The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-31
GInGtstelIigrnrer:
From KhselInr 10 CallfornIa.

We had the pleasure Yesterday Of an
interview with Mr.. J. N. VANCE, in re-
gard to the TIP made by himself and Mr..
L. s. DRLAPLAIN to California. They
left Wheeling on the 2Sd Of June, via
Chicago, and thence jOurneyed via the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
to Omaha. AT Omaha, as most of our
readers know, the Union Pacific road
commences, and 1t extends from there to
Ogden, OF which point 1t merges into the
Central Pacific, and thence continues on
to San Francisco. The whole length Of
the two roads Is 1890 miles, making from
Wheeling to San Francisco some 5000
miles The price Of frat class ticket
from Wheeling taCalifornla Is $lSO-Add
10 this the other expenses Of the journey,
such as meals and sleeping cars, and tho
whole cost Is about $3.50. The trains
leave Omaha once day, about II O'clock
ia the day, and arc well supplied with
Pullman coaches Of the most comfortable
character. These coaches run through 10
Ogden, the terminus Of the Union. Pacific
road, distance Of 1888 miles, and make
the journey in two days and a hall.
Their speed is very uniform, about %
miles per hour, including stops, the track
being in excellent order and the road
straight and smooth. Thej journey is not
wearisome, Notwithstanding the country
Is almost uninhabited for hundreds Of
miles.
The accommodations on the cara are
first. class in all respects, and SO they are
atthe eating houses along theroute. The
trains make frequent stops at the tele-
graph stations and the passengers have
thirty minutes allowed them at all eating
stations. The price charged at these eat.
ing stations Is one dollar per meal, and as
ageneral a thing the meals are as good as
you get along the best roads in this coun-
try. Nearly all principal stopping places
have long reach OF wide platforms at
tached to them, up and down which the
passengers can walk for exercise on get
ting out Of the cars. The cars are well
supplied with ice water, the ice being oh.
tanned two and three times day at the
stations along the road. The passengers
amuse themselves on the cars by reading,
talking, playing, ,euchre or watching the
country. The road Is so free from dust
that they can sit out in groups on the
platforms, uncomfortable chairs, and there
while the time away in smoking, chatting
and other aocial eujoyments, including &C.
casionAl resorts 10 black bottles. The beds
are 80 excelIentin the Pullman coaches,
the seats so well fitted up, the road so
smooth and refreshments so abundant
along the road, that passengers arrive at
the end otthe journey in as good condi-
tion as when they started; in fact, feeling
better in some instances. -
At Ogden, the terminus Of the Union
Pacific, the Northern Utah road, SO miles
long, branches of TO Salt Lake City.
Messrs. VANCE and DELAPLAIN switched
of here and ran down to see the City Of
the Saints. They not only saw the city
and many Of the Saints, but likewise the
old prophet himself, BRIGHAM YoUNe
BE Is now about II years old and quite
feeble, and lives with his favorite wife
"AMRL1A," the other II being lett 10
cherish purely sentimental love at re.
spectlul distance, some Of them being
away from the city in different parts Of the
territory. BRIGHAM Is an animal look
ing old fellow, but shrewd old scamp,
who has made good thing out Of his re.
lIgion, as he Is very wealthy. he is now
building q fine house for AMRLIA and
himself. The Gentiles in Salt Lake say
that AMELIA can get anything sbe wants
out Of him in the way Of favors and al
iowances, but the other wives find It
difficult to induce the old sinner TO dis
gorge enough to supply their necessities.
The feeling between the Mormons and
the Gendles at this time Is quite warm.
Each side is running candidate for Con.
gress, There are two Mormon daily pa
pers and one Gentle daily, and they pitch
into each other without gloves. Many
people have an idea that the Gentiles are
weak and subordinate in Salt Lake, but
this Is not the case, While they are in
the minority they nevertheless assert
themselves with no little vigor. Nor.
moniSm Is known TO be losing caste and
dying out. Its devotees are an ignorant
class OF people, mostly foreigners, and as
they become intelligent and acquire
property, and mix with Gentiles, they
show a disposition to slough of from
Mormonism. The building Of railroad
across the plains sealed the fate Of the
Saints. Their religion can not stand
active contact with civilization. Some
influential and wealthy families among
them, who never were polygamiSts, have
been accommodated because they
wouldnot pay tithes. All Mormons are
expected TO pay one-tenth Of their In
come to the church, and those failing to
doso are excommunicated. This "pocket
argument" assists materially in demoral.
izlpg the strength OF the Saints, and dis.
engages many from the fold who would
otherwise not backslide. Nevertheless,
recruits are continually arriving from the
Old World, consisting Of Danes, Norwe.
gianS, Welsh and EngliSh, and some Ger.