Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-19

X. X. East OF White Water-A Rail
road ride of 2I6 miles through San
GOrgonia Pass by Daylight and Out
| on to the great Colorado Desert-A
Pleasant day--and Generous HOspi
taiity OfCOI. L. L. Eewett, Gen. Supt
On Thursday morning as we were
meandering down to our sanctum we
met Col. e. Il. Hewett, Supt. of the
s. P. r. r. He kindly extended to us
an invitation to accompany him to
the scene of operations at the Eastern
terminus of the railroad east of San
Gorgonia Pass. We made hurried
preparation for the trip and started for
the Depot, where we found all things
ready for start. AS we steamed out
through Alameda street and across
the river to the rolling hills beyond
we were escorted by Mr.. Hewett to
the passenge. oach fthe train where
we quite unexpectedly met pleasant
party of ladies and gentlemen who
had also accepted similar invitations
to ourself. The party consisted of
Col. E. L. Hewett, Supt. of S. p. r. r.,
wife and family, Miss Garrett, Mr.. G.
A. Robinson, Chief Auditor of S. p.
r.. r., and wife of San Francisco, Mrs.
$. w. Knapp, Miss De La Guena of
Santa Barbara, Hon. Y. Sepulveda,
Judge of the District Court, and Mr..
VIM. Hridham Agent ior Wells Fargo
G. Na
over the fertile valley of the San
Gabriel and on toward the San Ber-
nardino range. Arriving at Cotton
about noon our train stepped to allow
time for the transaction of some busi-
ness with the agents of the Com
pany, and while the gentlemen of
the party were temporarily absent
from the car the ladies took occasion
to arrange a table by reversing the
seats of the car, upon which they soon
had a most sumptuous lunch spread.
The announcement went forth that
lunch was ready, and soon the party
were doing justice to the hospitality
of our worthy Superintendent. Lunch
over, the order was given, "All
aboard" Conductor Loner gave the
signal to start,and in another moment
we were putting away, making the
ascent of the San Gorgonio Pass,
through which we passed some weeks
since on former visit. The summit
reached we begin the descent, passing
what is called Halls Comb. Just on
the Eastern slope of the Pass the
scenery which presents itself to the
traveller is both grand and thrilling.
The snow-capped peaks of the San ia
cnto mountains towering up on either
side, impresses one most vividly with
the littleness of the works of man
compared with that of the great Crea-
tor. On, still on, we are speeding to-
wards the great desert, that scene of
all that is desOlate and uninviting,
the silence of which, before the whis-
tie of the locomotive was heard there,
was most oppressive. At last we ar
rived at the front, where we found q
bustling scene inde,d. Gangs Of men
plunging through the sanu, making
road-bed almost as fast as one could
walk; Others following along with ties
and rails; cars arriving laden with
the material for the extension of the
road on toward and to the Colorado
river; all hands working as though
for dear life, preparing the great
Southern highway across tie conti-
nent Col. Hewitt having announced
our time being up, we We're soon COM
fortably ensconced in the mfortable
passenger coach of the train and COM
menced the ascent of the Eastern
slope to the summit, retracing
our journey through the Pass.
We had the pleasure of seeing
San Jacinto at sunset, glo-
rious sight indeed-thence down
the western side into the valley be-
yond and to Cotton. A moments stop
page there, and again we are offsteam-
ing away over the broad fertile San
Jose Valley, at a rate of speed that
would indicate that the locomotive
itself had become inspired with the
pleasures of the trip. At 1880 p. NJ.
we reached the Depot of the s. P. R.
r., in this city. The party, were
somewhat fatigued from the long ride,
but all expressing themselves as hav-
ing passed one of the pleasantest days
within their recollection. And GER
tainly having made one of the longest
journeys by rail ever made In South
ern California.