The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-17
OUT WEST.

OUT WEST.
SKETCHES BY THE WAYSIDE-SACRAME
TO ClTY-wHAT THE CENTRAL PACIFIC
RAILROAD HAS DONE, AND IS low DO
ING.
Special Correspondence Of the VIRGIN1AN.
At junction, thirty six miles west Of Col
fax, we bid aGieu to cur acknowledgements
who are bound for the northern portion oil
California or for Oregon. and then 20 on to
Sacramento, the capital city Of California
Remembering the dire fluctuations through
which this place has struggled, one almost
wonders how her citizens have retained the
enterprise and courage which must possess
them, else they would have been borne
down by their ofs-recurring calamiti S.
Fires have burned her to the very waters
edge, and in turn, the waters have almost
swept her from existence. Large sums OF
money were spent in the construction OF le-
wees, only to see them washed away streets
were raised several feet above high water
mark, yet when the heavy SHOWS of 1878
melted and found their way to the rivers,
the water crept to the streets, washed away
everything within its reach and turned high
Iy cultivated farms into primitive sand lots.
But the work OF reconstruction was taken
up bravely and still greater barriers to the
treacherous waters were constructed, so that
to- day Sacramento fondy believes she is Sc
cure from all attacks. Beloved by her peo-
pie, they boast of her loneliness, her wealth
of handsome shade trees, her broad streets
and elegant homes. Fruit trees and flowers
are found in every garden, and an air of
quiet prosperity pertains to her people,
They point with pride to their fine school
buildings, their churches and substantial Blu
siness houses. and then lead their visitors up
to the State capitol dome and show them the
broad valley stretching out for four hundred
and fifty miles. 1t is landscape worth
climbing to see. Off to the northeast.
the Sierra Mountains stand boldly out
lined against sky as blue as ever Italy
could boast; the hot summers san may be
parching all the valley, but the topmost
mountain peaks only shine the whittier be-
meath its rays, for they wear their covering
of snow perpetually. Cultivated fields meet
the eye in every direction, fruit orchards,
groves of shade trees, broad stretches of veg
eable gardens, viney ards-all have their
place in our picture. Large fiat boats lie at
at anchor, receiving or discharging cargo,
while the river steamers are preparing to
start on their way down the stream which
adds so much to the beauty OF this valley. as
it goes on forever toward the ocean. At our
feet lies the city, every deformity hidden
by the foliage of shade trees. We NJ tie
her substantial business houses, her numer-
'ous public buildings, her church spires, aud
the railroad buildings which cover acres Of
ground. Construction and repair shops.
rolling mill, round houses-enough to fur
nish employment for fifteen hundred or
more men, who. with their families, make
quite an important factor in the business Of
Sacramento, for no doubt most of their ear
nings find their way to the merchants and
grocers Of the tLwn. In addition to this, the
materials for use in the workshops call for
neavy expenditures, and presume it is not
an over-estmate when say the Central Pa
citic Railroad company pays ont in Sacra-
men:o, in single year, two millions OF dol
lars, for in the year 1877 the cost of repair
ing cars alone was s769,3l3, and there were
built new during that year one hundred and
thirteen cars of various descriptions.
The hospital building erected here by the
railroad company, at an expense of some
thing like 900, furnishes home for any
of it's employees who are sick or receive in
juries. Good physicians and surgeons are in
attendance, comfort is secured by airy, ant
well ventilated rooms, and an extensive library
furnishes entertainment for the GONZALES
cent. Each employee Of the road contrib
utes very small sum each month--fift,
cents, think-and in return is sure of
home when he is on the invalid roll, Who
of US would not gladly pay six dollars
year, and know that small sum insures u
medical attendance, nurses care, and .
home if we need them-especially in view
OF the fact that California law gives nurs
twenty dollars per week, and gives the pa
tient no guarantee Of her ability.
While in the city Of Savannah, Georgia,
noticed an odd structure which seemed t.
have no connection with its surrounding
and excited my curiosity sufficiently to caus
me to approach colored man and ask hin
about it.
''That thar, missus, is whar de gubmen
OF Savannah strains an cultivates de ribbe
water afore da gives to de peoples for t
drink" he replied. do not know whethe
the river water is '.cultivated" here as il
that beautiful city Of the South, but 1 be
lieve the main supply comes from tina
source.
Large tracts of what is known here a
Tule land are to be found in this vicinity, a
we'll as in many other portions OF the State
although every year more and more of then
are being reclaimed, chiefly by "Chines
cheap labor These lands are covered wit
a dense growth Of bulrushes which grow t
a height Of ten or twelve feet usually tn
land is so situated that it is flooded when th
streams of the mountains are raised by tn
melting SHOWS, but strenuous efforts, backe
by State aid, are being made to reclaim thes
tracts, and, if the land sharks do not gobbl
them all up, they will furnish farms for.
large number Of families. A great man
people cry out against purchasing lands c