The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-05
Prom wheeling to San Francisco.
SALT LAKE. CRY, April %, 1871.

After arriving ut Omaha (the point from
which last wrote YOU we added five
more, bht were disappointed in obtaining
the sleeping car We haG telegraphed for
and compelled to lie over until the next
day train; however through the kindness
and courtesy Of Mr. l.. II. Bennett, Gen.
eral Agent Of S. p. Car Co., who placed
the magnificent car "PlAttc Valley ut
our disposal, we replenished our lunch
baskets" and "all aboard" welcil Omaha
at l24 =. NJ, 2Gth. You are familiar WIN
the country between Chicago and Omaha
Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, NcO.'
are on opposite sides Of the MlSs9 ,TI j
river, and are botIr growing cities. Inc
ANNOYANCE and dclayOi crossing the Ms
souri, river By terry boat, will soon iDe;
rrmovrd bv Inc construction Of u splendid
bridge, built Of iron, the movahles and
bottom Of the Missouri river, Is overcome
by fixing in the river piers formed OF a cast
ir,n tube, in sections 10 II long and o. It in
diameter each end closed Gr.tight;; the air
is then pumped ont; the section put in
position and sunk by atmospheric press
ire 10 the surface Of the water, another
section boIled on top and sunk until it
reached the rock bed below. Now, it is
filled with concrete and ready for the
superstrlcturc. 1t will cost two millions
of dollars. We are passing west over the
rich, rolling prairieS OF Nebraska. We
are on an ascending grade through the
whole length Of the State, our course be-
ing chiefly along the valley OF Platte
River Plains. Yes, that will do, for your
vision is bounded by u horizontal level all
around y0u-gEass below and sky above.
The pixies Peaker" who passed over
them had plenty Of time to fix up golden
visions before arriving ut the farther end.
The Platte River is about one mile wide;
has bank OH one side, and that is q
J!uB-looks like fine navigablc stream
for u Miage. In summer you have to
dig n well in its bed to find water.
Now we have arrived TO over 1000 feet al
titudG. Occasional patches otsnOw have
afforded our party Il regular pitched bat
tic Of snOw.baIling ut ArChcr's Station.
Long Peak and SnOwy.rangc are distinct
ly visible away oil in the southwest,
about 50 miles distant. The country over
which we have passed is remarkable for
its pasturugc, being ranged by large
numbers Of cattle, requiring no housing
except the broad canopy above. We
have also seen large numbers Of antelope,
prairie dogs, and immense numbers OF
buifalO-tracks. We arc ut Cheyenne, Il
military post, and the station is surroun-
dcd by the "bOys in blue" 1t would re-
Quire acOlumn 10 describe the $50 miles
Of bOundess plain over which we lave
lust passed, april 80 The Platte val
Icy in richness and extent is well known
to the CmigrGnt and Pixies Peakers
Our lines OF travel have been Otter
parallel. The pLiiI for the last so miles
| is. that known ns the alkaline plain.
Sweet grass and cactus abound. Bones
Of animals lie thickly over it. Now We
rise to Sherman, the highest point, S,24.
feet THIS rugged, rocky place commands
u fine view Of Longs Pcak-away dowI
u miles TO the sOuthweSt-;whitc lis
snow, and at least 5000 feet above on
present route THIS country abOUnds in
wild animals; among them tho cinnamon
bear. We did not sec tho latter individ'
ual, but gGZCd II moment on his huge
tracks in the snow.
Our next point Of interest is Laramie
Plains Before reaching these We passed
through the snOw.shcds with which every
cut must he covered, to prevent the DRIFT
ing snow from filling up the track. IOr
appear To be passing through Il row u
sllanties with very steep roofs. A line o
heavy fence is often substituted for the
sheds
Laramie plains is belt Of grazing
land, twenty miles wide and sixty long
thanked on either side by mountains
Every five or six miles alone the road
you sec u hOVW about as big ms one OF Oul
coal houses, banked up half its hcightll
with earth, often without windOw-and
Il piece of stove pipe stuck out Of the
root for chimney. The owners horse,
il at home, stands saddled at the door, this
is the herdsman and like that individual
il old, keeps u constant watch on his cat.
tie, which dot the plain by hundreds. lie
is rs sharp as tack on the prlce OF beef
intends 10 make money, aud has sure
thing There is no doubt that he
can successfully compete with Texas OF
any other place. His estimated cost of
grazing steers is one dollar per head, that
is to iat stock cattle for the market.
We occasionally see Il PawncC warrior
along the road, followed by his SQllaw.
They formerly occupied this part OF the
country.
The soil of, the plain is strongly i'm
prcgnNtGd with alkaline salts, which,
when dissolved in sufficient water, pro.
notes the vigorous growth Of the grapes
After the water has svNpOr0tcd, thick in,
crustations are left on the surface. lfthC
season should be dry, it becomes Il dust
not ut MI agreeable to the traveller. We
are now in Wyoming Territory. WO'
mans rights are respected here. They
vote, sit on jurics, etc. will do anything
but-hold the baby. The first female
jury sat here, in n cdse Of murder, bring
ing in righteous verdict Of murder in
the first degree. The culprt was finally
sent to the State prison for life. A vol
ume would not contain n fair account Of
the resources of this Territory.
n light is coming, and | must close this
pencil sketch. "SpEC."