Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-27
4 VISIT EAST.
AFTER An ABSENCE OF OVER
THiRTY-i Wu YEARS.
A Sacramentan's Trip Through the
Siskiyou Mountains and Over
the Northern Pacific.
PnILADELrHIA. October 10, 1883.

the continent has been written ap by
great many, but as each one views from a !
different standpoint, thought ] might be
able to contribute something that would |
be Of interest to your readers
Our party left Sacramento Septemhea
81 on the Grand Army excursion
train. When we arrived at Davisvi3le
We coupled to the San Francisco por-
ton OF the train, and were detained there
two hours owing to het box. We had
seventeen cars and were drawn b3 three
engines. We did not arrive at Redding
until seven o'clock next morning, where
we took breakfast. From Red Bluff to
Sissons lat which point we arrived at three
o'clock we wind around the meander-
ings of the Sacramento river One can
hardly realize it is the Sacramento, it is SO
clear and sparkling. The scenery is one
grand panorama to the eye, and of that
wild and romantic nature, you do not
get tired of gazing upon. Before reaching
Sissons the train stops to allow the passeE-
gers to ELL their buckets from a soda
spring. 1t is the coolest and most palata-
bic soda water ! ever drank. At Sissonswe
were seven hours late. Here we took supper,
and better table on the line of railroads
is seldom sat down to. While eating, you
have fine view of old Mount Shasta,
which bows its snow-capped head at an
elevation Of IA, 442 feet.
Leaving Sisson at 4 P. NJ, it seoH grew
dark. ana we saw little of the country
from there to Ashland. In the night they
pulled out draw-head, and we did not
arrive at Portland until $50 A. M.-eleven
hours late Here we all marched up tc
the q. A. II. Hall, over mile distant,
where they entertained us with music, and
few short addresses were delivered by
the Committee of Reception and General
Goodman, who had charge of eur delega-
ton. At this point we changed to the
Northern Pacific. We had ore hour to
remain in Portland, consequently we saw
but little of the city. Instead, however.
of getting away in an hour, we did re5 gct
to our car until , o'cioCi, uext morning
(Wedneslay), OWN tc the leaStb Of tine
it took to put in new draw-head, and it
was 4s30 A. NJ. before we left. The Oregon
and Washington Territory G. A. r. went
on in q separate division.
When we turned out next morning we
were at Kalama, a small town on the north
bank of the Columbia river, 40 miles from
Portland The first crossing of the Co.
lumbia is made on a ferryboat similar tc
the Solano, but not nearly as large. The
Columbia is followed for number of mile:
through thickly wooded county.
Let me pause here with my description
sufficient time to remark that it is ar
easy matter to determine why land is Sc
cheap in Washington Territery-it is 81
heavily timbered, and the expense of clear
ing so great, it does not pay to clear it, al
there is no sale for wood. and also very
little sale for agricultural products raised
1t is good stock country in some parts.
is also easy to see why Oregon gave such ;
large Republican majority at her July
election, as upon every farm you pass yot
will see band of sheep Those farmer
could not swallow free-wool doctrines. TIL,
dose made them sick, and the majorit,
will be increased for protection " in No
vembcr. So ner citizens say.
We went into Tacoma, upon Puge
Sound, with the largest passenger trail
ever pulled in there. We remained ther
sufficient time for our purveyors to re
plenish their lunch baskets The content
of them-owing to our getting to eatin:
stations so irregularly-hSd diminishe
very greatly. Tacoma is very prettil
situated. 1t is built mostly upon hig
bluff, which overlooks Puget Sound. 1t
much larger and prettier place than
anticipated, having population of som
1000. They have some very fine and ele
gantly built stores and buildings OF moder
architecture. The Northern Pacific Com
pany is having erected large hotel and
splendid building for its offices. They ar
undoubtedly intending to make this thei
leading seaport city and terminus. Frol
this place the largest ocean steamers ru
to all points. From Tacoma to Gree
river very rich farming country is passe
through, and great hop-growing distric
Their hop-houseS are much smaller tina
those in the vicinity of Sacramento. Som
very thriving looking villages are ais
passed through along here, which are We
and compactly built. The country is yt
thickly timbered, and apparently will b
sufficient for ages TO come. Near dusk W
came to Green river. Along here we fairl
flew around the sharp curves, it bein
down grade, trying to make up lost time.
l have had the pleasure of seeing som
grand scenery, but the scenery for a two
hours ride down Green river equals if M
surpasses, any | ever saw. The tall pin,
clad mountains, the abrupt cliffs, dee
gorges and canyons with the clear streal
rushing down through them, make or
enraptured at the view, and it requires th
pencil of one more gifted than / to prol
erly describe it, but will pause sufficient
to describe some of the personalities an
daily routine:
One car was composed of very agree
able and pleasant party, and by the thir
day out they were all well acquainted
Major Hubbard and A. Leonard wei
among the number and everyone did a
they could to make the journey a pleasar
one. Time passed more rapidly than
imagined it could. We had two Superie
Judges aboard-Judge Gibson of Al;
media and Judge Buckles of Solane. Judg
Buckles is full of mirth, and he held Coul
on two occasions. The first Was on I'll
9th, when he tried young lady and ger
tleman. The charges were trumped up b
jealous rival of the young lady. Th
sentence was NEST severe, being that th
prisoners should get married upon the
return to California. The sentence S
overcome the young lady that she tainted
OF course the young man caught her
his arms, which caused her to revive
the verdict is not given exactly oorrec
the Judge can correct it.
We arrived at Pasco Thursday, Septen
ber 9th, at a. NJ. This is the junction
the Oregon Short Line with the n 2. /
r., and is the most dismal, dreary-looiin
place | ever saw, being in the midst of
forlorn, sandy desert. We crossed the C.
lumhia river for the last time Just befoi
arriving here. Little does it look like I'll
Columbia we left at Ealama, and not
tree or shrub about it.
At Pasco We could not get cup of coffs
fit for a tramp, and a Jack-rabbit woul
starve to death there. 1t would be
splendid place to ship the Australian raj
bits; they would fall to killing each ottS
in disgust. Leaving the,ee, desola:
country is passed through fer miles. IL
wards evening we come to the mountain
again-a great relief after crossing the d.
serted plain. We cross betwces the arm
of Lake Pen d'Oreiile.
The lake is about 1900 feet elevation,
Idaho Territory; q beautiful lake, sixt
miles long and fifteen miles wide "
were eating supper in the diniag-ca
which was taken on between Portland an