The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-15
Santa Clara Cal.

Santa Clara CAL.
Feb. I'd, 1877.
w. B. HxRRroTr Esq.,
Dear Sir My rash promises in the mat
ter Of letter writing, before leaving Red
wood, am afraid has opened an unlimi-
ted correspondence for me. unless can
satisfy those promises, with a condensed
Of my trip across the plains,
through the columns Of your paper. We
will begin at Omaha, where we arrived at
1870 a. IN. and found a very busy city,
about the depot Of the U. P.
r. r.. every one, apparently preparing to
60 west on the train which was being
made up to leave at 1918.
After purchasing tickets, checking bag
gage &c, the whistle blew, and, leaving
the ringing or car bells. and din Of the de-
pot, we were of for the Coast" We
then just PILED on couple of seats and
prepared for enjoyment, but must sHy its
not to be found, in the way Of sightseeing,
between Omaha and Cheyenne, at least in
the winter. The road between these pla.
ces passes over rolling prairie very mo-
notonous, which, tc the agricultural eye,
looks better in summer. than at this sea-
son.
As We near near Cheyenne we notice that
the herder gems to flourish and that stoc
is Of more interest to the farmer than grain
raising. The herds were feeding on the
plains. although the snow covered the
ground, with no stables or sheds, in which
to keep them at night; in fact droves OF
them made their bed OH the railroad track,
which cost several Of them broken limbs.
Cheyenne, the 'Magic city of the plains, Il
IS lively place, here We stop 80 min. for
dinner the second day ont from Omaha
and find all the marks of civilization.
Long before arriving at Cheyenne we leave
the farming country in our wake. The
town deriving its support principally from
the grazers.
Leaving Cheyenne we gradually ascend
q rough broken prairie, off to our right the
famous "black hills" but directly ahead
Of us in the dim distance, stretches chair
of mountains from North to South where
the rocks are still higher, the peaks more
rugged and pointed, which we find on
consulting our guide, are the Rocky Mts
and inst here we must confess, we lacked
that feeling Of ave which it is the duty Of
every tourist to experience; upon viewing
the ''back bone Of the American continent y
the sight of which, our geographical re-
searches fought us would make the mos,
unromantic breast respond.
But we pass along stopping every or IL
miles, at small towns butt and, you may
say, supported by the U. P. R. R.
The snow in the Rocky Mts. is not much
deeper than in Mimi. but the air was very
sharp at Sherman the highest point oye,
which the road passes.
At Carter we first saw Piute Indians, who
certainly merit all that Mark Twain wrots
Of them and their filthiness /, they ar,
great beggers, and the way they scrambled
for bread, thrown from the car,window, wa
funny. Fifteen miles from Carter is Leroy
a side track where '.Old Burns" Of Ranch
fame resides; his herds are valued at from
@2O0, 0O0, 90 to $500, 10000. They are sci
dom seen by him being in the care o
herders, his more Immediate business i
charcoal burning.
We are now descending into the Grea
Salt Lake valley, down We go through
Rcho Canyon rassingsscenery most majestic
first. Castle, then Hanging and PULPIT
Rocks.
At Rcho City we enter Weber Canyon
where the sides Of the gorge are still steep
er, and higher and the rock more project
ling. The principal points Of interest i,
this Canyon are the Devils Slide, tn
thousand mile tree, and DEVILS Gate. Al
ter leaving Weber Canyon ws ''pull up
at3Ogden . mormon town Of some note, ant
the junction Of the N. P. L c. P. B. r. =
Here We change cars and stop 80 min. 70
supper.
Again We are under way the road run
ming at the base Of the Wahsatch Mts. 70
some distance.
Soon We begin TO ascend, gradually q
first, passing miles Of snow-beds and tun
nels, the long snake like train trailing II
apparently weary form up the mountai,
side, until we arrive 1t Summit statiol
on the highest railroad point Of the sierr
Nevadas, elevation 7,017 feet above se
level: here We pass through snow fror
to Z feet deep. The next:point Of interea
made was ''Cape Horn" which We rounde
about O'Clock A: n. halt was called
where the mountain sides were steepesl
we0alighted, and viewed ono Of theerand
est sights on the continent, not forgettin
the skin Of the engineers that built the roa
here in mid-air. This is ''THE scssE" I
the trans-continental railroad. &
At Cape Horn we have passed below th
snow limits, and the air Is much milder.
We are still descending, going down
down, down, 20 fast that II seems q 4 th
heavy train has left the tract and Il dyjn
through the air: soon We burst into th
American valley. where the grass Il il,
starting, still down We go, and still the d
becomes milder. We are now fairly int
the farming lands Of California, where ID
wheat and oat fields are green and every
thing looking - Il does in Mimi. in May.
At Sacremento we stop for refrrshmentl
but soon move on down to Miles where Y
who LETT Omaha together parted company
the subscriber taking ths Southern Paeia
B. +. for Santa Clara. WIN writs agail
giving California; items and prices.
Yours Truly,
Rol'r A. WIEsoa.