The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-20


bles, grains-all growing thriftily. provln
beyond question, that water can restor
even this seem ingy accursed soil. Humboldt
potatoes always command the highest pric
In the San Francisco market, and they grow
right here to the tune Of two hundred ant
fifty bushels to the acre. Water for irriga
ton has been brought from the mountain
at a heavy cost, but the returns are als'
heavy.
While we sleep our train will go dowr
into the valley Of the Trucku, pass numer
Gus stations, and every one with mines ir
the vicinity-among them some OF sulphur
SO extensive that question whether wan
to make my home in Nevada in Sthe last
days." II We made the trip by daylight we
should see the outlying mountains, the long
stretch Of sage bra h among which herds Of
cattle are feeding and now and then an In
dian riding his pony at hreakneck speed In
pursuit Of game. at most Of the stations
there would be nothing to interest, one must
break away from the main line and find the
way to the farm houses and mining camps to
understand the resources Of this country
but we should see the mountains approach us
more closely, as we should see deep canyons
immense boulders, aud streams Of pure wa
ter which flow on and on, and finally lose
their way and disappear in some stretch OF
sand.
We pass Reno, young enterprising town
with good churches, schools and an ncreas.
ing business, the diverging point for pessen-
gers bound to the big bonanzas TAT Virginia
City. Our visit there we will postpone, for
we can't make fortune If we go, dear read
ers, and, caught in the maelstrom of stock
pool, we might never find our way to the
Golden Gate.
The most indolent passengers rise early
on this, our last morning on board the cars,
for we are now in the midst of the grand
scenery of the Sierras. Years ago I read
Clarence Kings thrilling letters, descriptive
of explorations made in the Sierra Noun
tains. Accustomed as was to the long
chain OF mountains In the Atlantic States,
broken only here and there, could hardly
comprehend the dangers and difficulties he
described but my first trip across the con-
tinent made it all plain. for here each noun
tain peak rises ION it's own hook" asserting
its own individuality. There is no clinging
together as if to form an impregnable bar
rier; on the contrary they set like gigantic
cones of sugar, big and little mixed together
with deep yawning canyons between, In
these canyons are farms, and there, with the
everlasting hills overshadowing them, men
and women are busy weaving the web we
call life. How eagerly we watch the dawn !!
On one side of US the mountains tower on
the other there is a canyon which seems to
nave no bottom. We try to clutch at the
green trees we pass, so glad are we to again
behold nature clothed and in her right
miEd. On we go, our train making quick
time, down the mountain side, but we have
no fear, for accidents are almost unknown
on this road, and we know nothing is left
undone that will ensure safety. At last we
halt; we have reached Cape Horn. the
grandest triumph of engineering skill on the
road. Here the mountain was found too
high to climb over, to broad to tunnel, and
the descent to the valley below too abrupt
to be thought of. 1t seemcd'as if nature had
placed boundary line which plainly said
''thus far and no farther shalt thou go.''-
But these men of nerve and determination,
who, having put their hand to the pillow look
ed not back, only bent themselves with
greater energy to the accomplishment OF
their purpose.
With ropes, safely held in firm hands above,
about their bodies, engines crawled careful
ly down the steep mountain side and staked
the road. Then laborers followed, one by
one, as room was made to stand. and at last
broad road bed was made and the IRON
horse went on. Down, down in the valley.
the American river winds about looking like
small brooklet, the distance is so great.
Near house in the valley we saw. through
our opera-glass, two cows; little girl
standing near US, looking at the same objects,
exclaimed: 80, Mama, Mama, see those
pretty little kittens -
gradually descending. until on trustle work,
a hundred feet high and eight hundred long,
we cross the canyon and land safely on the
other side. This little town is our breakfast
station, and perpetrates ex-Vice President
Celfax's name. From Reno here we have
descer ded 2OS6 feet, and we find the air
balmy as June. After the sage bush of the
plains, the alkali of the desert, the snow OF
the mountainous, the change is indeed
delightful. The luscious California grapes
which are for sale are eagerly sought, and
strangers are also as eager to possess them
selves of the mammoth pears which they
find as palatable as raw Irish potato.
Hydraulic mining prevails largely in this
part of California, and miles of fumes and
race-ways are constructed to carry the water
which is thrown in a powerful stream upon
the points where gold is found. Gravel,
sand, gold-all come down together, fumes
carrying away the detached masses while
''riffies' catch and retain the gold. Look
where you will, for miles, you will find the
desolatiDg marks which result from this
tearing-down process. Banks which have
been assailed and have proven too poor to
pay working, stand like desolate, abandon
ed houses. could read whole sermons
from those forsaken mounds, but sermons
are not now in order.
We forget the desolatien when we see the
lovely village of Auburn, and ride on
through the green fields beyond. We begin
to realize that We are In the great State of
California, immense tracts of land are I'M
der fence, cultivated fields meet the eye, and
beneath the genial sun whole acres of wild
peoples have blossomed, so brilliant in color
it seems as if the gold which refused to come
forth at the miners bidding, has drifted
down from the dreary mounds and taken
refuge in the flowers. TRUFAx.
Out West, March 1, 1878.
Senator Jones, of Nevada, and Blaine, of
Me-. visited the Tobacco Exchange at Rich
mond, Va, Saturday last. by invitation. and
delivered addresses which were we'll receiv-
ed. Senator Blaine said he had opposed the
reduction of the tax on tobacco, but he was