The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-06

ately With the great Nevsda desert. which
extends well-aigh to the California line. a
man who has not seen It cannot realize I" the
abomination Of desolation - it represents.
For hundreds and hundreds Of miles it pre-.
scented one unyarying scene OF sand and little
brown, sage bushes except where even the
little sage bushes could not grow. surrounded
by barren, cherries hills as innocent Of vege.
tation as granite boulder. The blasting
curse of heaven seems to rest and abide on
this whole region. But when we entered
what Is called 1.-The Desert" near Hum
boldt lake, In Nevada, we found 1t desert
indeed. No vegetation appears at all. The
alkali spews from the soil, whitening 1t as fur
as the plain extends. The winds howl over it,
cutting seams aud filling up ridges here and
there the rocks look like the dross and refuse
thrown from IN iron furnace; the hills and
mountains are covered with black volcanic
rocks, which appear to have been rained
upon them from some unknown source
while yapors, as if from boiling pots, ascend
contnually from the neighborIDg water
"sinks." | bad heard or a " valley of the
shadow of DEATH" but never expected to
see its picture so soon. One passenger from
Arkansas) remarked to me, "Virgipa, the
devil is very npur this place." / replied that
his abode was certainly in the vicinity. Be-
sides this, no scenery on the road is equal to
that found in the mountains OF Virginia.
Weary days of travel brought us into the
bounds of California. We entered the State
about night, and light dawued on US at the
sweet little village of Auburn. The flowers
and trees were in bloom, and the hills and
wales clothed in Gerdure.
The lands and the scenery improved as we
4 Il IL acta do ~ ~
we entered Sacramento. This is one OF the
most beautiful cities ever bebeld. Wish
had time to describe it. Here ne took a
steam boat and came down the river 140 miles
to "Frisco" 1t was
4 DELIGHTFUL CHANGE
from the cars, and the balmy atmosphere
and beautiful scenery of the valley were like
medicine to the weak and weary soul. The
banks were lined with pretty farms and resi-
dences. Cattle browsed upon the thousand
hills. Fine orchards and nurseries abound
ed. We saw, moreover, much OF the re-
suits of piscatorial enterprise along the
Journey. At the different stations the
fishermen would throw on board the re-
suits of their mornings catch. By this
means about thirty five sturgeon and thou
sands Of California salmon, weighing from
twenty to twenty-five pounds apiece, were
piled on deck for the San Francisco market.
The dinner on the boat was superb. Every
thing eatable was at ones bidding; but l
confiued myself to fresh California salmon.
Now, am satisfied that this fish, served up
| with the proper condiments, is unsurpassed.
IF my friends J. A. CoWardin and Zetelle
could once get bait Of it, they would aban.
don their predictions for young sharks, aud
and would talk salmon the balance OF
their allotted time on earth. l never
believed much in that shark story
any way. Those two gentlemen CON-
bined 10 produce q sensation on that subject.
and but TOR this writer might have succeed
ed. Well, to SUN it all up. we reached
..Frisco" last night at 8 O'Clock. Met many
and various Virginia acquaintance to-day.
So far, everything is lovely and the goose
hangs high" The climate, so far as l OBJ
serve, is not superior to that Of Rich nond.
| was warned to-day by nm acquaintance who
has lived here for many years to dress 10
thick flaunels, next to the skin, all the year
round. With best wishes for my blessed
old mother State and the good friends have
lett, and | LETT Gf l may so inelegantly eX'
press it) like cat pulled by the tail across Il
carpet-catching with every claw am,
yours truly, A VIRGINIA IMMIGRANT.