Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-18
TIE NEW ROUTE.
Prom Europe to California Over a Few
Pleasant and Direct Route.
FIRST PAPER.

we are positive that ere Iong this same
route will be preferred by the frst-class
traveller from Europe to the Pacific coast,
and even by the California pleasure-tourist.
To make this possible it will only be nee.
essary to add few fast frst-class passen-
ger steamers equaling in outfit, elegance
and comfort the steamers Of the English
lines between New York and Liverpool.
With such regular connection, and we
may hope for it shortly, the new line is
sure to be patronizsd more and more from
year to year. The men who have en-
barked in the gigantic enterprise OF estab-
fishing the new direct route between San
Francisco and New Orleans will undoubt-
edly leave nothing undone to stimulate the
efforts now being made to popularize the
new route between Europe and New Or
leans. Even at present the advantages in
making the journey East via New Orleans
cannot be underestimated for all southern
and southwestern points, and the con-
nection with st. Louis and Chi
cago via the fast Jackson route
is so quick and direct that there is
apparently but little difference in the time
made by other lines. In the winter season
this will be essentially the most pleasant
and safest route from the West to Cali
fornia, as no delay need be apprehended on
account of inclement weather. Another
advantage is the through sleepers from San
Francisco to New Orleans-the longest
"ride by rail' now in America-that is,
without change of train. The picturesque
scenery of the Texas and New Orleans di-
visions of the road deserves the attention
of the tourist. The Grand Canyon of the
Rio Grande of Texas, through which one
of the most complicated and wonderful
works of railroad engineering has been
built, and where the trains pass the grand
est scenery imaginable, most certainly bears
comparison with any other landscape view
of American railroads. The length of the
river, the exquisite perspectives, the
ever winding course beneath the towering
and enormous overhanging rocks, continu-
ally produce surprises and force one to
conclude that it is a canyon-ride actually
surprising those of the Rockies of Colorado,
and, indeed, all others. In contrast to the
narrowness of the Colorado canyon views,
the Rio Grande sweeps broadly and majes.
tically at the base of the sandstone ter.
races and perpendicular walls, reminding
one vividly of the beauties of the Hudson
river, viewing the ever-winding course OF
the river, hundreds of feet beneath the
laundering train, framed in by the most
picturesque of hills and mountains, covered
with thick groves of the exotic cactus.
The yellow waters of the Rio Grande
stretching toward the orient glisten and
sparkle in the morning sunlight like field
of molten gold, and are mysteriously som.
ber and gloomy in the pale moonlight. Tne
gray rocks and precipitous crags increase
the varied colors of the weird landscape,
with its peculiar vegetation-the cactus,
as well as species of aloes, the Spanish
dagger, shooting high into the air from a
luxuriant palmetto bouquet. The glorious
mountains are in view, far and near, lifting
up their towering tops from the other side,
which is Mexican territory.
Like light cloud of mist, we see before
us the "DeviPs river" whose scenery ia
full of charming effects. Here again the
train winds its way around rocky precipices,
under high towering rocks, whose tops
likewise hang over our narrow path like
vaulted roofs, when suddenly the rock.
bound gateway opens itself upon broad
plains, fertile prairies, emerald-hued field:
a broad expanse through which the
united waters of the DEVILS river and the
Rio Grande follow their long passage
towards the Gulf of Mexico. Here We
breathe the salt air, which comes to US
from the distant gulf, and fully enjoy the
wonderful effects OF this exhilarating
climate.
Most interesting, also, is the ride
through the cultivated region of Western
Texas, until arriving at the quaint old
town of San Antonio, the true type o
Western Texas, another Gland of plenty.
And hence we roll on through vast valley
region of plains and sun bathed slopes
past score of neat villages, embowered in
groves of live.oaks and pecan trees past o
seemingly endless chain of fourishing colo.
MES and settlements, numberless cotton
and cornields, over the Brazos bottoms,
with their black mold soil past sugar
mills and plantations through forests Of
the Brazos, enormous trees, weird in their
fantastical boards of moss through open
prairies, dotted with cattle or sheep; past
the forests and bayous of Houston, the
great commercial and railroad center of
Southern Texas, until we reach and cross
at last the Sabine river, the eastern boun.
dairy of the Lone Star State.
Now we are in louisiana, and traverse
one of its richest and best cultivated re-
gions. We see crystal-clear lakes, pict.
uresque forests, shaded baYous, endless.
opening vistas of forest glades, of happy
sylvan retreats, of fine plantations, one af.
ter the other; bosky woodlands, rolling
prairies dotted with fine stock, cotton
fields in the highest state of cultivation,
and corn, sugar and rice.fel everywhere.
We cross the beautiful river Atchafalaya
on fine bridge, and are Immediately at
Morgan City, an important center of the
lumber trade; and thence through new
landscapes of enormous cypress-swamps, OF
beautiful palmettos, of gigantic water
lilies, the abode of snow white cranes, tur-
ties, of moccasins, and even of alligators.
Bayou after bayou, with levees and canals
and plains, and again sugar-mills and plan
tations, orange groves, fine gardens and
ancient houses. At last the suburbs of the
Crescent City are at hand, our train is
transferred by the ferry to the opposite
side of the Mississippi, and our over
land journey is ended. In about
| five days we have traversed the
continent, distance of aoout 2, 500 miles,
without change of train, have viewed the
most varied scenery of four distinct eli
matte and topographic regions the luxu-
rant growth of Southern California, with
its beautiful settlements; the Cactus
State }" of Arizona, with its dry plains and
gorgeous mountains, joined by the high
mesas and plateaux of New Mexico and
extreme Western Texas the blooming
prairies of Western Texas proper, with its
wonderful vegetation and its moist Atlantic
climate and at last the magnificent scenery
of Louisiana, with its bayous and forests
and swamps. This is the route TO be taken
by the emigrant to reach our State, and a
more interesting, agreeable, quick and
direct route it would be difficult to imag-
inc. Only about eight days (emigrant time)
are required by rail, which is a great gain
on the long and tedious transatlantic trip
i from New York or Blltimore via Chicago
or ST. Louis. o.
THRILLING MOONLIGHT RIDE. - The
Chico Enterprise of October l6sh Gays:
On Sunday evening c. E. Tinkham, the
of I