The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-04-04
LETTER FROM j. ID. KING.
OCEANIC STEAMSHIP ALEMEDA
Lat. 27 deg, eI min Lon. I44.28,
FRIDAY. Feb. 18th. 1850.

OCEANlC STEAMSHIP ALEMEpA
Lat. 81 deg, cI min Lon. 44.28,
FRIDAY, Feb. I5th. 1859. J
Ed. Democratic Press:
In pursuance of my promise to you,
send you few lines, thinking they
may interest your readers.
After bidding good bye to our many
friends, and our home of life time,
we started OF our long journey on the
evening of Jan. %. Good fortune
seemed to attend US from the start:
Trains on time. and splendid weather
all the way; indeed, continued sun
shine favored Us all the way across the
continent; mild weather and very lit
tie snow.
In Iowa we made a stop OF two days
with relatives, and on the evening of
second day were joined, as previously
arranged, by our companions de
voyage" Mrs. Converse and Charley
Brigham, and resumed our journey,
reaching Council Bluffs next tmorning.
Here we had to tarry nearly all day. to
get our through train; arrived at Den
yer evening of next day. Tarried all
night III the wonderful city of the
plains, aud took the D. & r. @. &. r,
in order to pass through the wonderful
scenery along its line, and l may say,
1t is useless for me to attempt to por-
tray to your readers the awful grandeur
of the sights we here beheld. Lam
guage is utterly inadequate to convey
the faintest idea of the awe inspiring
sublimity of natures handiwork in
the Grand Canon of the Arkansas and
the Black Canon of the Gunnison and
we almest bow in reverence at behold
ing the wonderful achievements of
science displayed in the construction
of railway over this Marshal Pass
surely, the man who did this has
builded to himself monument as en-
during as the mighty hills it traverses.
At last, we emerge out upon the beau
tiful Utah Valley. Certainly this must
be the original home of primeval man;
here the Garden where our ancient
mother plucked that unfortunate ap
pie. For although, now clothed in a
mantel of cleaning white, pure as pu
rity itself, encircled by lofty noun
tains stretching away to the southwark
until lost to view in the distance-in
the center its peaceful lake. But stop;
I must pass on. We are further re-
minded that this is Eden, for when
the train pulls up at Spring Valley
station, the cars are at once boarded
by half a score of little Ewes, offering
us all the fairest apples ever presented
to sinful man.
Again we rush Oh. leaving behind
the VALLEY Beautiful" entering Great
Salt Lake Valley, and finally reach
the City of the Saints" Here again
is manifested the wondrous effects of
well directed labor. Industry has
smote this valley with her magic wand
and 10 ! the desert blossoms as the
rose.
After stop of an hour we are on
our way again, leaving Salt Lake City,
its huge smoking smelling works, tenn
pie, tabernacle. fine streets, Mormon
Jew, Gentle, all behind.
Just as the sun was sinking behind
| the distant mountains that bound
Great Salt Lake on the west, we skirt
along the eastern shore, reaching Os
| den about 8 p. In. A stop OF couple
| of hours, and We take the Central Pa
cific, and are Oh the home stretch for
the western slope. Two nights aud
OF day along the HUNT hoiut Valley
across Nevada. and the dawn ii ads us
nearing Sacramento.
WondroTs change! Whereas, when
last we saw the sun go down, W. were
in mid winter; va few short hours,
aud We are in the InidS1 OF leaty trees
and flowers, and fields clothed i'll Iiv-
ing green. Ninety miles along the
valley, through fac villages and wide
fields of bright green grain and grass.
| We reach Benicia, and our train is
| ferried across an arm of the bay, and
| at last we are in Oakland, and in few
minutes across the ferry and through
the crowd of bowling hoodlums, bus
drivers, we are safely landed at cur
hotel. tired and very thankful. A good
scrubbing, dinner, and we proceed to
tSke GO ID rest.
We learn that we are five days toe
soon for our boat, and have to cast
about to devise ways and means to put
in the time. But in this wonderful
city, that is not difficult task. Out
to the Cliff House, to see and hear the
sea lions; stroll through the Sutrc
Park, probably the finest i'll America;
across the bay Zone of the finest in the
world to Oakland, and up to Berkeley
to the State University-and thus the
time is passed.
Here we had to bid good bye to oul
companions, who resumed their jour
ney to the south. This seems like
cutting the last tie that binds us tC
Ohio. We have enjoyed their compa
ny very much, ana feel very sad al
their leaving.
We have had the pleasure of meet
ing, while here, the Rev. J. A. Cruzap;
also, Mrs. Paulk, w. B. King. anu
Thomas Horton and with ali OF them
| time seems to have dealt kindIy.