Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-09

tory calculations, as the great white noun
tain serrated ridge of limestone came into
view.
Upper Soda Springs, where the first ex-
cursion stopped, was not our destination,
and that beautiful spot, which nature has
made o perpetual invitation to rest, and
where the adjacent streams are said TO
swarm with trout, was soon left behind.
1t was here, by all accounts, that
Messrs. Ryland, of San Jose, and Chesley,
of Sacramento, began to fish, though every
lady on the train can testify that they did
not leave the cars with any angling appa-
ratus; nevertheless, though devoted in
their attentions to the fair sex, these two
must have "gone a-fishing," for on our re-
turn there were the fish they caught.
What group of Indians had to do with it
none can tell, but somewhere between the
springs and Sissons the fish were caught.
At Sissons we met with
A WARM WELCOME.
The restaurant car of our train. though
good meals = notwithstanding
the caterer was not prepared for so large a
company, and ran somewhat short of stock
did not prevent large numbers from going
to the hotel, where the host did his utmost,
and succeeded in satisfying the appetites of
the company. The mountain air on city
dwellers has marvellous effect, sharpening
the appetite to degree that would make
the ordinary landlord go hang himself.
Not so at Sissons, however; with such
splendid potatoes raised in these upper
latitudes as we have seen nowhere else,
and the rarest cuts of fresh venison, and
plenty of substantial food of the usual
order, mouths were stuffed and stomachs
filled to content.
THE SALE OF LOTS
In the town of Sissons drew most of the
male excursionists and a good many of the
ladies, too. 1t was, we were assured by
Mr.. Haskell, a successful sale, and the
prices secured are pronounced good. The
site of the town promises well. Al pres
ent it is in need of some upper drainage to
cut off something of sipage of the melting
SHOWS that come down the mountain side
and enter the soil. But this is easily
remedied, and is well understood by all
the purchasers. The railroad company, we
learn, is to maintain division headquarters
here, and Sissions for that, and its delight
full situation as a summer resort, must
grow to considerable proportions, and be
one of the chief towns upon
this mountain line. 1t is not in
tended to enter upon any account
of how our excursionists passed the time
at Sissons. Some hunted, some fished,
others made tours into still higher alti-
tudes All that the railroad men could do
was done to make the stay pleasant A
train was run up to the end of the road, be-
yond Sissons, and many went to witness
the operations of the 5000 workers there
engaged in laying nearly mile of track a
day. These tourists enjoyed great treat.
The scenery grew
MORE AND MORE RUGGED
As we pushed on to the end of the track,
and new views of sublime, towering, snow
clad Mt Shasta, around whose base we
swung, were disclosed to us. As we drew
near terrific explosions were heard. They
were deep, roaring peals, that made a
thousand echoes each roll along the cam
yons and up the mountain sides like
heaviest thunder. The believing of the
great guns at Fortress Monroe are the only
sounds to which the writer can compare
them, but there is no such awe-inspiring
as in the case of the blasts at
"the front" And they came so
thick and fast, peal on peal, crash
on crash, as the rocks were torn
and the very mountains seemed
to tremble and rock as these agencies of
ludu llpDCu up lIt DOMt1S Vi TIE Hills.
Surprise was expressed on all sides that
accidents in this blasting do not more fire.
quenty OCCUR While we were specializing
about it one poor fellow was brought down
from the camp with shattered leg, caused
by falling rock, pushed by one of those
blasts.
BETTER BUILT ROAD
Than is here being constructed no one
need wish to see. The roadbed is hewed
from the eternal hills, aid as solid as rock
and skill can make it, and the rails are of
the heaviest and best rail-steel made. The
grade is only accomplished by innumerable
but the engineering skill dis
played in thus conquering these giant
passes is unparalleled in all the history OF
was made to Upper Soda Springs, the train
being backed down for that purpose, and
here it was, probably, that Mr.. Ryland and
his compatriot, George W. Chesley, cap
tured the mess of splendid trout referred to
without hook or line. Here it was also
that it was agreed that Ryland caught thir-
teen, Chesley five and John Mcneil two,
which small allotment disgusted the latter
gentleman, and he gave the snap away.
Midway between the springs and Sissons
we were shown "'Frisco Falls where an
iron bridge spans the Sacramento river,
here narrow, deep and clear as crystal.
The falls spring boldly from the heart OF
The mountain, and the waters plunge down
10 the stream below. broken into cascades
by impeding rocks and dense growth, and
making altogether one of the strangest of
1t is less heavy, but in its sur
and its path through the rocks
and moses somewhat resembles the lower
sheet of the third division of Yosemite
Fails. Here, while wrapt in contemplation
IF the beautiful broad sheet of pure water
coming apparently from no where in its
sudden emergence from the mountain, one
If the San Francisco excursionists made an
PLUMpED INTO THE WATER
To his chin. He was fshed out, packed
,f to the hotel and hung up to dry beside |
me OF the great blazing fires that take the
Keen and frosty edge off of the evenings at
nosphere. But though we found the
light air cool, it was not bit disagreeable |
rhe days and the nights were perfect. and
lmong all the $50 we did not hear even the |
most delicate regret the trip The writer
las not more than referred to the trip to |
Upper Soda Springs, charming spot.
While others tested the waters of numer-
rus springs that there abound, / preferred
,ther pleasures, and in botanizing found
ny moments filed until the time for de-
)arture.
OF incidents unpleasant there are none to
ecord, if exception is made of lively
'ruction" at Camp McCloud, where The
workers were made happy by the arrival of |
he pay-car, and as result broke num-
Der of heads by way Of celebrating the |
went. We were also witnesses to the inau-
,uration of the first regular passenger train |
rom Sissons to the valley. On our return |
for the length of this report compels the |
of many things jotted down
o be told, and beautiful scenes 10 be espe-
tally written Owe were surprised at |
BEDDING by an invitation to attend
FAIR,
The Shasta county exhibit, arranged BY the |
itizens of Reddiug 10 show what the
ountry thereabout produces 1t would be |
pleasure to describe this fair and all of the |
,reat apples the splendid growth of varied |
linds exhibited; but for that another time
must be taken. 1t must be said, however. J
hat it gave Us all better idea of the su-
,erb resources of the county than volumes |
# books on the subject, and opened the |
yes of the San Franciscans wide. Here |