Helena weekly herald., 1880-08-05

q (sorT1Nss By OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENCE
n After completing my business at Red Rocl
!, the temptation to take holiday and indulg,
! again in the almost forgotten luxury of ride
r upon a railroad train, was 90 strong that
e yielded and secured passage to Salt Lake
!, Instead of Pullman sleeping cars the Utah &
Northern have attached 10 each train a ca,
which contains fifteen reclining chairs These
! chairs are very comfortable. A slight motion
of the body tits them backward and at the
same time the foot rest rises so that person
can recline in almost any position with near
ly as much comfort as in bed. The whis-
tie shrieks, the bell rings, and moment later
we are whirling away to the south The val
ley through which we are passing is narrow.
hedged in by low, smoothly rounded knolls
and bench lands, and beyond them tower
ing mountain peak is occasionally seen, rear
ing its majestic head high up into the heav-
ems, and by contrast dwarfing the lower
ranges into insgnifcance. Here and there
along the road herds of cattle are cropping
the green grass, or, collected about some
mountain stream, are lying upon its banks or
standing knee deep in its crystal waters.
Frequently we dash through charming little
madoW jeweled with the wild flowers of the
prairie, whose sweet perfume is noted in
striking contrast with the odor of locomotive
smoke. But only for moment does this
pleasure remain, then the meadow, flowers,
and perfume are lett far behind. The old
trail by which the pioneers first entered the
Territory is seen first on one side of the road
and then on the other. 1t is growing fainter
and less easily distinguished every day, for
the days of its usefulness have passed. The
OK and mule tains that year ago moved
along this road shrouded in clouds of sitting
dust are gone, never to return, and the blessed
stage coach bias gone with them. Occasion
ally we notice on the trail covered wagon |
or two moving along toward Montana.
Grim looking women and a small army of |
children peer out from behind the canvass GOV.
ering. These are immigrants who are bound
for the fertile valleys Of the North, where
the broad, unoccupied acres invite the labor
OF the enterprising, and reward with rich
harvests the industry of the agriculturist.
Eighteen miles from the Terminus a sign
board marks the dividing line between Mon
tana and Idaho. This point is also the sum.
init of the Rocky mountains and the highest
point on the Utah & Northern road, the ele-
vation being $3.50 feet above the sea level.
Streams which take their rise north of this
divide empty into the Missouri, finding their
way a length into the Gulf of Mexico and the
broad Atlantic, while those of the south. af
ter tracing difficult way through the noun
tain chains and broad prairies of Idaho,
Washington and Oregon, unite at last with
he mighty Pacific.
Soon we enter Beaver Canyon. For some
distance the walls are low, abrupt and carved .
nto many strange, fantastic shape by the
Winds and storms which for ages have beat :
n against them. The road winds about with
many sharp angle, each curve revealing
lew beauties and ever changing scenes. !:
Huge boulders are heaped about in strange
oDfusion. Pine forests have appeared, and ,
id an additional charm to the wild romance
# the place. Below the road clear noun :.
ain stream dashes merrily over the rocks !,
nd boulders which obstruct it's path. Here
nd there deep clear eddies are formed.
hey are f4nked with soft beds of green
rass which are decked with wild f>wers of :,
lany different hues. These eddies are filled :.
nth mountain trout and the temptation as =,
'e rapidly pass them to Jump the train" "
I'D spend few hours angling for the speck- ;,
ID beauties, is a strong one -
Half way through the glen towering pine -
ands close beside the track, which is called =,
pay master tree" Some years ago a pay b;
aster of the army was passing along the -
jge of the canyon In government ambu- o.
nee. 1t was in the winter season, the road E.,
as slippery, and finally the mules, ambu- -,
nee, paymss,er and government funds all -.
lied down the hill together. They would :.
we been treated TO cold bath, but just in -,
e edge of the stream, were caught by this ~
4 pine. 1t was at once marked and form -
y named "ibe paymaster tree, and to-day -,
neatly painted sign board designates it from 81,
E Others which stand near by. Az
just at the mouth of the canyon are the -,
ves, at one time the terminus of the road. =,
lis town has become odious because of the e.,
ssedness of its climate, the depth of its on,
Dw in the spring, fall and winter months, s;-
d the aDn"yances and sufferings which ,,,o
fighters and travellers have experienced On,
re in the past. l, has been the most fully or,
j systematically execrated of all the towns saw