Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-05-26
The Country Travsrsed by the
Southern Pacific.

Not much has been written about
the new railroad line 10 the Pacific,
through Kansas, New Mexico, Ari.
zonn and Southern California, but
Mr.. IugalIs, q practical railroad
man of Cincinnati, who has just
returned from trip over it, gives
q brief statement of its peculiari-
ties and advantages. He says it Is
a fino road, and in answer to what
sort of a country it runs through,
says:
at runs through all sorts. Some
parts of the liDe-the two ends,
perhaps we might say-run through
u fine country. Southern Califor-
mia, you know, is almost u para
disc. Through Arizona, and in
fact along g considerable proportion
of the line, the country is either
entirely mineral region or dee.
ert. There's q long strip of country
where there's nothing to be seen
but alkali and the smooth plain, as
far rs the eye can reach. We
struck 1t one morning about ten
o'clock. The ground was perfectly
white sand and alkali, and away
off several miles seemed to be the
most beautiful body of water imag-
Unable. 1t seemed so clear that We
could gee the reflection of objects
In it quite distinctly. Everybody
said, what q beautiful lakev But
I said, wait and see.' When the
conductor came along we asked if
that was n lake. He laughed and
said: There isn't drop of water,
except what is in our engine, with
in 100 miles Of here.' 1t was a mi.
rage, and most perfect one, too."
"Then at least that portion of tn e
country through which the road
passes Is practically valueless?"
"Yes, it seems SO to me. They
talk of irrigatiDg it and making 1t
worth something, but it will be q
long time before it happens. Why,
for 15O miles this side Of Yuma,
the trains run right through with
out stopping, except to pass other
trains. But part of the country
through which the road passes is
good enough to make up for 1t.
Southern California is a glorious
country. Then at this end there il
q fine country, and the country
this side Is good"
"What about the business Of the
road and its prospecls?'
81 think its business will be
good, very good. They are push
Ing the line on towards New Or.
leans, and expect, l believe, to do a
large through business for Europe
between San Francisco and New
Orleans. They will, too, I have 10
doubt"
"\Nill it interfere particularly y
with tGa business of the [ iton
Pacific?"
"Not particularly. There's plenty
for all the lines to do. The Southern
line will have some advantages in
winter, as it will have less snow
storms TO trouble it. When the
Southern gets thorough connec-
tion with New Orleans it Will send
good many passengers that way,
aud some freights. Mr.. Hunting
don, of the Chesapeake and Ohio,
who is one.fifth owner OF tho South
ern Pacific, is, 1 understand. pre-
paripg to extend the Elizabeth
town and Paducah Road 10 Mem.
phis, and build road from Mem.
phis to Houston, Texas. to connect
with the Southern Pacific. That,
with the lines he has already, will
give him through line from the
eastern TO the western coast, and
by the two lines which will con-
meet Cincinnati with it the city
will have good use for the South.
ern Pacific"
Mr.. Ingalls, and all the members
of the party returned in excellent
health, st. Louis Republican.