The Red Cloud chief., 1886-03-12

town In the , Calico MINING district.
| From this plAc0 We had IN ext client
view q the famous Calico mines. four
kdusrti mild being In view, . also she
small mining t3in Of the sem9 u<bel
some six miles a}Eay 70 bnsr north of
DaWet Moving on We soon arrived
1t. Waterman the Junction where
passengers ehepge cars tor the eouth
70 Cotton. Los Angeles. Riverside, San
Diego and other towns. Here q very
large depot and other railroad build
ines are in course of erection. Every
thing has the appearance Of thrift and
prosperity. The town is located on
the south bank of the Mohave rivel,A
vide shallow stream similar tpstM
Platte of Nebraska. 1eAvtg16 Water.
nan Q short ride brought rs out upon
tn Mojaye desert. And now comes
the=moDt& wonderful sight of ell on this
tfip. After ascending the Mojave
desert We came in foil view Of the
wonderful cactus that grow here. First
we saw the small varieties of cactus
then they increased 10 two and three
feet in heighth. This We thought was
wonderful, but imagine our surprise as
We emerged from these varieties of
cactus and other green vegetation TO q
high, sandy and barren desert, not as a
July day. Here we came in full view
Of the wonderful cactus of this barren
region, ranging from three to fifteen
feet high, some growing to a height of
ten feet, the main body from six to
eight inches in diameter, with
but three or tour short stub5ad limbs,
then the large varieties, ranging from
eight to fifteen feet in height and from
ten TO fifteen inches in diameter, and
in appearance similar to an old dead
scrub oak tree, with short broken
limbs three to six inches in thickness.
These cactus trees are scattered all
over this vast desert as far as the eye
al see, and frequently in groups and
groves. After passing through these
we arrived at the summit of this vast
desert, and as we begin to decend on
the west side we enter the Dry Lake,
which to all appearances was recently
covered with water. Our course being
near the center of this lake which
covers a vast area of land as far As n
can see on either side. and being q
perfectly level sandy plain with no
vestage of vegetation anywhere to be
seen. Broad sheets OF water
interpreted here and there, but very
shallow. We now leave this desert,
and in o short time arrive at Mojave
the Junction of the Southern Pacific K
r. Here we change q r for San Jose.
anFrancisco and other points north,
and Los Angeles and other points
south. After supper we started north
for San Jose. Being a little early in
in the evening we saw but little until
the moon rose, and rs it became light
er we found that we were ascending
the Tehachapi Pass, passing through
some eighteen or nineteen t~Nnnels. up
over a spur of the Sierra Nevada
mountains, and as We near the summit
we pass over the loop or cork-screw.
which is really a wonderful piece of
engineering skill. Having passed over
and alongside of deep gorges and
canOns, and some of the largest trees l
ever saw, We now arrived at the slm-
nit and began to descend to the Tulare
Valley. Once in the valley we stopped
at a small town at the foot of the
mountains long enough to take In the
situation. We found ourselves in a
deep valley, high mountains on either
side, rather a damp atmosphere with a
peculiar odor, said to be from the g
breeze driving inland through the
valleys, and the frogs cloaking along
the little stream near by. something
unknown in Nebraska 1 this time of
year. The air was rather chilly and
damp. Soon we moved OH and
emerged into q beautiful wide valley,
which we learned Was the noted Tulare
Valley. Being near midnight and the
moon shining bright and clear, we
were rejoiced to see that We were once
more in the land of the living, travel
ing at the rate of 40 to so miles an hour
Passing through through q beautiful
farming community and prosperous
looking towns, and as we nealed the
Tulare lake we noticed q dense fog
surrounding us which apparently
caused a very damp atmosphere. We
now sought a little rest and repose,
from which We arose about six a. m.
quite refreshed, and on looking We
found we were near Lathrop, where
We were to change cars again for San
Jose. And now the most wonderful
thing of our long trip was noticed, and
our hopes were FULLY realized in the
beautiful view that met our gaze. We
had emerged fnC@ the heavy fog SO
we'll known in the Tulare Valley into
the beautiful San Joaquin Valley, like
q lovely May morning. The whole
Valley seemed to burst forth in its
beautiful sunlight. The green grass,
the fruit trees in blossom, garden
vegetables Tar advanced, fat cattle
roaming over the luxuriant pastures,
all seemed to appear in wonderful
sublimity to us, who but q few days
prior had passed out of the snow drifts
of Nebraska, Kansas and the Rocky
Mountains, on our way to this, the
Pacific slope. Gradually the sun
became warmer and more spring like,
and as We neared Lathrop, east of San
Jose, we we're still more pleased to see
the large fruit orchards in blossom,
and the increase in the height OF green
grass, and grain growing. field after
field covered with beautiful flowers,
ine residences surrounded with beau.
tiful flowers and shade trees. At this
place We changed cars for San Jose,
where We changed cars for Gilroy, and
soon We were passing through the
garden city of this lovely country.
when we are once more on u way,
passing south through the Santa Clara
Valley. A lovely scene meets our eye,
vineyards neatly trimmed, beautiful
ranches, fine residences and lovely
surroundings. Suddenly we find our
selves at the depot amid q h st OF
relatives and friends who. after . hearty
welcome. invited us to seats in their
fine carriages. We drove through the