The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-06
For The TrrlI " 7
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.


MR.. EDIToR,-It was only about seven
miles down Little Cottonwood canon, Utah,
before we came to bare ground, where
mild zephyrs famed our cheeks and the
songs of birds were once more echong
amongst the trees; and few miles further
down in the valley, green grass and the
farmers following the plows, seemed to us
like magic. Only three hours before we
were travelling over twenty feet of snow,
where the keen winds from the North
seemed to belle that it was possible for SO
great change in SO short time and dis
lance, yet such was the fact. When we
took the cars at Sandy station, on the S.
L. 2. r. R., we were in great state of
Precipitation, although those living in that
vicinity thought it cool. In due time we
arrived at Salt Lake City, thence to Ogden,
a Mormon city, containing about 400 inhab
itants: where the water is so impregnated
with sulphur that we could not drink it.
The next day we arrived at Corinne, the
only true Gentle town in Utah, containing
1000 inhabitants, who are at present very
poor, inasmuch that the mice so about
with tears in their eyes, and if we had re-
manned there long we should have been
ditto. The L. P. R. r. Co., contemplate
making that vicinity the terminus of their
road. If so, those people will crawl out of
their penury.
From the last town referred to as far
West as the Humboldt, the Toano range
Utah and the Humboldt (Nevada) noun
tains, with their valleys, present to the eye
a similar panorama. Rain but seldom falls,
and it's being too elevated for irrigation,
will therefore never be of any use to Uncle
Sam, except for grazing close to the noun
tain streams. The only thing indigenous
to the soil is sage brush, for hundreds of
miles it covers the vallies and high up the
hills or mountains. The water level or
line is visibly seen, and many of the hills
appear to be conglomeration of boulders
and sand, showing inevitable proof that it
was formerly covered with water, and the
very hills look as if there by streams run
ming into this once great lake or sea. The
humboldt River is very small river, only
about 90 or 80 feet wide, emptying itself
into Humboldt Lake, OF sink close to the
C. p. r. r. In its vicinity are few white
families engaged in agricultural pursuits,
and the Pi Utes Indians inhabit those
parts in fantastic array. West Of the lake
are the White Plains, or desert, deriving
its name from the white limestone, sand
and alkali, wherein are the hot springs,
notwithstanding the water Of those springs
comes to the surface, an artesian well 800
feet deep only found surface water about
mile from there on the railroad.
In due time we arrived at the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, which is between 1000
and 5000 feet, where are snow sheds for
nearly 80 miles, the trains
would be blockaded like unto the L. p. R.
R.,-think of being In place like tunnel
for 80 miles, yet we were glad that we
were, else we should have been put on hard
tack. Just as we began to ascend the range
the American River presented itself to our
view, away down below the track-I should
think /, 800 feet-enough to make one gid
DIV headed to read about it; however, l
looked and saw waterfalls leaping hundreds
of feet into the torpid stream below. In
its neighborhood are the gold mines. Val
leys and hills are turned upside down by
manual labor, even close to, and under the
turn of Dutch Flat for the precious ore
Journeying on we soon caught a glympse
of what an old .fortv-niner called Gods oacn
land AS far as the eye could reach the
renowned Sacramento Valley was to be
seen, Just at the time when the great red
sun was fast descending beyond the Coast
Range leaving reflections Of rainbow hues
on the glossy LGsQm Of the Sacramento
River, where, OH each side TOR scores of
miles is valley, or plain, rich as those
which greeted, with its fertile loneliness
the eyes of Lot; waving wheat and green
grass, like you get in May, with flowers of
every hue pertaining the breeze. Oh, for
a longer nGses
Still traversing through this delightful
region we finally beheld the twinkling
lights of gas in the distance, when in a few
moments the iron horse neighed, and in
pops the conductor shouting "Stockton!''
This city is situated on the San Joaquin
River, pronounced San Wakeen,) equal in
fertility &c the above mentioned valley; in
fact both might By termed one. After we
got West of Utah the greenbacn ceased to
be-ten per cent taken off-went somewhat
against the grain, but we were forced to
succumb to.it, and now we are basking in
the land of gold and silver, and you ought
to hear it jingling; also, when we retire to
hear it 60 down whack " on the floor;
and what fun it is to see them trickling
about. A $40 greenback turned into coin
makes the possessor feel that he is as rich
as all .Hermany.