The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-28

ieapInS flames into which we are plungiDo
headlong. As we approach, however, we
find that care has been taken to prevent
injury to the train by firing on either side
OF the road to Il considerable distance. and
doubtless in this way the fire originated
AS we see the. greedy flames leaping and
cracking in such close proximity we are
painfully reminded of the torrid region
against Which 'Brudder Iemus" has
faithfully warned us with such burning
language
| Here and there are seen herders battling
with this fierce enemy, to preserve herds
which number up i'll the thousands.
We have decided not to take u berth to
night, not because it would cost us 500
for we have oceans of money-but because
We have Il second class ticket and our dean
conductor informs rs mot any" So we
will endeavor to fold us upand lay us away
for the night
Morning. The day is breaking aud SC
are our neck, back arms and legs we are
| twisted, mashed and wrinkled we are cut
and dried and roasted on Il spit. In our
dreams we are carried away by cyclone
and left nude on the highest peak of the
'Rockies - we were burned at the stake
and run over by thirteen locomotives.
At last we get Strengthened and reach
Denver at Z 40 4. IN. where the train was
detained just long enough to get glimpse
Of the city, and to guess at the dimensions
Of the large granite depot which We sug-
gest are as follows length, $50 IT,, width,
go it., and height, 20 #. Denver is a
beautiful city Of about 10000 inhabitants.
situated among the foothills Of the Rocky
mountains.
Here, unconscious Of the ascent, we
have reached an elevation Of about 5000
feet above sea level. This gradual incline
continues and now we are passing through
the Grand Canyon Of the Arkansas, and
here | cannot but feel my inability to con-
vey, by words, any approach to a concep-
ton Of the grandeur of this scene. l will
simply give some Of the outlines-then let
your imaginations elaborate.
The train enters suddenly between two
perpendicular walls of granite and sand
stone, rising to the height of more than
500 feet, and forming natural pass
scarcely more than sufficient to admit it,.
In order to get q good view, we place the
hinder part Of the Uranium on the window
sill and gaze heayenward Here and theEe
great shelving rocks project threateningly
over the car and we are acutely aware of
the fact that one millionth part Of the
overhanging cliff, if it should be detached
by the jar of trains, would crush us to
atoms. There again the walls recede on
either side, forming natural stairways
with giant stepping stones, and again con-
verging almost meet over our heads as if
joining hands in q compact to bury us.
This continues for many miles with ever
varying aspect.
Arrived at Salida we are hooked on to
three engines, and begin to climb in
earnest. The serpentine windings of the
road remind us of the Anaconda Beacon
strictor. which, according to LouqfelIow,
could Swallow himself, crawl through
himself and tie himself in q bow knot. y
We will not impose upon you the task Of
climbing with us, but having reached
Marshall's Pass, which is almost to tim
Der line, we glide swiftly down the west
eGn slope, away from the sckening.
smothering snow sheds into The mellow
light Of a full moon which has been provi-
dentially set in the heavens to light us
through the ''Black Canyon" This can
yon is even grander than the one before
mentioned. Its walls are 400 IT, high and
Is miles long. Viewing it by moonlight
we are impressed with a feeling Of reveren-
tial awe that cannot be set to language.
This is by far the most dangerous part
Of the Denver & Rio Grande r. r. and we
draw a long breath of relief when it is
passed.
Next morning we are in q barren alkali
desert Of rolling sandy land with scarcely
a sign Of vegetation. We run 500 miles
across this desert parallel to Il chain of
sand-bIuffs that extend to the Wasatch
mountains.
These bluffs are indeed Il curiosity.
They are truncated figures OF all shapes
and sizes Of an average height OF geo feet.
The dirt and stone sliding from the top,
leaves about / of their height perpendicu-
lar, the remaining sloping at an angle Of
about 60 degrees from horizontal They
are bare with the exception of here and
there a dwarf bunch of sage brush.
The only houses seen on this arid waste
are those erected near the water tanks,
some of which are supplied with water
piped for more than fifty miles. The few
people that live here get all their supplies
from the trains, and make living by
selling lunch to tie passengers.
In the afternoon we reach the Wasatch
Mountains. in travelling through which
we see some very pretty scenery but it is
of q far different nature from that of the
Rockies. The Wasatch are lofty but not
rugged, and are generally treeless, being
covered with sage and other small bushes.
We pass through only narrow range of
these mountains and suddenly come out
upon the border of Cedar Valley, with
Utah Lake to our left spread out towards
the setting sun and glittcring il his now
almost horizontal rays. In front and to
our right are level meadows green with
clover and lucern and spotte. with villages
built Of adobe and decked with flowers,
blooming orchards and artificial groves.
1t is Sunday eve, and the lads and llsses
are out in summer dress, literally 'wading
in clover" From the nverted look and
downcast eyes of the maiden and the
very chohed appearance Of the young
wooer, we Judge that Tie Old. cid story"
is being told i'll its freshness TO shy but
willing listener.
Again we pass through a narrow strip
Of waste land and we see for the first time
in our life the Valley OF the Great Salt
Lake. JUYENAL.
OF Naples $4,000 population, 800, 000
live underground in noisone cellars that
extend far back from the street, Crime is
so rampant that in many thickly populated
n,.,,