
suned our journey; fortunately favor
ed with clear mild weather which con-
tinued until we reached Salt Lake
City, where we tarried 6 days, to at
tend to some business entrusted to us,
and to hear and see what was 10 be
heard and seen of the 'Lattcr day
Saints" On this subject L dare not
enter at this time. Suffice it that l
was permitted to learn from unques-
tionable sources, that which rarely, if
ever ono to the ears OF visitors OF
travellers through tits valley, and
was only more fully confirmed i'll my
previous opinions as to the character
OF Mormonism. 1t is a subject of
great denominations, based on ignor-
ance, superstition and sensuality of
the grossc5t character. Of this L am
well assured, and more l cannot say
at this writing. The City is beautiful.
ly located and in view of all the cir
c~umstances of the case quite credita-
bic indeed to the enterprise and in
dustry of this deluded people. L can
imagine a few weeks or months might
be spent very pleasantly in this valley
in May and June, here Us elsewhere
in our vast country, the NEST pleasant
months in the year. Mines of untold
richness and vast extent have been
discovered in the mountain passes and
gorges surrounding the valley, and old
miners from California, Oregon, Neva-
da, Idaho, Montana and Colorado are
fiocking into the valley by thousands,
making Mormonism to quake and
growl, and filling the treasures of the
Union and Central Pacific r. r with
coin. For sundry reasons 1 have a
| great desire to visit Salt Lake again,
and should l live, may do SO in the
summer. The trip from Ogdon to
Oakland occupied just 2 days, and Of
the entire trip from Omaha to Oak
land I a say we enjoyed it vastly
Indeed those + days form an COASTS
in the past 3 months. The scenery is
so wild, grand, magnificent and pic
turesque. The road bed so smooth
and irm-the cars so comfortable and
magniicent-the company SO agreea-
bic, and the management of the trains
so careful that you experience a sense
Of comfort and safety in travelling oyer
this road that | have experienced no
where else, and you know 1 am an old
traveller. To my friends I can recon-
mend the journey as a pleasure trip
So much for the journey. And now
briefly as to my condition, California,
&e. I'VE received q warm greeting
from our old friends and spent 6
weeks visiting among them; but the
frequent changing of beds, diet. &c,
proved very bad for an old invalid
like myself, and L began to sigh for
the comfort of a quiet home. We
/ rented a house, furnished it very I:um-
bly,, and since the 3Oth ult, we have
been in our own home. The previous
exposure, with the effort of petting
ready for house keeping proved too
much for me, and on the 3rd inst. 1
broke down, and for three weeks was
confined to my room by a severe re-
lapse, but by skillful treatment, good.
nursing, my w grit, and the bless.
ing of God. 1 am now better and hope
to be about again as usual in a few
days. The health Of Mrs. Myers is
excellent.
Yours, &C.,
A. II. MYERS.