Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-05-16
From Kansas City, to
Sacramento, Cal.
[CONTINUED.1

CONTINUED.
Now we encounter snow storm but the
long snow sheds save us from being showed
in and the cars are dark as dungeon. After
emerging from one of those long tunncl-likc
snow sheds we reach the summit OF the
Rocky mountains. This place, Sherman,
(called so in honor of General Sherman,) has
the highes, altitude s242 feet, and on high
point south of where the train stopped a
monument of granite is erected to the men,
DRY of Hon. Cakes Amcs who was the pro-
moter of the U. p. r. H. The scenery
around here beggars all descriptions 1t is
majestic and like the Chinese language
hard to make out.
Dale Creek bridge. 1865 feet high and $50
feet long, crosses Withholding Iavinc. The
Black Hills to the North, with those to the
West, covered with snow, the sun going
down at the same time, made the scene very
impressive Our train is running IN two
sections and at times we could see the rear
train jumping apparently from the tops OF
trees or emerging from tunnel. At times
our train runs for miles with all steam cut
off, again we have two iron horses putting
AMI snorting with madness for the grade Is
steep and hard to climb. Night overtakcs
us and we pass through Rawlns but are
awake early enough to look out at Rock
Springs. This is wild region, the only in
dustry being sheep raising and mining both
of which are carried on very extensively, the
U. p. Co. having full charge Of all the
coal mines.
Rock Springs is n live town, but as there
is not blade of grass to be seen or even any
shrubbcry, we judge it would not be very
inviting place to Il lover of trees and the
green fields of the East. The country west
ward to Green River Station is almost total
ly devoid Of vegetation or habitation. A,
Green River Station the high bluffs present
strange looking formations and are known
rs the Green River Shoals The walls rise
up perpendicularly for hundreds of feet, and
are composed of layers of every kind of sol
packed in sandwich fashion. All through
here the rivers were covered with thick ice
We now pass on to Echo city, through
Echo canyon into Weber canyon. Here We
see black rockies and red rockies, the north
side covered with snow and the south side
clear and clean. Weber canyon is thirty.tivt
miles long, and is one of the grandest and
most picturesque scenes on the trip. At times
we are crossing high bridges and running
under and alongside of high mountains
winding in and out of deep gcrges, past Pull
pit rock where Brigham Young is supposed
to have preached his first sermon in Utah
We reach the celebrated 1000 mile tree
which bears upon one of its overhanginq
branches a board with the above legend, and
which shows that we are just lOOOmi from
Omallo sign which is said to have beer
hanging there from time mmemorlal to greet
the weary and footsore overland trayclcr OF
his way to the gold fields of California or tt
cheer him on his return TO his family anC
friends in the East. We now cross severa
bridges over the Weber river which we have
been following for a long time until we reacl
the Devils Slide" formed by the high fences
or ridges of rough granite rock about ter
feet apart, running from the river bank tt
the summit of the mountain. about 200 feet
Many of our gcntiles wondered if Brigham
Young was the deyil who slid down there
into Utah, but, those thoughts were scared
out of our heads as we were just about tt
enter the Devils Gate" and the scenery was
too grand to lose sight of for one moment
The "Dcvls Gate" was where the rushing
waters of two streams met and. passed be
tween two gigantic hall like rocks falling in
to the caldron below. The sight here wal
wild but enhancing. On either side within
close proximity were the high mountains
there the surging river and trestle bridge
before you and behind you and all about you
! Ones hair almost stood up straight and thu
cold sllivers crept through every vein. On
ward and upward we went through thu
rocks. by way of tunnel, of course, ant
around them, until at last we sped again in
to a wide and level valley where the natives
were busily engaged in sowing grain, pillow.
ing or repairing their irrigation bitches, fo
like other mountainous and prairie countries
this is the only means of raising eatables il
this country. Although the mountains arr
co cred with snow and some of the rivers
with ice, yet that did not seem to effect th'
weather in the valleys as it was warm ant
pleasant
Internationally this letter has grow
rather long and if our readers ale not already
worried, we will ask them to wait until ou
next for a conclusion of this trip. Yours,
FAHARDY.