Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-11-13
From Omaha to Salt Lake City.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,
nc-ohaF RI 1901


October 81, 1871.
Mr.. EDTToR:-our party left Omaha /
Neb, on Monday, Oct, 26. The route up |
the Platte Valley to North Platte is
through the most fertile palt of the State. |
1t is one vast corn-field and grazing ex- |
panse Herds of horses and cattle are |
everywhere to be seen. The farm i'm |
provements do not compare with those of
the east, but the huts are being replaced |
by more substantial buildings. From
North Platte to Cheyenne, distance OF
225 miles, the country is largely unbroken
prairie - the great pasture field of
southwestern Nebraska. The rainfall here
is very scant and there is, therefore, little
cultivation. Not tree or shrub in all
this distance is to be seen, except few
stunted pines on the bluffs near the State
line. The river for miles was entirely dry.
At Cheyenne we had the first sight of the
Rocky Mountains, some 10 or so miles dis
tant Cheyenne is a wealthy, thriving
city but We didn't stop to view 1t.
The run from Cheyenne to Denver, Col.
was largely after dark, SO that we lost the
view of the fertile lands in the neighbor-
hood OF Greeley-rendered so by irrigation.
Greeley is the great potato patch of the
west The tuber grows very large and is
of the finest quality-selling at first hands
at 35 cents per hundred pounds, sacked.
We reached Denver at $50 pm, 2Sth ult.
and stopped at the Oxford, first-class ho-
| tel.
We stopped in this city until the am. of
the 10Th. Denver Is beautiful city. It's
buildings are grand and substantial, built
| largely of red sandstone. 1t has splen-
did electric moter system, so that one can
ride more miles for nickle than in any
city in the Union. Longs, Gray's and
Pixies peaks are in full view, the latter SO
miles distant. Gray peak, 90 miles dis
tant, was seen by the field glass with sat
isfaction.
The run from Denver, over the Denver
& Rio Grande r. X. led us by Colorado
| Springs. This was our nearest point TO
Pixies peak, IA miles to the base of the
mountain, and with the glass the cog rail
way to the top could be distinctly seen.
| This is beautiful place. Leaving it we
pass Pueblo and in the pm, reach Canyon
| City on the Arkansas River at the entrance
of the Royal Gorge. This gorge is
miles long, has an average width of 40
feet and the rocky pillars reach height Of
| 2726 feet The scene is awe inspiring-it
is majestically grand, my pen is too feeble
to describe it's awful grandeur. At one
point the road passes over bridge sus-
pended from three trusses planted ia
the rocks on either side of the river.
At Salida, 2I9 miles from Denver We
tarry for the night. Leaving Salida, by
the Rio Grandc narrow guage-one OF the
finest roadbeds we ever travelled oyer-we
climb 0uray Mountain until we reach
Marshall Pass, at an elevation of 10,850
feet. Two engines take our train Of seven
coaches up this steep ascent. The distance
from Salda to the Pass is s miles as the
crow flies, but 10 by rail. AT the Pass We
are above the snow line, and within 100
feet of the lumber line Here our party
alighted, got few specimens of ores and
your correspondent made SNOWFALL. The
descent of the mountain from the Pass was
as interesting as the ascent. At the foot
of the mountain we entered the valley OF
the Gunnison River.
A short run from Gunnson brings us to
the Black Canyon. This wild, wierd pan
Drama of natures handiwork is 16 miles
long. All who wished had the benefit of
an observation car The Canyon is enter
ed at Castle Gate-two immense pillars of
rock that stand. sentinel and guard this
mighty scenic display. Cantacura Needle.
Chetepa Falls and the Chiefs Head are
prominent points, amid overwhelming
grandeur The highest pinacle is 5000 feet
above the track.
run of few hours brings us to Grand
Junction, where we leave the narrow
guage. Here we again lay over until 4:4o
am, and have a daylight run to Salt Lake
City, 719 miles from Denver. From Grand
Junction a run of 2 hours brings us to the
State line and we enter Utah. The coun-
try tIaversed, until we enter the Utah val
ley il a barren waste Of bluffs with sand
hills and cage brush, on the lower levels.
There is some bold scenery, especially
the Red Canyon aud the Needles, but the
eye wearies with the desoiate waste. \
few lonely huts are seen in the valleys, and
the wonder is how any find substance.
Entering the Utah valley, which is all
under q good irrigating system, thrift and
fertility are found on every hand. The
i valley is from one to several miles in
width and as we ap proach Salt Lake City
the fertility increases.
AT 4:30 pm. we enter this great city, the
Zion Of the Latter Day Saints.
Hero we will remain over Sabbath and
sperd Monday and Tuesday sightseeing.
Yours DC.
GEO. SHoUP.