The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-13
something besides develop mines. Manu-

something besides develop mines. Manu-
factories were very few and feeble, and TIN
man who had undertaken to build the roat
from California eastward had no way to ge
one pound of railroad irun or single piec'
OF machinery except by bringing it from
New York, around Cape Horn, six months
journey. Then, too, building railr DAD across
the Sierras was feat requiring not only
wonderful engineering skill but vas
outlay Of money. I am told the com
pany's bill for powder alone exceeded
$4,000 in single month. They had moi
only to blast out the obdurate granite rocks
and construct miles Of tunnel, but they
had also to erect forty-fve miles of snow
sheds at cost Of ten thousand dollars pei
mile, to protect the road from the SHOWS
which every winter pile in to depth OIL
twenty or more feet. 1t was stupendous
undertaking and the grandest achievement
In the way of railroad building in the en-
tire world.
Leland Stanford, the president OF the road,
and those intimately connected with him in
its construction and operation receive any
amount Of kicks and curses, as all successful
men must consent to do. No doubt, as a
powerful corporation, the Central Pacific
railroad company is grasping and sometimes
merciless corporations are apt to be cast in
the same mould, and this is probably no ex-
ception to the general rule but for one, l
am glad to see these men enjoy the great
wealth which has come to them from this
road. The venture they made would have
crippled their energies and consigned them
to poverty, had it failed of success; having
accomplished their aims, they become pub
lie benefactors and are entitled to their re-
ward.
| might tell you all about that glorious
railroad wedding on that tenth OF May, when
east and west clasped hands and the whole
continent reioiced. But that is history now.
perhaps familiar to all, so we will follow the
star of empire and westward take our way.
| Leaving Promontory we pass on over
barren alkali desert. Lonesome looking ham
lets, out of which the dust seems to have
checked all life, mark the hating places OF
the trains. The water is strongly impregna-
| ted with alkali even the air we breathe
parches the throat and irritates the lungs
Sage. brush and alkal Alkali and sage
| brush! They are all about US. Our eyes
look off across a dreary waste to the noun
| tains beyond but all around us the earth
is like fine powder which rises in cloud
Of dust as the train goes by, reminding me
of the dust which
'Act upon and filled the train,
s'The dust upon the beasts, the tent, the plain.
"And DUST alas! on breasts that rose not up
again.
Some one has called this great American
Desert Goods burial ground.' Truly only
He knoweth the number who sleep their last
sleep with only this unfriendly soil for a
winding sheet; with only the skies to weep
for them with only the low murmuring
Winds to chant their requiem. Has HI
blghted all this land that they may rest I'M
disturbed? Not flower, not even blade
of grass to break the dull monotony OF grey.
With this landscape in mind. well might the
|
| poet sing:
"The grass, the grass the beautiful grass,
THAT brightens this land OF ours;
| 80! why do we let it rudely pass.
| Sand only praise the flowers
| rThe blossoms of spring small Joy would bring
"And the summers bloom look sad,
| Were the earth not green and the distant cane
| I'm its vernal robe not clad.
| "Then sing the grass the beautiful grass,
s'That brightens this world OF ours,
! .'For there's not blade by nature made
LESS perfect than the flowers"
We breakfasted at Elko, in the State OF
| Nevada, 276 miles west from Ogden. 1t II
flourishing young town, claiming lsoo IN
habitants and doing a considerable business,
as it is the outlet for several mining districts.
| The State University and the courthouse and
jail for Elko county are located here. Min
erai springs are but few miles distant, and
altogether if Elkoians are to be believed, the
| little western town is bound to be city one
of these days-which one they didn't in
| form me.
| Elko furnishes attractions for westward
bound travellers, for here they usually find
| their first 'sreal red Indians" ard they are
apt to put in their appearance in the full
pomp and glory Of their natural nastiness.
The braves stalk proudly up and down the
platform, wrapped in blankets, while the
squaws, in rags and paint, beg from the pas
sengers. Often one will have a papoose
| strapped to board and hanging on her back.
but nothing short Of a piece OF coin will
| tempt her to turn around and show the little
wretch.
Don't go into Mysteries, gentle reader;
used to have as much sentiment about the
noble red man as you can possibly have ;
read Cooper's novels and shed ''rivers O.
tears" over them !; but sentiment goes Gid
ing gently down salt river when one i
brought face to face with the Indians. Thel
sensual, savage, paint-daubed faces are
enough to haunt one. One old squaw, dire IS
ed in a garment made Of squirrel skins
reached up something which used to be
hand years ago, but now was little NOR
than dry bones to which chung little skin
One could rot refuse her money, although
knowing full we'll before the train was GU
OF sight she would be robbed by "braye
and he spend it for drink. She claimed
be over 100 years old, and would have be
lieved her had she said five hundred, for sh
looked it, every bit.
, There is at Woodwards Gardens, in Sa
, Francisco, an old monkey to which Away
carry some sweetmeats because OF its clos
, resemblance TO the Elko squaw. Did De
| lieve in the transmutation of souls shoul
5 think the squaw and monkey might be ider
tical, as think she hobbled off to the happ
} hunting ground soon after my first visit
! Elke.
t Palisade, thirty miles further west, is tn
starting point of the narrow gauge railroa
which winds up into Nevada, distance
D ninety miles, carrying supplies to and bring
ing bullion and ore from the mining towr
: which it taps. Usually immense piles of p
n bullion are waiting shipment to the min
: and the grand rocks from which the tow
Q takes its name, are quite overlooked in ii
: General rush to look at the base bullion.
r. a.. ,o.o;, wa on and at every step cOu