Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-04-09
THE TRANsANDINE RAILWAY.

THE TRANSANDINE RAILWAY.
sce"cs as,ons the South American NIo~s.
| A late number of the Bucnos Ayres
Standard contains an account of the
proposed great RAILWAY across South
America, which il to connect Chill with
Buonos Ayres. The line will cost $780,
900, and will bring Buenos Ayres and
Valparaiso within forty-eight hours of
each other. The Standard says:
1.-THE Cumbre or Uspallata has al-
ways been the most freqnented pass in
the Andes, being on the main route
from In Plata to Chill, and much inn
proved of late years. The dangerous
snow region is passed in q LAY. From
November to April the road is perfectly
safe throughout. After leaving Mem
doza the road runs about ten leagues
northward by the foot of the Sierra
Paramillos, which attains o height of
10, 600 feet. The ascent to Paramillos
is rough, but not very difficult; at .
height of 10. 600 feet the mind and cold
are excessive. In summer the storms
are frequent and dangerous, but as the
length is only half a league it is quickly
got over.
The,view from the Paramillos ia
bic land is charming; it embraces the
whole Cuyo territory, and you see the
white houses of Mendoza, about twenty
miles southeast. Looking westward
the view is bounded by the giant wall
of: the Andes, with its black peaks
capped with snow. The road then de-
sends into the Uspallata valley by q
until you reach the river Uspallata,
here there is q custom house station.
Copper abounds here, and close to q
smelling establishment is an estancia-
house used as an inn, where food can
always be obtained. The height over
sea level is 5000 feet, and the cold and
wind and SO severe that nobody could
be induced to settle in the proposed
town marked out bygovernment. From
Uspallata to Rio de Mendoza the road
again ascends, by the right bank of the
river, until reaching Punta Las Vacas,
where the defile breaks into three !; the
northern gives outlet to the Vacas river !;
the southern goes towards Potrero and
Tlpungato the western or middle one
is known as Las Cuevas and forms the
road to Chill. An elegant wooden
bridge spans the foaming torrent of
Las Vacas and as We ascend the Cuevas
slope the road widens, becomes
smooth, and is so humid as to support
good pastures. We enter now on the
region of Casuclfas, vaulted brick huts
of ten feet high for protection against
the SHOWS.
The Incas Bridge is about one-third
of the way up the Cuevas valley, and
crosses stream bounded by limestone
rocks. The water is ferruginous, and
the natural bridge much grander than
that of Clermont in France, being
about 65 feet across the chasm, and 50
feet wide, varying from Is to Is feet in
thickness, and forming q beautiful arch
over the cascade of Las Cuevas, the
inner part hung with snowy stalactites.
The mineral springs are two basins,
about 8 feet in diameter, where the
water boils up, with temperature Of
thirty -four degrees, perfectly impid, Of
salty taste but not unpleasant, being
charged with acid of carbon and iron
not unlike the Mont Dor springs in
Auvergne.
II II there were good hotel at the In
. Gas Bridge these springs would sooE
|: draw crowds of people. After this w
ascend Paramillo las Cuevas, which
shuts in the valley, leaving room only
for boiling stream, On theother side
is valley six hundred yards wide,
silent, grassy and fed by the snowl
which last for five months every year,
Black poryphyritic rocks are seer
around, until the pass seems barred by
peak rising some 1000 feet, which We
have yet to CROSS, the Casucha at it,
base being IL 900 feet above sea-level.
A zig-zag path takes us in an hour and
half to the summit, 13, 900 feet, which
forms kind of platform; the view
being bounded on all sides by noun
tains still higher. This is the frontier.
post between La Plata and Chill, the
descent to the latter country being
rapid as we approach the River Of Aeon
aqua, fed by numerous snow streams.
As the ascent from Mendoza to Us.
pallata, for Is leagues, was very gradu
al, the descent to Chill is more steer
and rapid. In six hours we come down
. 7,70O feet by series of steep passages
such as Calavera, Laguna, Portillo and
Juncalillo, which are exceedingly pic
|, turesque. Nothing can be moro wildly
beautiful than the Incas lake with its
.. green placid bosom rejecting the por
> phyry peaks around. The muleteers
say it is haunted, and lights are otter
seen by night fitting across its surface
All this defile is covered with snow in
winter.
|. A Paducah Mule.Driver Plays the
"Pictur Came"
A Paducah mule-driver had an
amusing adventure on the train on hi
way home from Baltimore few dayt
since. Perching himself upon the arm
of seat, he added to the mirth of thu
! passengers by relating his adventures in
Baltimore
"Well, boys, I'm jest from town
sold my mules, and I'm guine back tt
Paduky. Scattering round last night
got lost ; hired a hack, and was tuck tc
the big tavern with marble-slab floor
went out agin and drapped in to sex
the snake show the Snowman tuck me
to glass-kivered case full of watches
and jewelry, aud 'snaked' me out of 6
smart pile trying to win q watch fol
Bet drapped in another place felle1
had three kyards, and bet me q V
> couldn't pick up the one with the pic
tur on it, picked up the wrong on,
every time and lost my pile but II
git even when git home. You sc.
Bill Thomas is counting my sister III
> play the pictur game on him, win hi.
horse, bride and saddle, and make hin
walk home.
Paid four dollars ct the tavern TO,
lodgins three dollars extra for light
tried to blow it out, and then burnt my
fingers tryin to snuff it.
I gave that Teller q dollar for the
three cards, got 'em here. Come, now