Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-06-14
Un Wheels.
ST. LOUIS. May

A trip from Tucson to St. Louis i:
 quite little iaunt. and if taken us an appetizer before breakfast the question
 of 8 good appetite would be settled
 and probably also the life Of the person undertaking it.
 The ride over the Southern Pacific to Dcning is 8 monotonous one. The only single break il the sam ness of my journey was brilliant feat ot marzs- manship, by Len Harris. who drew a bend with his 4j-cglIhre on three simple autelop-s who were trying to keep pace
 with the tram, short distance from
 Wilcox. Those antclopes are probably still running at large.
 DemIug was reached six hours behind schedule tune, ye: the train wHs held on
 tho Atchiz,'u. TOl.Sh,. ,.r.d canta te mn
 til Its arrival, and 1t was soon on its way
 to the north. By daylight the new
 bridge at San Marcial was reached, snd
 the muddy waters of the Rio Grande
 were rushing through nearly up to the strIngers. The structure Is not falIy
 completed, and the strain upon 1t by
 the floods was a severe test of its
 strength and endurance. The town of
 San MarcIal WAS mostly under water
 from the overflow of the Rio Grande,
 and B few houses only were above the
 water upon isolated ground higher than
 that surrounding. Here the washouts
 were first encountered, and while no
 Ina. e
 ened and lOCsered by the water, and
 only the most constant and care ful
 balIast!ng with rock saved 1t from de
 structlon. Further along, towards and
 beyond SocOrrO a worse state of affairs
 existed. The wafer, m many places, was
 rushing across the track between the t,es, most wildly, and as the train crept slowly and timidly over the dangerous road bed, the view from the rear was al- most startling. Only two shining iron ral. were to be seen in the mad whirl Ot the muddy water. which seemed eager to sweep away the fragile obstacle in its path. That It did not Is high com pilment 10 the thorough manner III which the work of construction was done. About midway of the submerged portions, upon firm projection, stood 1 the company's watchmen, who om;nously | lmparted the information that the waters | mad risen four inches during the night | and were still rising; another four inches l and the track could not stand the pres sure.
 The cause of this sudden rising of the | waters may be looked for in vain near | ihe scene of the wgshouts. The arrOyos | are all dry and the high ground is all .e -- .H. Al few warm days have melted much of the | vast accumulations of snow iD the n untalus, the explanation is simple enough to understand.
 Alter leaving the valley of the Rio Grande. the scene changes somewhat, and as the train winds its serpentine way around and among the hills to gain ihe high altitude necessary to reach the summit Of the mountain range, the sights are sometimes grandly sublime and beautiful. Night closed upon Us before Rston pass, and early morn brought us to La Jnnta junction, from which point the level table lands of l Colorado extended far to the eastward and merged into the similar mesas of Kansas. where thousands of cattle roam mi fatten upon the wild grasses. The
 A-t are poor TUT Alilr NEf-Sbu Ol tue scar. because of the backward spring mi lack of grass, but there is good promise of a splendid season for stock.
 From Dodge City, Kansas, eastward. .he towns grow more frequent and larger than those to the westward. Many beautiful villages can be seen, thrifty and prosperous. As the railroad runs dose t0 the Arkansas river most of the way, the scene was necessarily pictur- esque.
 The train arrived on time in Kansas City early on the morning ot the third lay from Tucson. The streets of that ,ity were even then bustling with active people, rattling vehicles and dense .mOke. Therefore when the Missouri Pacific left the Union depot for the 'resh air beyond, it seemed a relief Missouri by this route one sees he most charming scenery. Among the pretty places may be named Warrens- ,urg, Sedalia. Jefferson City and other md less known places. The train ar- -ived at St. Louis early the same night, md as I am tired I will here say Good light." c.