Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-12-14

pan FRANCISCO, CAL, Nov. ~, 1880.
I'D. WoRLD: according to promise
i commence series Of letters des-
|criptive Of California, scenery, pro-
auctions, etc. NY travels since leav-
ing Idaho have not been very extern
|sive, hence my letters will contain no
thrilling adventures on land Or sea.
The journey BY stage from Idaho
|clty 70 Winnemucca is devoid Of in-
terest, so / will pass IT over and com
mence my letter at the latter place.
W1nnemucca is a scattered place on
the Humboldt river, Nevada, sustain
ling itself more through commission
business than anything else. AT one
time large quantities Of freight passed
through II bound for the mining camps,
but now this trade has dwindled until
Tits very Insignificant It consists of
two townsville old aud new, as they
are called. The first is near the river
while the last is up On tho plain near
the railroad track. The new town IS
the result Of railroad monopoly, a
thing not felt much in Idaho, but seri-
ously in California and Nevada. had
not much time to view this place, the
stage arriving at ll:30 Am. and the
train departing at 1885 Z. NJ. 10 a
person who has travelled 800 IN d stage
coach, car, and especially berth III
a sleeper, is paradise. After. leav-
ling Winnemucca nothing worthy of
note is encountered until you arrive
at Humboldt station. This beautiful
place is truly an "oasis in the DESERT
Surrounded By barren sagebrush land
teemlng with alkali, it lies as parking
gem shedding its light in the sur
rounding gloom. Several years pipes
were laid from the mountains TO this
place and wherever the water tauched.
abundant crops, fine trees, vegetables,
etc, sprang up with very little cnlti-
walton. This shows what the sage
brush land really is, and though many
in Idaho now regard it as sterile, they
will see the time when it will be very
valuable.
Soon after leaving Humboldt we
come to Reno, where the Virginia
City passens GERS turn off, then up, up,
we go, up the steep ascent of the
Sierra Nevadas, the once dreaded bug
bear of immigrants. but now crossed
II few hours. Tho scenery now
changes from the desolate to the
grand; some exceptionally beautiful
scenes being visible. most prominent
among them being the view of Lake
Tahoe, American Canyon and last but
not least, the renowned Cape Horn.
The run down the Sierras il made ID
a short time and the traveller finds
himself in Sacramento, the capital OF
California. This city is situated on
the Sacramento river, not very pleas
antly, however, as the ground is low
and the water from the river frequently
mandates the city, often doing serious
damage. We breakfasted here, hav-
ing the usual railroad time to masti-
cate our food, and leaving were soon
steaming over the new road via BENZ
cia For some distance the locomo-
tive runs by great vineyards, where
laborers are at work curing raisins,
which is done by spreading the grapes
on boards in the open fields until they
are dried when they are taken to the
boxing room, where they are packed
ready for the market. The vineyards
end at Davis station and we enter the
swamp lands, noted for nothing but
tulles and salt water. For some dis
lance the company were troubled with
the ground sinking under the track, a