The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-03
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
| , RICHMOND MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
NOTES OF WESTERN TRAVEL-TIiE
CITIES AND THE SCENERY-CENTRAL
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
rCorrcsroudcnce OF the Richmond Dispatch.1
SAN FRANCISCO, October 10, 1878.
Here / am in Frisco, and according to
| promise want to tell you something about my
| triD from ocean to ocean. So bcwlldered by
the VARYING and novel scenes of the past few
DAYS. that, like child turned loose in q
candy-shoD, scarcely know where to begin.
First, let me qire you piece Of advice As
an evidence of my lberality. Whenyou come
| West avoid the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
| if YOU value your comfort and life. The
raDid succession of short curves, heavy
grades, numerous tunnels, with the effort to
make fast lime. produces sensations unlike
the rcposc on bed of rOscS-unlcSs the
tborns be unusually sharp. Instead of reach
inc Cincinnati at p. NJ, $50 that could so
to the Exposilion) the hour Of II had arrived
when weary and dusty / was landed at the
| Gibson House, in the midst of heavy rain.
| Having to leave early next morning, the
ONLY pleasant impression OF the place was
the meeting of our old friend Scarlet, who
! is fat and flourishing.
| 7 spent few hours in Indianapolis, and
availcd m, self of the opportunity to visit
| the State Fair-''a right nice show, as the
citizens termed it. thought ii poor dis
play. except of manufactured articles, many
of which were of eastern make. The swine
department was we'll represented by call
sorts and Sizes" with their hair trizzed, tails
artistically curled, and holes in their ears !;
| but, queer enough, the rings were placed IN
| their nose. One monster OF tue Poland
China family. two and a half years OF age,
| weighed cieren hundred pounds. Ills eX-
hibitor said there was enough lard in his
| tail to last an ordinary family for twelve
months: but think be must baYe been an
Israelitr, for should say Lord (arG have
mercy OH that family!
next stopped day in Denver, whare i
was most Hospitality entertained by pro.
| tessonal br0ther-an energetic young man
who located there about eight years ago,
with IN empty pocket but brave heart, and
is now doing Il cash practice OF fifteen Mou-
sand dollars per annum. This city, as you
remember, is the county-Seat OF Arlpaho
county and the capital Of the territory.
1t is situated on the Platte river, at the juno.
ton of Cherry creek, six thousand tcetabovc
the sea. fifteen miles from the eastern base
of the Rocky mountains, which protect it
from the gales of winter. The mountains
extend north and south as far as the eye can
trace their rugged height, and are rich in
mineral wealth. The highest points, Longs
Peak to the north and Pixies Peak to the
south, are in full view, towering far above
the tops of the surrounding mountains.
An open, rolling country surrounds the
city, being the outer border Of that vast plain
Which stretches away to the Missouri river,
six hundred miles to the eastward. Denver
is built up mostly OF stone and brick of the
best quality, produced near the city. The
population has doubled in the past three
years, and is now over fifteen thou
sand. It has eight churches, four Ma
sonic and four Odd-Fellows' lodges, ample
common schools, aud hosts of bar.rooms
and dance-houscs. 1t has four fiourishing
daily papers, thirty hotels, four banks, q
United States mint, and five railroad
lines, with fine water and gas-works, street.
cars-in short, all modern improvements.
1t is the money-centre Of the mining inter-
ests of Colorado, and probably represents
more wealth than any city OF its population
in the country. Thirtysix hours Of travel
brought me to the Mormon capital, where /
spent another day in rest and sightseeing.
This is a beautiful city, situated at the base
of the Wahsatch mountains-thel lofty range
forming the background. Piles of snow can
be seen in the gorges-for though the noun
tain peaks are bare in summer, these narrow
detes retain their icy treasure throughout
the year.
Far in the distance extends the beautiful
valley and lake. The city is laid OIL at riSne
angles, with wide streets, bordered WIN
shade-trees, along which flow a clear, cooi
stream of water, which, with numerous gar
dens, gives the city delightful air OF comfort
and GOODNESS. Salt Lake City is noted for us
delicious fruit-apples, peaches, pears-ano
since the discovery of rich silver mines near
the CITY, the population has rapidly IN
creased. and now exceeds twenty THOUSAND,
with energy and enterprise manifested 10 all
directions. Brigham Young with bis seven
teen wives, fitty-four children, and thousands
of followers, with the great Tabernacle. the
" Temple of the Lord" now building, and
their peculiar religious faith are all objects Of
interest: but as so much has been written in
regard to them, l will not 90 into details now.
Two days aud nights more aud the lights
OIL SaH Z IuHStoSo StSaAASu dpOu W. oSlOao
the bay like SO many stars, for the night was
clear and balmy; and In few moments
more was comfortably quartered at the
Occidental Hotel.
The journey across the plains soon be-
comes monotonous, as for miles and miles
nothing can be seen but the vast ocean-like
prairie stretching far into the distance
bounded only by the horizon, with not
a sign of water, tree, bush, Or evidence of
animal life. Occasionally saw the antelope,
wolf, jack.rahbit, skunk, prairie-dog, prairie
chicken, &C., but no buffalo or elk made
their appearance. The travelling per Sc was
delightful, everything being done to pro.
mote ease and comfort. The roads were In
excellent condition, and being for the most
part level, the trains glide along at the rate
OF twenty miles an hour fthe average time,,
and bears the relationsto the fierce and rapid
rush of an eastern lightning express that a
geutle and easy amble does totatrough aud
joltins horse. "a
YSl can talk, read. write. play cards, or
sew with comfort, and the days pass plea
sanity by. The twilight is delightful por-I
tionSof the day, being much longer than in
the East. aud when 81
The day Is done, and the darkness
~ Falls from thewtGgs Of night, - IL
$500 Asa feather A. waited downWnrds !.a
s>..e2@1 FROM AN eagle IN his night,n ca
we croul info oi,r Jitf,a hods rrn,,, all;