Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-18
THE FAR WEST.
Robert Williams Sends Interesting
account of His Journey to Washington


account Of His Journey to Washington
Territory.
VANCOUVER, w. r., Jan. ], 10.
Ed. BULLETIN-Dear Sir trust
to your kind indulgence for the insertion
OF Il few thoughts descriptive of my
journey, and the changing scenes Incl
dent to it, from your beautiful and pro-
gressive city of Independence to this
place. We left Independence Dec. 9th
and made the journey to San Francisco
in five and a half days by express, lit
tie over 4 days from Omaha The wea-
Their throughout was very pleasant. /
might say with much truth that the lat
ter city is the boundary of civilization.
for there is no place Of any note between
Omaha and Cheyenne, SIG miles. There
is visible but once in awhile habitation
of a cultivator of the soil. The Great
Platte Valley, which constitutes almost
the entire route between those cities, is
only adapted to grazing, and from all
appearance not that to much extent. 1t
the same was adapted to cultivation, it
would make splendid homes for thous-
ands of families. The L. p Road is
highly favored by a very natural and
easily constructed route throughout its
entire distance. The same is also true
of the Central Pacific for the greater
part of its great length. Even through
the great Sierra Nevadas, the road is
built through natural highway. | did
not perceive any great obstacle that had
to be overcome in its construction, The
greatest, as it seemed to me, was the
long distance to haul their material. and
the necessity afterwards of construct
ing snow sheds After crossing these
mountains the country very suddenly
assumes different aspect Very fine
farming land is often seen. From Sac
ramento to San Francisco it is certainly
the finest looking agricultural country l
ever saw, Iowa not excepted. But it
often unfortunately suffers great disad
vantage from drOuth. There was a great
cry for rain when | came through The
ground was as dry and as hard as barn
floor. The greatest portion of the wheat
sown was up through the ground. There
were some then still sowing and plow-
in"
San Francisco is beautiful city, with
it's splendid bay forming magnificent
view. The great city and its immense
wealth and business is highly symbolic
of American enterprise and the courage
which in its early history encountered
and overcame great natural difficulties.
1t also re-eminently represents at the
present time, in the condition Of its peo-
pie, the two extremes of great wealth
and great poverty. There are more idle
men in it than in any city of its size in
the Union. Though young in years, it
can also lay claim Though unavoidable)
to being as fully developed in profligacy
and crime as many an older and larger
city. | and my family remained there
five days, in which time we availed our
selves of the privilege of seeing its ma
ny resorts of pleasure, works of art, &c
We sailed from there in the Steamer
Ajax, Sunday morning, Dec. 10Th, for
Portland, Oregon. We had very pleas
ant voyage, and made the trip in three
days and half.
Eighteen years had elapsed since !
had left the shores of Oregon and
Washington Territory, and | assure you
that the grand and beautiful scenery, as
it came in view along the Columbia
River, made my heart rejoice. and |
was excited with the further anticipa-
ton of making this most delightful
and bountiful land my permanent
home. The weather since / have been
here has been magnificent Through the
day it is warm and bright, but at night
we have had slight frosts. Vegetables
are yet green in many Of the gardens,
and many flowers are yet in bloom. The
contrast in climate between frigid Iowa
and here is indeed very great There is
a great immi grafton continually to this
section, hundreds arrive by every steam
er. The most of those who come here
are of a good class of people, energetic
and enterprising. The majority Of them
also bring enough means to procure a
home, either by purchase or by settling
on Government land. There is plenty
of the latter, of good quality, to be had
yet This country is yet in its infancy.
Its great resources are but beginning to
be developed The land produced the
past year from 20 to IS bushels of wheat
to the acre, and it is worth Slip per
bushel here now.
| must now desist FOR the present
from giving you any further account, as
my letter is already long enough and
the subject is one that might occupy a
long letter | may at another time give
a more particular and correct descrip-
ton. Very truly yours,
RoBT. WILLIAMS.