The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-18
THE EXCURSIONISTS
An Interesting Letter from
California.
Description of the Route,
Scenes and Incidents.
San Francisco, CAL, May 9

| for California on the afternoon OF April
Odd, and arrived at San Francisco on
the lst of the present month in the
afternoon. We were nine days out and
spent one day at Chicago, one day at
Omaha, and one day among the Nor
mons at Salt Lake City, leaving six
travelling days for a distance Of 5000
miles. We passed over the entire route
without missing single connection, or
meeting with the smallest accident. We
often inquired during our long and
tedious passage, and every time we were
told that the train was on time. This
implied degree of system and care in
the management of our railroads that
commends the route to the traveller
Throughout the entire ride we all felt
sense of security that /, at least, never
felt in journeying before.
THE neutrality-suspicious.
In its entirety is one Of the greatest
physical achievements OF the nineteenth
century. During much the longest por-
ton of its course, it was comparatively
easy of construction. For hundreds,
almost thousands of miles, it is built
through level country. From Omaha
to the first range of the Rocky noun.
tains and the Black hills, the route lays
up the Platte Valley for distance of
nearly 1000 miles and is level. BY an
easy grade, not averaging more than
sixty feet to the mile, and the steepest
not exceeding one hundred feet, we
ascend these hills, or rather mountains,
to Sherman, $40 feet, the highest alti-
tude reached. After leaving this point
we descend to the Laramie Valley, and
though we are still at an altitude rang
ing between six and seven thousand feet,
the road is constructed for hundreds Of
miles over dead level country until we
reach the Washatch Range. Weascend
over these through canyons (Which l
may inform you are nothing but open
ings through the mountains for the pas
sage Of streams), and by grades so easy
that we scarcely realize that we are
overcoming such difficulties as the
Rocky mountains, to reach the great
Salt Lake basin. Through this, follow
ing the course of the Weber river, we
travel over another stretch of level
country for hundreds of miles, then
ascend for a short distance a.spur OF
the Washatch mountains to reach the
Humboldt river. Along the stream we
travel until weary Of the amending level
road for other hundreds Of miles, and at
length reach the Sierra Nevada noun
tains. 1t is here that the great Difficult
ties were encountered in crossing the
continent with railroad. Although
we have travelled about 100 miles from
Omaha, we have yet passed but two tun,
nels that | have any knowledge OF, and
neither OF these was over few hun
dred feet long. Others may have been
passed whilst we slept Thus far the road
has been built by easy mountain ascents
through canyons and over level plains
with far less difficulties of engineering,
labor and cost per mile than the Baltl-
more and Ohio Railroad.
THE SIERRA NEvADAs.
We made the ascent Of the Sierra
Nevadas during the night. In the
morning we awoke on their SUBMITS,
having attained an elevation Of 7OOO
feet. Here we were among the snow
sheds, and in the midst Of mountain
peaks, covered with snow the year
round. 70 reach this point some tun-
neling was required, but none OF the
tunnels we saw equaled in length those
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and
thew were much fewer in number.
While coursng round the SUBMITS Of
these lofty peaks we encounter scenery
grand and majestic beyond description.
We soon begin to ascend and are
whirled through succession of scenes
that neither language nor painting can
portray. Here the mountains for miles
are torn up by the diggers in their search
for gold We witness the operation OF
digging, washing and collecting In every
stage of the procedure. Canals, artlfl-
cial acqueducts and immense iron pipes
all for the transportation OF water, cross
the gulches, ravines and hill tops 10
every direction. AS we descend, He'll
Gate canyon in the distance bursts on
our view, grand, gloomy and peculiar,
ftly named, for its wild and wierd-like
desolation awakens thoughts Of that
other world. We at length reach a
point called Cape Horn. Through
the region we have been passing the
construction Of the road has been most
difficult, requiring engineering skill OF
the highest order, as well as undoubt-
ing faith, undomitable energy and perse-
verance. 1t is not the height attained,
for this is more than 1000 feet greater
at Sherman, 10 which point the road
was easily constructed, but 1t IS on &C
count of the rough, rugged and irregular
character of the Sierra Nevadas and the
absence of suitable canyons.
The road is constructed on the edge Of a
precipice round the mountain sides,
down which you look distance OF
1000 feet almost perpendicular, to the
American river below. The train delays
here and gives the traveller an oppor-
tunity to contemplate this scene, prob
ably one of the grandest on our cont,
nent. 1t was an exclamation [ heard
uttered by more than one person. that
we were compensated for our journey
Thy this sight alone. 1t would be pre-
sumptuous to, attempt description.
The road still pursues tortuous course
through defiles, around mountains and
over ravines, rapidly descending, but by
an easy grade, think nowhere reach
ing 500 feet to the mile, to the Sacra'
mento Valley. Here the transition
made in two hours from frost and snow
to sunshine and perpetual verdure il
magical and must be realized to be un