Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-07-03

the top we went through hotTon run
mel and passed into New Mexico, and
descended the mountains.
At the base of the mountains and
in a beautiful plane, / noticed a
mountain, oblong, very steep, and al
most fiat on top. spoke to fellow
passenger and told him to behold the
hill of Samaria, that Amri bought of
Shemer on which to build his capital.
OF course / never saw the hill of Sa-
maria, but until / do, l shall always
think that this one in New Mexico is
just like it.
A few miles further on we passed
through a prairie dog town, and saw
the first prairie dogs | ever saw. They
are yellew, have short tail, and look
very much like rat, though they
are larger than the largest rats. We
passed few small towns and through
some good grazing country, though
the grass was not much up, owing to
the cold dry spring. Through this
section we rarely ever saw a tree.
During the following night, it is said,
we passed some places of interest, but
could not see them.
Friday morning found us at Albu-
qurque. Here we crossed the Rio
Grande river, stopped awhile for
something, and the train was throng-
ed with Indians trying to sell notions
of their own make. All daywe were
travelling through the desert, and in
sight of snow capped peaks of the
Rockies. We went up grade until
about noon, at which time we crossed
what is known as the continental di-
vide, the highest point on the road,
in other words, the backbone of the
Continent, 1851 feet above sea level.
We had been in sight of snowfall day,
but here we saw some by the side OF
depot house, and had the train
stopped long enough L would have
gotten some, so that 1 could say ate
snow the 18th day of May. At this
place, Fort Wingate, several hun
dred U. S. soldiers are stationed. The
balance of the day we saw nothing
but the desert and an occasional In
dian with a small herd of sheep,
About dark wecame to timber, most.
ly pine, and some water on top of the
ground; the first we had seen since
crossing the Rio Grande, $50 miles
back.
In the afternoon we crossed the
Canon Diabla, or that "hideous
crack in the EARTH" After dark we
went through deep Canon. The
passengers all rushed to the platform
to see the show, but the train passed
down the rough, steep grade so fast
that it was not very enjoyable. These
Cahons are in Arizona Territory
We came into Arizona about 2 p. M,
Friday.
Saturday morning found us al
Ringmon, A. T. We had to stay
here several hours on account of q
wreck on the road. Ringmon is q
mining town. While here l talked
sometime with an old miner, who
was one of the first explorers of this
region. He told me that where Ring.
mon now stands people had persisted
to death for want of water, and three
years ago when this road was built
through, they found water five
feet under ground in such quantities
that it can't be missed at any time
although all the trains stop there fol
water. Here we saw a great many
Indians. We had to change cars here
on account of the accident and were
delayed seven hours.
AT p. m., we came to what i,
called the Needles" some large
slim rocks that stand erect and alon,
very high. Here we crossed the biz
Colorado river, and passed into Cali
fornia. The train stopped at tn,
"Needles" for dinner, and here saw
swarms of Indians in their wild state
We run through the desert of South
east California 240 miles to Mojave
there to connect with the Southern
Pacific train.
Since we left the prohibition Stat
of Kansas, the most prominent bust
ness houses are saloons. In Kansas
churches and school houses were con
spicious, and no saloons. AT 1880 ?
M, our train moved out from Mo
jave. We crossed a part of the Sier
ra Nevada mountains and entere,
the San Joaquin Valley, but not un
I'll about DAYLIGHT. The aDnearanc