Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-22


from 200 to 800 miles, and fuel Tor motive
power over the entire length OF the line,
requiring an amount of rolling-stock for
construction purposes alone that may he
regarded as prodigious. Notwithstanding
the company is now doing an
IMMENSE HAULAGB OF PASSENGERS
And merchandise to the ever-increasing
mining and prospecting camps situated il
every direction for from 100 to 200 miles
from Tucson. 1t would have been imprac-
ticable to have built such road through
such vast heated and thoroughly desert
wastes had not the builders possessed all
the means required-indomitabI courage,
the utmost confidence IN the financial re-
suits, and above all, the thorough system
and knowledge resulting from previous ex-
periences. The latter is especially seen by
an observer who viii take the trouble to
90 to the 81 front" Ii is little short OF
sublime to witness the steady advance OF
the compact army of conquering railroad
builders, overcoming all physical obstruc-
tions in their way, and laying the path on
which millions may, after their pioneer
work is done, pass with safety, rapidity
anu COUl1Olb. 1ilC an SiAANA "a
the railroad forces, j. IL. Strobridge,
under orders from the Directors in San
Francisco, with whom he is IN constant
speaking communication by telegraph, has
his headquarters always Immediately at
the g front, where his single eye flor I'M
fortunately he lost one some years ago by
a blast on the Central Pacific takes in the
entire force and Interpretations at a glance.
Through his aids his orders are communi-
Gated to the advancing forces, and the
steady movement ahead of the iron way IS
constant and rapid.
THE HEADQUARTERS
Consists of car specially built combining
comfortably furnished bedroom and an
Office, the latter arranged with desks for
clerks, civil engineers, telegraph operator,
and the Chief. In the rear OF this is the
dining.car and kitchen, and following are
| the cars containing the commlssary depart
ment with complete stores OF provisions.
| Hardly have the headquarters and the iron
! tracklayers got out of sight, when another
| large force OF men come in view, whose
work is to ill solidly with earth all in be-
tween the ties and rails, to bring the road
| to grade and to make all the work smooth.
while in the rear of all follow the ''surfacers
and baliasters, whose work completes the
road. Through orders from the Directors, a
party of railway officials, consisting of the
following named gentlemen 4. 0. Eel
| lows, Assistant General Superintendent, in
charge of the party S S. Montague, Chief
Engineer ; L. NJ Clement, Assistant Chief
Engineer A. Brown, Superintendent of
Bridges and Buildings j. C. Stubs, Cen
eral Freight Agent A. j. Stevens, Gen
eral Master Mechanic Benjamin WEIGH,
Master Car Builder J. K. Watson, Gem
eral Purchasing Agent F. l.. Van Den
burgh, Superintendent of Telegraph, to-
gether with A. B. Nichols, United States
Government Engineer, and Thomas French,
Auditor of the United States Interior De-
partment, and some invited guests, visited
and inspected the entire line and branches.
They of the party who had not been over
any portion of the road previously, were
completely astonished at
THE GIGANTIC WORK ACCOMPLISHED,
Especially the pass over and through the
San Fernando mountains, including the
celebrated ''Loop' and the great tunnel,
over mile in length. Mr. Nichols, the
Government engineer, readily gave the
palm to the California engineers and rail-
road builders for having accomplished a
work unparalleled, while the smoothness
and solidity of the road commanded and
received his unqualified praise. After
passing over what seems to be an intermin.
able desert, being over 400 miles from San
Gorgonio pass to Tucson, the party arrived
at the latter place, where the Mayor Of
the city, R. N. Leatherwood, and bis
friend Captain Jeffreys, who had heard the
partyt were on the road, were ready to
greet and welcome them, and no excuses
were available. They were determined
the party should partake of the hos
FATALITIES of the Mayor of Tucson so,
after going 10 the front, some thirty. eight
miles, the party returned in the evening,
and right royalty were they entertained.
Every thing that enthusiastic and gen.
erous- hearted men could offer was rendered,
and in the right spirit received. The
Mayor, in the course of some remarks he
made, stated that the old city of Tucson
said to be the oldest city in North America
had been on the extreme verge of the
earth for over 800 years, and now it was
brought in immediate communication with,
and was sister city with the cities of thu
world, and he felt grateful to the men who
by their devotion and energy mad accom-,
piished so desirable work. After pass
ing delightful evening-indeed it might
truthfully be said "a night with theil
entertainers, the Mayor invited the whole
party to go next morning and visit
THE OLD JESUIT CHURCH,
San Xavier del BAG, situated in the midst
of plain, some eight miles from the city
which was treat appreciated by ALL This
handsome old church was built about q
hundred years since, under the direction,
and not a little manual labor, of the Jesuit
fathers, assisted by any number of Indi.
ans, and it is simply astonishing that such
a beautiful piece of architecture could
have been raised with the limited and
primitive means at the disposal of the
fathers. Father Antonio, the Catholic
priest in charge of the diocese of Tucson,
was so kind as to go out and give the party
all the information pertaining to the
church, much of which is very interesting.
In the course of mis- remarks the writer
gathered that he was not so very enthu-
siastic about the changes brought about by
the advent of s.Los Americanos," for
recently some sacrilegious burglar had
broken into the church and stolen all the
very valuable silver ornaments, candle
sticks, ETC., amounting to a large sum in
money, while some visitors, not supposed
to be much impressed with sacred things,
had torn off an arm from the image of one
of the most important of the saints,
while others had wrenched off fingers, etc.,
of the Virgin Mary, all of which is much
to be regretted, for however we may be
impressed with religious matters, it is ouI
bounden duty to respect the belief and
feelings of others.
THE EXTENSIVE PLAIN,
In the midst of (which stands the church,
is made to produce pretty fair crops Of
grain by irrigation. Water is led in canals
from the Santa Cruz river, which led the
writer to remark that poor as the country