Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-03-06
ACROSS THE CONTINENT,

We give some further excerpts from pri-
vatc correspondence Of Civil Engineer PEN
nell c. Poulson Of this city, in his tripto the
remote West, dated Nevada. He saws
1hc motion OF a train is not conducive TO
Il very Sood-looking letter, still | will try.
by the aid Of my knee as !; table, to pencil
some impressions OF my trip from Cheyenne
to thlsarld desert. After leaving said town.
the scenery became more attractive, Granite
canyon presenting 4 wild piece of natural
beauty, the red montain standing hundreds
OF feet high, looking as if placed there by 4
human hand to mark the spot where some
"t"nf-co"ricr of civilization fell The pitch
pine trees studdng the mountains, attain
only Il miniature height, and then stop. as
II the God OF nature had commanded them
to go thus far and no further. At Sherman
the summit Of the Rockies, over 5000 feet
above sea level, is a monument to Oaks and
Oliver Ames, the projectors Of the Union
Pacific Railway, bearing the likeness of
those gentlemen cut in the granite. Saw
here two or three tame deer, running about
with ribbons on their necks, making friends
with everybody: also Il buffalo and elk in
custody.
The snow sheds seem 10 be IL necessary
evil debarrlng the traveller from seeing some
beautiful scenery. On this road. the Cen
trail Pacific. we pass through one continuous
line OF sheds forty miles in extent. The
snow has not bothered lis much TINS far
They are very much afraid of the snow in
the Ncvadas. They have great many of
the metropolitan airs out here, such as serv-
ing pie with forks, finger bowls, and three
cornered napkins, for all Of which YOU pav
one dollar each sitting. The ubiuuitous
beer keg plays an important part in the
drama Of new developments here. as also
the billiard and pool rooms. Alta place
called Greenbrier we saw Il mountain lion.
resembling his African brother. We stop-
ped about ten minutes one day to allow the
passengers TO indulge in the water of 4
mineral spring. from the effects of which
some OF us have not yet recovered. Passed
within view of pulpit rock wherefrom
Brigham Young is said to have expoundcd
his gospel of sensuality for the first time.
The scenery in Weber Canyon through
which we pcssed, is very weird. Herein is
the Devils slide. Seems to me if he ever
took such u slide. il is no wonder his per-
mancut abode is below. We passed thron~h
many tunnels cut through solid rock. Also
along the Devils gate, through which rolls
u beautiful stream, with the mountains
rising Oh either side to Il heighth of 300
feet above the road-hed
AT Ogden We had Oh board our train 4 cap
turcd highwaynan, who was supposed to be one
Of the lanes crowd. He was badly hurt having
been shot severely hy his captors We passed
through several Indian reservations the old witches
oi the tribes C"ngrcgatimg about the stations
and impioru% the travellers for Il "bit''-twclve
and Il half cents. The most unpleasant part of
our trip was crossing the Alkali Desert Ii is in.
IcmScly dry and almost Suilocatin2. Eyes. ears.
and mouth are constantly filled with the invisi-
bic dust that fills The air which is So still YOU
can almost hear yourself think We ran in sight
Of the great Salt Lake FOR nearly one hundred
miles. The people everywhere make themselves
agreeable. and we feel us if we had been ac-
qua!ntrd for years. have been travelling with
the same party since we left Kansas City, with
few additions at Cheyenne. We have in our car
iivr ladies, two of whom are married and the rest
expect t" nc one gentleman is from Detroit
Mich, and is going to my destination, Portland
Oregon. All the servants in this country arc
Cinnamon. Everybody is familiar, and trying to
get rich ut Your expense. Have had a jolly
time.