The record-union., 1892-05-18
BEAUTIES OF SHASTA.
The Scenic Railroad Route From
Sacramento Northward.
Lower Soda Springs. and the New
Castle Crag Tayern-A Scene of
Beauty and Grandeur.
Travelling Correspondent REcoRD-UN1oS.I

/ Travelling Correspondent RECoRD-UNIoN.l
Leaving Sacramento, your correspond
ent passed rapidly northward, through
the beautiful valley Of the Sacramento,
with its fine orchards, fields of waving
grain and thriving cities and towns, I'M
til reaching the picturesque station of
Middle Creek, situated at the entrance of
the Sacramento Canyon, through which
flows Upper Sacramento River, clear rs
crystal and cold as ice. Passing on up
the canyon for ten or twelve miles, up
steep grade with low ranges OF mount
aims covered with live oak and shrubbery
OF many kinds, we cross the river for the
first time over long circular trestle-
bridge, and in an instant we plunged into
a tunnel of perhaps mile in length, and
as quickly emerged into daylight sur
rounded on every side by the most beau-
utul scenery the eye could rest upon.
To the right a deep canyon spreads
away for miles, covered with tall pines,
cedar and tir trees, with smaller shrubs
covered with blossoms. On upward we
follow cur iron horse, the scenery inn
proving as we go. Here dashing down
Inc mountain side is Il crystal stream
tumbNDg over the blocks OF granite in It's
way, forming beautiful cascades. On we
90. crossing first TO the right and then TO
the left o. the Sacramento it looking at
times as though we would be dashed to
lis bottom, when we would swing to the
right or LETT around curve. Many times
the train would be IN crescent shape: ali
the time the mountains reaching higher
and the trees taller; the mountain streams
increasing in number; the river growing
more restless rs it plunged through It's
~ r,,R i,
mense powders that resisted its progress
at one time clear and of Il deep green
from the shade OF trees and shrubs that
covered It's overhanging banks, again
white as snow as it dashed over its rocky
he'd Here we look up for hundreds OF
feet and nothing but 4 bare wall OF
granite o. slate can be seen-not plant
nor bush.
In al instant the scene changes and an
other stream, tall mountains, with their
snOw-capped tops, or beautiful canyon
meets the eye. Through such scenes we
pass for fifty seven miles, when we reach
the station of Lower Soda Springs, where
we leave the cars. As we step to the
platform we are compelled TO pause and
III wonder and awe on the scene bursting
upon us. IL! front OF lis Nature has made
4 natural park, perfectly level Tor about
two hundred yards III width and perhaps
halt miie in length, covered with ma
jestic pines and without bush to mar
their statelness.
At the south end of this park Will be
the depot. Across the park you see a
r.se of perhaps seventy feet. the base
OF " hich is crescent-Shaped along which
the Sacramento winds its way plaYtuiIy,
tumbllng over its rocky bed. Crossing
the park we come to rustic bridge. over
which we go winding around the hill and
gradually ascending until we get 10 the
top, when we find ourselves facinC one
Of the finest and most beautiful valleys
the eye could rest upon, Of y quarter OF Il
mile wide and perhaps one mile in length
covered with grass and shrubs. On the
brow Of this elevation, directly facing
the railroad, stands the beautiful sum
mer residence Of G. +. Croker, now
almost completed. One thousand feet
to the rear is situated the beautiful
and commOdiOus Castle Crag Tavern,
with It's many rooms ready for the
furniture already ordered. Back OF the
tavern Is q mountain several thousand
feet in hight, covered with evergreen
trees, forming at once a beautiful back
ground.
Two miles away, and directly facing
the residence of Mr.. Croker the lofty
Castle Crag stands, reminding one Of
some ancient castle, with it's gray granite
walls and numerous spires. capped with
snow, with here and there a Scrubby pine
w Sfth. I y tAlS NSillcyy OUU ydIuS, you
cross a swift running stream, and at the
base OF the mountain is situated the soda
spring, from which this place takes its
name. The water bubbles up, filling a
barrel which has been sunk into the
ground, and over the edge flows per-
haps 10 gallons of water per hour. The
water is very strong ofsoda and iron, eX-
ceedingly cold and very pleasant to the
taste, and pronounced very healthful, es-
pecially SO for any impurities ofthe blood,
us many OF the mechanics working on
the different buildings testify The over
flow from the spring is carried away into
the stream by rustic trough.
Two miles below the residence of Mr..
Crocker and situated much the same as
the soda spring, we find the sulphur
spring. The water is very cold, tasting
strongly OF both sulphur, iron and soda,
sulphur predominating.
at the station we look up the canyon
and see the lofty peaks of Mount Shasta.
Two miles above and to the right OF the
river and road the Red Cross Lumber
Company are breaking ground to tap an
immense belt OF the finest timber in the
world, twenty miles in length and four
the California and Oregon at the springs
A large force are at work and Supplies
and material are being rapidly for
warded.
The climate of this lovely resort is such
as one should wish for on leaving the hot
plains or valleys below. A constant
breeze comes down the canyon. The
trip we pronounce the most enjoyable