River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-12-27
Prom California.


promised not only you, but quite large
number of my friends, that Iwould let
them hear from me when got to 'the
promised land"
Leaving River Falls on the 8th of Nov.
came gid. Hastings to st. Paul. There
our party formed, and consisted Of Mr..
d. McGregor and wife, Mrs. E Burnett,
Mrs. Henning, of Hudson, Miss Addie
Scales, Mr.. Chas. Coy and your humble
servant and family of six.
We purchased tickets ria the ST. P. &
S. c. R. R. to Council Bluffs, thence by
the q. P. r. r. to Ogden, thence by
Central Pacific to San Francisco.
Cost of tickets from St. Paul to San
Francisco $45. This was immigrant rates.
We left st. Paul at $50 P. M, and had
pleasant ride to Council Bluffs, arriving
there at 10 a. m. of the 9th, riding in LIST
class coaches. Here we fitted out for
crossing the plains, and it is no small job
Provisions can be obtained almost any
where on the road, but are much cheap
er to get at this place. We left there at
Z p. NJ, and were brought ON express
time to Ogden. Had a vefy pleasant time,
but it was rather chilly Crossing the
Rockies we saw quite 9 lot of snow;
found the air on the summit quite light,
so much so that several loticed the diff
ference, finding it difficult to breathe
We arrived at Odgen Sunday, the 18th,
at Z %. m. The distance is 1882 miles.
At this place the emigIant train is at
tached to the freight, and now comes the
most disagreeable part of the journey
that is, standingon sidetrack and wait
ing for everybodyt to pass us, even to a
hand car, and for a large part of the dis
lance there is nothing to break the mo-
notony of the desert. Sage brush, and in
the distance mountains, for at least two
whole days; then we begin to climb the.
eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mts
Here the scenery becomes grand, and
one never gets tired of looking. We loose
grand sight by reason of the "snow
sheds on the Sierras. These sheds ex-
tend for the incredible distance of 40
miles, the summit being midway. 1t
takes about hours to run through them,
and propelling force of from to en-
gines to train of twentycars. But suf
flee it to say we came through without
accident, and arrived in San Francisco at
9 a. m. of Nov. 18th. Here we were
obliged to wait until 40 D. m. for the
boat to take us across the bay to Santa
Rosa, at which place we arrived at 7;30
D. IN. Among the first to meet us at the
depot was the pleasant voice and familiar
face of our old townsman, Uncle Charlie
Cox, and you all know that grip of his
hand is worth going.a long way tor. And
I will here remark for the benefit of his
friends land no one has any more of them)
that he is in good health, and believe
that very few enjoy the privilege of stay
ing in this world any better than Hon.
c. B. Cox. "May his shadow never be
less"
Santa Rosa is city of l think, 5000
inhabitants and is making big growth
this year Every house is occupied and
new dwellings are going up ON every
side. Land is advancing very fast in
price. Crops were fair in This county the
past year. The raising Of grapes for wine
is the ruling industry, although there is
much wheat and corn raised on the
heavy lands of the valleys. Land can be
bought at from $50 to $500 per acre, and
it does not make much difference where
it is located. Many of the large places are
being cut up and sold oft in small farms
of from 20 to 40 acres. At the present
time l am looking the country over.
Have not bought yet. / prefer to see
more of this climate before make a per-
manent investment 1t has been very
pleasant since | came here-only one
rainy day, and but little rain fell then.
The nights are frosty. have seen ice as
thick as window glass. The mornings
are, many of them, quite foggy. the fog
remaining in the valleys until 10 or IL
o'clock in the forenoon We need rain
now. The ground has not been as wet
as it ought to be to pillow. Much grain is
sown and is up and looking WELL will
not express my opinion to freely of this
country yet, for | always dislike to take
back" anything l will write you again
soon and will give more of a description
of this country. With kind regards to all,
| remain Yours,
ID. ID PROCTOR.