The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-04-26
Latter from California.

who is now visiting the Golden State, accompanied
r by her husband Though not intended for the pub
lie eye, it will be found very iuteresting.I-E
PALACE HoTEI- San Francisco, Cal, !
March 25, 1ST7.(
DEAR FATHER We left Denver, Colorado, on
the morning Of March 9, with two inches of snow
on the ground and weather cold. Went up to
Cheyenne, and there took the Union Pacific r. r.
for California. Our trip over the mountains was
very enjoyable We had very pleasant party in
our csr, and with our gude-books, kept trace of
the country and points Of interest, and very often
sat on the rear platform to look at the grand
scenery through which we were passing. We sat
thus, through the whole Of yesterday afternoon.
When coming down 'Echo" and Weber can
yOns the scenery was subIimely grand. Nature
took strange freaks when forming those noun
tains and rocks yet this scenery don't compare
with that Of the same range Of mountains in Col
orado, but l could hardly make those people, who
had seen nothing grander than this, believe it.
Some Of the grades were steep, and we had two
engines to pull Us ny aRl going down they had to
put on al the brakes, and then we went flying.
The builders of this road certainly had 'eye for
the beautiful" as well their own advantage, in
making such beautiful cures. At one place the
road makes a W complete, but that is done by fol-
lowing the windiGgs Of the canyons.
We saw great deal of snow in places, and the
most disagreeable thing we had to encounter was
the snOw-sheds. They are like tunnels, filling the
cars with smoke, and they come SO frequently. 1
had but one fright, and that was when they stop
ped dead still in long SHE'D, 27OO feet long. Of
course we imagined an accident, but we were at
the summit and they were switching off one en-
CINE at SHERMAN the highest point on the road,
or in the world, reached by rail- save one in South
America. Nearly every passenger got out, to pick
up piece of rock, moss, agate, if possible, for
this is a great point for them.
a great part of our journey thus far has been
over a rough, barren, rocky, dreary country Even
the plains are white with an alkaline depOste, over
the face of the ground. Still, through parts of
Wyoming, you see great herds of cattle and sheep
grazing in the valley and on the mountain sides,
many of them poor enough from their winter ex-
pOsure.
On our train was a considerable party of
men on their way to the Black Hills. They all ap-
cared to be armed with carbines. We frequently
passed herds of antelopes and these men were
shooting at them, wOuuding some Of them, and
when they could fud nothing else they shot at the
prairie dogs, as they sat on their little hillocks
ready to dart down into their holes.
But III Utah, "the promised land, we beheld the /
first green thing in nature. The wide valleys are
cultivated the Spring wheat is up and everything |
is green II Was such grateful rest to the eye af
ter the barren rocks and glitter of snow for so
many hours. One would know at glance they .
were in Mormondom, from the number Of little |
houses, OF huts, spread over one farm There is
generally one good-sized one, the others small but
all have yards and efforts at shrubbery and fruit |
trees.
At Ogden we left the main line for Salt Lake,
where we arrived Saturday. the 10th, at z. NJ. and
were driven to the Townsend House, kept by
Mormon of that name. II is a comfortable, first
class Hotel.
Sunday morning we were greeted with bright
sun, balmy air, and withal pleasant day. The
old gentleman the landlord, was introduced to US
at breakfast by the steward with great pOmpOsity.
He has three l5iUes. He excited cur risibles, when
he asked the waiter to Ego to Mrs. Townsend,
(the one in the store-rOou9 for her glasses" He
he had forgotten his own, and could not read his
paper He was very agreeable, offering his servi-
ces to show US the Tabernacle &C. tomorrow,
and 20 with us to church this afternOOn-quite
favor, I sssure you, foE5Nfthout some such inAu-
ence, stranger cannot see all the places Of il
terest.
This is the best Hotel in the city. The Geutile
houses have bars, &C. Mormons neither drink nor
smoke I am told They have everything their
own way here, only 5000 out of 800 0 being
Geutiles.
We took IN the sights before we left, and were
well paid. The city is in the valley, surrounded by
high, snow-capped mountains on every side except
the north, on which side the Salt Lake lies. It is
apparently an active, thriving place. They have
all the modern conveniences Of a frst-class city
here, street-cars water-wOrks, transfer company,
theater, &C, &C. The city is well built.
Brigham 7 Young was not at home, but we were at
his residence; also at the large Zion Store, one of
the largest stone buildings ever saw. The land
lord took us to church, where we heard John Tay-
Tor preach. He is ne of the pioneers Of Mormon
ism. The great Tabernacle seats over p 600 people
After sightseeing and resting at Salt Lake, we
went back to Ogden and took the through line
again. Here we met pleasant family, the CIRCUITS,
from Massachusetts-an old gentleman, lady, son
and daughter. The old gentleman is q wool mer-
chant, who comes here every year. We had also in
our Pullman car Gov. Hendricks, of Ind, our
would-be Vice President, ex-Congressman Cole, Of
Oregon, and other distinguished gentlemen.
We had pleasant trip over from Ogden. At tie
towns the cannons were booming as the train ap-
preached the depot, also bOnfres and crowds Of
people, to welcome the Governor, and send up ,
yell after yell for a speech. He would sometimes !
90 out and talk little, and then again give them
hand-shaking all round. He is still great poll
tician, and is probably waiting for four years to
measure their tedious round, to try again at the
head Of the ticket for President.
Our train was very accommodating, the conductor
crying out at every hour or two, twenty minutes
for walk! :" They wtistled down brakes, and we
all piled out in the pleasant, warm sunshine,
looked at the Chinese at work, and at the Indians
by the score, particularly about the small staons)
seated on the ground or platform. The women
would come round the cars, begging, and for a dime
or nicEle would show their papooses strapped on
their backs. They are ragged and filthy. The
men look somewhat better. Some of them are
dressed gaudiy, in their red or striped blankets
and beads, with an old stove-pipe hat on their
heads. We saw their wigwams and villages along
the road frequently.
The nearer we come to California, the more :
numerous were the Chinese railroad hands, wait !,
ers, &C, &C. We had one in our car, a tea mer- :
chant, quite a gentleman, who was dressed WELL
talked well and plsin,-eydently one of the higher
class.
When we arose on the morning of the 18th, an
entirely different scene met our gaze. We were in -
California, and fast coming down the mountains
An nature was robed in green, the wild flowers
were in bloom, our car windows were thrown up,
aud we found summer upon US. At A. N. March =
IA, we are in the Capital Hotel, Sacramento City.
The weather is delightfully."- warm and pleasant,
though not too warm, but really summer in ap-
like cur June in Ohio.
This is quite a city. The State House is far
ahead of that at Columbus, Ohio It is fashioned
after the Capitol building at Washington, D. c. It
is very fine structure. They have nice parks,
and all the modern improvements of a frst-class
city. The streets are sprinkled every day, and are
kept clean. The front yards are green, with pro-
fusion Of flowers Of every variety. Green vegeta-
bles and strawberries are on the table, and gentle
men and ladies are wearing light summer clothing.
The air is soft, bracing, vitazing the nights are
cool and pleasant to sleep. We have a little fire in
the evenings and mornings. This is a delightful 0
climate. What q change in a few hours!
The Sacramento and American rivers afford fine L
salmon and other fsh. This is a fine Hotel, the
Capital" We shall stay here for a week with our
Yankee friends.
PALACE HOTEL, SAN Francisco, March %.
We arrived here this afternoon, and write to
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