Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-05-10

HouSSS uoJ lilc vast lcTIllc pfalflcS. Inc
aspect of western Iowa is similar to that
Of northern Missouri. Corn is the chief
production, and the stranger is astonish-
ed ut the immense cribs 4 thousand feet
long, and correspondingly high and wide
which may be seen filled with corn at
every farm house and depot. A
Between Council Bluffs and Omaha
the muddy Missouri is crossed the fourth
time and the most pleasant part of the
trip from ocean TO ocean is begun. Up
to this stage few acquantunccs are made
| because changes are frequent, but now
we are all through passengers, prepared
for IN eight day trip with but one change
of cars. The passengers soon become
acquainted, learn each others history,
| lend, borrow, visit and cndtavor in
many ways to render the long Journey
cnioyably to their new friends and them
selves. Time is spent in reading, play
ing games, making music and admiFing
the scenery Our car was well supplied
with musical instruments and some good
performers, hence many hours We're
passed playing and singing. Firm
friendships were formed and when we
separated at the end of our journey, the
| SoONl-DNNS NNIllt Will lllUIN lfHlNle.
West of the Missouri river we first pass
up the great Platte valley. This is for
the most part unCultvated, but rich, lev
el, and ail'ording support to thousands of
cattle. The scenes through Nebraska
change but little until we reach its west
crn cXtremities, and begin the ascent of
the Rockies. These mountains are well
named, being entirely destitute Of trees
except here and there Il dwarf pine, but
covered with great rocks which stand in
immense columns and appear in every
conceivable shape, often hundreds of feet
in height, and so systematicnl that It is
hard TO believe mans Land has not
been at work and built these tOwcrS,-
Many of these grand monuments, from
their similarity to different objects, have
received such names as the Chimney
Rock, Egyptian Tombs, Pulpit Rocks,
Hanging Rock, Bromlcy's Cathedral, &c.
The station on the summit of the Rocky
mountains is named in honor Of General
Sherman, and its elevation /. S,2l2 feet.
When the summit Is gained the road
winds among huge masses rock, every
now aud then rushing through II long
line of snowsheds exchanged day for
night. Dale Creek bridge fourmiles from
Sherman, is an object Of especial interest
to all travellers, II is II light, airy-look-
ING structure spanning II canyon $50 feet
wide ana 1876 feet deep, Dale Creek nn-
ming beneath the bridge, resembles, from
the car window, n silver thread entwn-
ing about the coarse granite.
Soon after entering Wyoming Terrific
ry the traveller finds himself on the great
American desert. This dcsolHtc region
extends along the line Of railroad one
thousand miles. Only that portion SUI
rounding the sink of the Humboldt riy-
cr in Nevada, is scntirely destitute ofycg-
citation. The remainder Is covered with
prickly pear and coarse plant about two
feet high, called sage brush. Small
bands OF wild horsccs are occasionally
seen feeding on the litter planti num-
bcrs of Tint amusing little creature the
prairie dog and thousands Of the tlmid,
beautiful antelope make this wild waste
their home. The frequent sight of these
animals relieves the monotony Of the
desert until the grand sights Of Echo and
Weber canyons IN Ctal, are lcached.-
These nrc among the most charming
scenes in America. The massive rocks
forming these canyons are OF red sand
stone. They rise pcrpcndicllnrly to
heights varying from 800 to 500 feet,
They somewhat resemble great castles,
on which account they are termed cas-
tclatcd rocks \ curious feature of
these CANYONS Ii tlIut their scenery Is al
most entirely on the north side
The Rocky Mountains Is "a rich field for
geolOglsts. Emerging from these Eorg-
cs at the Devils Gate, the beautiful
Mormon city, Ogden and the snow
crowned Wnhsntch mountains bordering
Great Salt Lake on the north greet the
eye. West of Ogden for twenty miles
the road Is bounded by lofty mountains
on the north, by green meadows AMI the
plnrld lake on the south Salt Lake Val
ley II nm oasis in the desert. The Nor
mons chose for their evil work, Il rOman-'
tie SPOT and one where God had built his
own temples.
Nv this time the face, form and wig
wan of the "nohc Red Man. have
grown familiar. with the first view Of
these nllhy, wrctChcd degraded crCH
lures, wnlshrs every idea of the hand
some forms, the brave warriors, thu love-
ly "dusky maiden" of which history aud
poetry tell us. They hnnR about the
train like hungry hOunds and eagerly
pnihrr from tie mud and dcvOur any ar
llclc Of food thrown them.
The desert throughout Nevada rNhih-
It's nothing very unlike that Of I tNh and
wyoming except the occasional hpalli-
fut Onsls. and the gtcnt accumulation Of
alkali which renders the water quite dis
agreeable. The pulIpntlcs Of The Hum
holt were passed IN the evening twilight
vet presented n spectacle indcscrIbnbly
snbllmp. The long train winds around
thciu Ike serpent among the rocks
Engineering here put into play ilsnicoI
SKILL The curves are 40 short That Nrli-
rlcs will slide from one side to the other
in the cnr and II Ia sdd that on these
curves the engineers aud conductors of
freight trains can sometimes shake lnnds.
We nsrcndcd the Sierra NCyadAs In
the night and Just ny the sun arose, rcnch-
cd IFS summit. For twenty eight milca
wr travelled through snow.shcds, gct-
ting now and then u glimpse OF the iiI-
teen feet Of snow, and the stately pines
that were without. In mn hours run
the sheds were left behind. We dc-
srcndcd rapidly, All were waiting en-
pcrly for glance NJ the famous Cape
Horn. OMEN hnd we talked Of II nnd
many wondered whit II wolld be ana
how Il would appear; ere long II burst
! into view, ana nothing more lnngnlil-
cent had any Of us ever bchcld, Our
tnin went whirlIng round n mountain
40 slrrp that even the Wild indian had
NOT tried 10 scale ls height. Above tic
dlyzy heights were rocks aud trees, but
below for $500 hundred feet the slope
was almost perpendicular. We seemed
TO bu llyng IN mid mir, far below was
. | y, .t...t.,.. ...is.. Auptipnu iiVpt