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

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 tunnel-likc
snow sheds we reach the summit OF the
Rocky mountains. This place, Sherman,
called so in honor of General Sherman has
the highest altitude S,242 feet, and on high
point south of where the train stopped
monument of granite is erected to the MEM
ory of Hon. Cakes Amcs who was the pro-
moter of the U. p. r. r. The scenery
around here beggars all description. 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
and 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 Il 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 a 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. AT
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 soil
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.tivc
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 ofdeep 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 overhanging
branches board with the above legend, and
which shows that we are just 1000 miles from
Omaho sign which is said to have been
hanging there from time immemorlal to greet
the weary and foot-sore overland Traveller on
his way to the gold fields of California or to
cheer him on his return to his family and
friends in the East. We now cross several
bridges over the Weber river which we have
been following for long time until we reach
the Devils Slide" formed by the high fences
or ridges Of rough granite rock about ten
feet apart, running from the river bank to
the summit of the mountain, about 200 feet.
Many of our gcntles wondered if Brigham
Young was the deyl who slid down there
into Utah, but, those thoughts were scared
out of our heads as we were just about to
enter the Devils Gate" and the scenery was
too grand to lose sight of for one moment.
The "Dcvis 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 was
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 the
cold shivers crept through every vein. On
ward and upward we went through the
rocks. by way of tunnel, of course, and
around them, until at last we sped again in
to wide and level valley where the natives
were busily engaged in sowing grain, pillow.
ing or repairing their irrigation bitches, for
like other mountainous and prairie countries
this is the only means of raising eatabes in
this country. Although the mountains are
CO. cred with snow and some of the rivers
with ice, yet that did not seem to effect the
weather in the valleys as it was warm and
pleasant.
Internationally this letter has grown
rather long and f our readers al e not already
worried, we will ask them to wait until oul
next for conclusion of this trip. Yours,
FAHARDY.