Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-10-16
A MISSOURIAN'S VIEW OF THE "GOL
DEN WEST" AND THE ROUTE HE
TOOK TO REACH IT. WITH A
FEW SKETCHES OF WHAT he
SAW AND FELT WHILEEN-
JOYING A TWO MONTHS
STAY WITH FRIENDS
ON THE SHORES OF
THE PACIFIC.

Grande railroad lin which we had cross
ed the Rocky Mountains, at the town
OF Ogden, preparatory to our taking
passage over the Central Pacific rail
road to San Francisco. Ogden has a
population of 5000 people, many of
them being railroad employees 1t is
the terminus of at least four different
railroads. 1t is situated in the valley nj
the west of the Rocky Mountains. Ii
is Mormon town, and the people are
busy and active, making money and
getting gain.
Before left home friend had said
to me, "At Ogden you will begin to
meet the fresh fruits of California, and
my opinion is the best of all these fruits
is the cherry. Look out for the
cherry" l did so. and though did not
ind the California cherry, | did find
a nice cherry from Portland, Oregon
They were not fresh enough to be real
good, still they affOred us fair taste
OF what we afterward got i'm San Jose,
the sweetest cherry that ever entered
the lips of man, and large enough for
tUO bites. But of fruits hereafter.
The rest Of our journey to the golden
west was made over the Central Pacific
railroad, in my opinion one of the best
manned and managed railroads i'm our
country. The cars are large and well
ventilated. The Pullman sIeepers were
in the charge OF accommodating con-
ductOrs and careful and attentive por-
tiers. The track though traversing
wide, arid, sandy deserts and over and
across high rock mountains, was well
ballasted, and the trains ran as smooth
ly as any road | was ever upon. The
eating houses were well kept and the
fare was good and we'll prepared, and
the comfort and welfare of the passen-
gers and train men seemed to be the
especial care of the managers of this
road. We left Ogden about I O'Clock
p. m, Thursday, and as long as dav-
light lasted, which was upward OF an
hour, we ran along the northern edge
and around and in sight of the great
Salt Lake, the largest inland body OF
salt water on the face of the globe, ex-
cept the Caspian Sea. The portion of
the Central Pacific which is passed
over in the day time runs through the
humboldt valley. 1t strikes the Hum
Doldt river in the northeastern portion
OF the state of Nevada and runs along
this river first on the north bank and
crossing over to the south bank near
the Pallsade and thence along the
south bank in westerly course for
upward OF 25O miles, when it turns to
the southwest and runs along the east
ern bank of the Humboldt river to
Granite Point, when you again cross
the river to the west not tar from where
it sinks into the earth and is lost IN
Humboldt and. Carson Sink. AT some
seasons of the year, this is big river.
very wide, but not very deep, but
when we saw it iE June and again i'm
August last it was without water and
Its bed as dry as a powder horn.
We took breakfast at Elko on Friday
morning. Here we saw the poor In
dian, who since the building of the
railroads across his desert home, thus
opening up the highway of travel for
his more favored white brother, has
become the professional beggar, loung-
ing about every railroad station and
begging aims from the passengers.
Some OF the Indians are very degraded
Id appearance, all are ignorant and
lazy, and their presence is standing
monument of the unkind treatment
they have received from the American
people. They have made no progress
IN civilization, unless it be to wear the
caSt-off hats and clothing, and to drink
Inc whisky and use the profanity of
Inc white man. AT Elko the Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows of Nevada had
been in session, and an intelligent and
1ne m looking body of men they were too.
The session had just closed, and many
of them took passage on our train tor
home.
had often read of the oasis of the
iesert, the green spot where the weary
'raVeler could lie down under the
'hady trees and drink the cooling
waters provided by his beneficcni |
creator and rest and refresh himself |
ont L had no proper conception of the |
10y that filled his heart until | had stop |
Dedat Humboldt station on the Cenrrl
1aclflc, at high noon on IA summers
lay, ana felt the refreshing influence of |
hat beautiful spot. Here the railroad |
company have dug wells and planted
rees and grown grass and flowers
ina quilt houses in the midst OF the
iesert and here the trains stop TO give
ne passengers the opportunity of |
aking dinner and of strolIipo about
lnder the shade of the trees. One may.
md Invariably does reach this mace
worried and worn, but after an bnur's
telay, will renew mis- journey refreshed
md invigorated.
At WadsWorth we saw what man
an 90 10 make toll sweet and labor
est, When he makes the effort The
tatioh Is the end of the first division
u Inc railroad out from San Francisco
no mere you find the machine .hop-- |
no mere you also find nice green
wards and beautiful flowers growing
rlch profusIon, and here YOU also
no nice building, pretnly surround
ana well lighted and ventilated aud
,eil nlled with good books. 1t is the
orarv estabiishe and perpetuated by
ne olncers and friends of the railroad
)r the use OF its sick and tired en-
loyes. The conductors, engineers.
reineh, brakemen, porters and all the
ands OF the road, know that when
ckness overtakes them or when their
'earled frames fail. they have an d,
sylum ready to receive them. and
he means at hand to restore both mind ,
nd body, and spirit again. 1t is a :
thought that suggested the !;
'unding of this library, with its en- d,
ronments in the desert and it should I,
encouraged.
After passing Humboldt sink one of !,
'e most remarkable. natural phenom-
Ia OF our country, the sinking of the
aters OF great river into the bosom
the earth, we reach Reno, on the
rucker river. Here ends the desert
'rtlon OF our journey; here ended the :
urth day of our march toward the d
inset sea, and here we will stop To u
ST, ere we begin our ascent to the il
ezra Nevada mountains. l. Y
GO WEST YOUNG MAN. h