Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-06-20
TOWARD SUNSET.
III.
Omaha q Salt Lake City

fact that you are through with an uninteresting
and unnecessarily prolonged detention, and
partly to the fact that you are now fairly on the
wayto your point of destination, but still more,
suspect, to the circumstaa es that the cars In
which you are seated are a. once elegant and
comfortable, and the road over which you run
is both smooth and clean. Indeed, the whole
trip from Chicago to Ogden, when We made 1T,
might truly be called the perfection of travel
ing. Recent showers on the eastern part OF the
run, that is from Omaha t. near Cheyenne, had
effectually laid the dust, and at the same time
given deeper and brighter green to the fields,
and wonderful freshness and purity to the air.
Then the Pullman cars are, as nearly sll readers
have come to know by this time, literally and
truly palaces on wheels. Unusually heavy and
strong, and supplied with twelve wheels instead
of the ordinary complem mt of eight, they roll
quietly and smoothly along, and one may read
write or converse while under way with nearly
as much ease and comfort as if at home seated
in library or parlOr. And in respect OF clean
illness, also, the ride IL equally remarkable; for
we were not nearly as much annoyed with dust
in the fOrty-eight hours ride between the two
points last named as we probably would have
been at home in Washington in the same length
Of time.
ACROSS THE PLAINS.
Save within the first one hundred and fifty
miles west OF Omaha, the changes observable
along the line of the Union Pacific railroad
since L came over the same ground three years
ago, are not many or marked. Within the lin
its named, and notably in the Platte bottoms
proper, the fields looked greener and the crops
better than then, showing that the land has
been brought under cultivation; and the cabins
Vt the early settlers, those unpretendipg out
posts of civilization, have been extended much
farther out toward the alkali plains Tracts
which were then silent wastes are now occupied
at long intervals by the humble home OF the
pioneer; cattle, sheep and horses are seen graz
ing on the si0ping bluffs; here and there along
the line of the road, and often some CONSIDER
able distance from it. little villages are spring.
ing up, and occasionally the belfry of the school
house or the modest spire Of church may be
the gathering points OF thriving villages vet to
be-. l found houses built and fields broken up
within sections hitherto pronounced unproduc-
tive, both on account Of the nature OF the soil
and want Of water. 1 observed, however, that
rain had latterly fallen quite freely within this
area which used to be laid down as a desert
the settlers in these localities really seems to
verify the theory that the fall Of rain follows
the march of civilization and the consequent
breaking up OF the surface of the country. Ii it
shall be found to be the case, even partially,
then the future fertility Of large portion of the
country heretofore considered barren is assured,
for the experience of the Mormons in Utah,
where the expedient OF irrigation had to be re-
sorted to. shows that water IL the sure DESTROYER
OF alkali, and that the most arid wastes of the
great interior b Isin only need rain or irrigation
TO make them literally blossom as the rose. In
the vicinity OF the mountains where the melting
SHOWS and unfailing springs can be utilized,
irrigation can be relied on, but on the vast
plans iar removed from the mountain ranges.
and without streams Of fresh water, nothing but
the welcome showers from heavens own clouds
will solve the difficulty.
sHRINRAGE OF RAILROAD VILLAGES
Another thing which strikes me strangely on
my present trip is the fact that none or veryfew
Of the villages or settlements which sprung up
around the railway stations shortly after the
road was opened have increased in size, while
while some of them hare disappeared alto
gether. 1t is very likely that the most of these
had Their origin in the building Of lns TOAD, and
in the brisk little trade which accompanied il,
1t was almost certain, therefore, that after the
cause which brought them INTO existence was
removed the progress of most of them would
cease; but still one would suppose that few
might get suf1 Gent start to secure a fo)thold
and at least maintain their own, if they did not
go Toward very rapidly. The reverse seems to
three years ago was busting, thriving place,
AID which expected TO be much more OF q city
i.fter the completion of the railway to Denver,
hes shriyeled up considerably, and I doubt
whether its population is now more than two
thirds WI ii was then. The same may be said
OF Laramie, most beautifully located place.
ana one which gave promise of future size and
prosperity. In fact about the only thing that
keeps these two most important points on the
road from stagnating or drying up entirely is
the proximity OF Fort Russell to the former and
Fort Sanders TO the latter, coupled with the
fact that they are each eating stations for trains
going both east and west.
THE CARBON COAL FIELD.
Perhaps the only exception to the general
decay OF villages along the line of the road is
the station of Carbon. This is the point where
the best coal yet discovered in the interior has
been found, and as the mines are worked pretty
vigorously, the place isimproying quite rapidly,
and promises to become a thrifty and growing
town. And this oaldscovery, by the way ,promi-
res to be enc of most vital Importance, not only
to the railroad company itself, but to the whole
country along Its line. 1t insures at reason
able cost q supply Of fuel for the running or
trains, the operation of mills and mining
m: ;hinery, and for the culinary and heating
purposes Of the farmer and the herdsman. Its
Ia down on the line OF the road between the
mlnes and Omaha at cost OF from seven to ten
dollsrs ton, according to distance. Special
rates are made to settlers, for the purpose of
inducing immigration along the line OF the
road particularly where one or more persons
order q car load or greater quantity direct from
the mines, but whether these low rates will be
continued after immigration has been induced,
Probably not. i may add that the Cen, cal
Pacific road also draws its supply for the Idn-
Mug Of trains, at least on the eastern end of its
here is Ignite, and I am Informed by those
who use it that ii gives good steady heat, and
burns down to ashes clean in quality and small
Indeed, one intelligent gentleman told me that
Tor both cooking and heating 1t answered the
purpose equally well with the anthracite Of the
eastern states.