Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-28
RETURN FROM SHASTA.
INCIDENTS On THE RETURN TRIP
FROM sIsKIYGU.
A Region Full of the Wonders and
Beauties of Nature-The Nine
raj Springs-Etc.

A Region Full of the Wonders and
Beauties of Nature-The Nine
raj Springs-Etc.
Sunday morning at an early hour the
excursionists on the train that went to the
Upper Soda Springs Saturday were up, and
the narrow canyon reyerberated with
shouts, peals of laughter, singing, and the
crack of resounding firearms. The two
trains formed a line of miniature hotels for
over half a mile on the right bank OF the
Little Sacramento, which at this point is
some fifty feet in width, swift, deep, the
water clear, sparkling and pure. Many a
little fire was built over which a coffee-pot
was suspended, and coal oil stoves did ex-
cellent service on car platforms.
The passengers soon found their way to
the soda springs across the river, and
barrels of it was carried oyer to the train
for the benefit of the light-headed gentle
men and timid ladies who did not care to
Try the foot-log crossing.
Many of the excursionists who are in the
habit of INDUCING in spirituous and malt
liquors found to their utter dismay that the
hotel was run on strictly temperance prin-
ciples. A Sacramentan stepped up to the
proprietor Sunday morning and said, 81
would like to have my bitters before break
FAST He WA informed that liquors of all
kind were prohibited. He, by the way, re-
marked that the soda water was a good sub
stitute, and was IN
EXCELLENT ANTIDoTE FOE SNAKE BITE"
The Sacramentan, as he swallowed an
other goblet of the soda water, remarked
We'll. it may have all the medicinal prop
critics o claim-it may cure snake bites,
and all that-but for an everyday, plain,
ordinary drink, it is too thin. Id rather
have a little bug juice in mine.'
The number of mineral springs in the
section q quite numerous. About a mile
and a half above the hotel, on the east
bank OF the river, is a flowing soda spring,
in which the water boils and bubbles, and
tastes good. This spring was christened
the Coleman spring, in honor of a we'll
known Sacramento banker, who was the
first of the party to discover it, and who
made an analysis of its waters on the spot.
Sulphur and iron springs are also quite
plentiful. Within seyenty-five yards are
four running springs, representing sulphur,
iron, soda and water in its purity-all clear
and cold.
A large number of the party shortly
after breakfast started out on a tour of in
spection on foot, and went to the end of
the track. which is two miles above the
hotel. Here workmen were found en-
gagged in putting up
A WROUGHT R BRIDGE
Across the river. This is a spot of singular
beauty, IN fact the most interesting point
that had been seen on the entire route. On
the left bank, for a distance of upwards of
a hundred yards, at an elevation of one
hundred feet above the river, a sheet of
water bursts forth from the mountain side,
and leaps in ribbons of silver, and little
cascades, through the beds of green fern,
and over m~oss-covered rocks, to the river
below. Above the point where the water
enlerges from the rocks, there is a noun
tain several hundred feet in height, densely
covered with a growth of pine and fir. On
its summit is a plateau of considerable ex-
tent, where is found
THE CANT OF THE RAILROAD BUILDERS,
Who number at this point 1900. 1t was
Sunday when we reached the camp. and it
presented an active. scene. 1t was wash
day and all hands were making their regular
Sunday clean up. Divine services were held
in a little shady grove not far distant from
the camp, but the eloquence of the preacher
failed to secure more than fifteen or
twenty to listen to his sermon on the return
of the prodigal son..
The company use a large number OF
horses, wagons and carts. This road is one
of the most expensive ever constructed in
the State, some of it costing more than
100000 to the mile. Every portion of it
has to be blasted. Black powder is used
on the surface, in the banks and cuts, but
in the tunnels the more powerful explosive,
are used in the tunnel work, and they ac-
complish so much in a short space of time
that nne of great length are not looked
upon now as of yore, as almost insurmount-
able barriers. One tunnel on this route,
beyond SisSons. is to be upwards of 700
feet in length, 5000 of which has been al
ready bored. The grade of this road from
the Upper Soda Springs to Sissons, which
is the base of Mount Shasta, is about 116
feet to the mile. About two miles below
the springs is a small settlement called
Pushertown. Here relay engines will be
stationed to assist in pulling or pushing the
of the road. This whole section
is full of water, and necessities
the putting in Of many stone c~ulverts, and
The foundation of the track is laid with the
greatest care.
The timber in the n~eighborhood of
Sisson's consists of forests OF pine, fir, cedar
snd spruce, differing little from the same
growths at similar elevations in all parts of
the Sierras. except that the trees are more
openly disposed,
~ LIE GROVES,
And have little of that bright yellow moss
on their trunks which is characteristic OF