Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-13
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

PUGET SOUND is full of pretty marine
pictures. Along its picturesque shores ma
ture in its virginity still holds sway. The
water trip from Seattle southward to Taco
ma Is one Of the most charming on the con-
tinent, If not in the world. The rail route
between these rival cities traverses grow
ing, newish region, where pioneer life Is seen
brushing up against an older agricul'
tural development, making a contrast both
entertaining and instructive. My route
homeward took me to Portland, the pride OF
Oregon and the rival Of Frisco for metro
politan honors on the Pacific coast. II you
are tond of canned salmon keep away from
Its big canneries. If you want to see a
sight you'll never forget visit the Chinese
manned fish-mangling establishments there.
Perhaps you'll still eat the red-feshed
da1nties-and perhaps not. But there's big
money in this food industry, and that's
what they're after in Portland as we'll as in
the other crowded communities Of the
civilized world.
To CATCH a glimpse of the continent
lower down 1 returned over the Union
Pacific. From Portland this line hugs the
magnificent Columbia, broad, deep, fish
filed. On its green shores fine fruits
flourish to add to the profits from
goodly crops of hops and cereals.
The cherries and peaches Of this favored
valley are simply large, meaty and luscious,
connoisseurs pronouncing them the best in
the land. Signs of settlement are frequent
along the we'll watered and densely wooded
regions. and there are evidences of thrift
and contentment on all SIDES. After leaving
the Columbia the Union Pacific
cuts across a corner of Oregon and
runs diagonalIy through southern Idaho.
following the Snake river valley for
many miles. Before reaching Ogden, Utah.
several hours are spent spinning through
Cash Valley, where GENTLE can see plain
proofs of Mormon push and enterprise.
Here on level plain. under high mountains,
magnffcently titled and judiciously irri-
gated stretches yield bountifully. Cozy
homes in tree-shaded corners near the
foothills give evidence of prosperity. Long
stretches of sage-covered sand at intervals
between the green and the golden fields
demonstrate the life-giving powers of the
waters and the richness of that deadlock
ing, ash-appearing soil. Cash Valley is well
named, judging from the rich burdens that
were waving and ripening OH its bosom
few weeks ago.
OGDEN was suffering from sunstroke on
the morning of my arrival. The ther-
mometers signaled $50 in the shade. and was
glad when the long and heavy train began
to climb up the steep grade into cooler,
dryer atmosphere. They told me times
were rather hard in Ogden with money at
10 per cent at the lowest, and gilt-edged
security at that. At the foot of the noun
tains over which the Overland Flyer Of the
Union Pacific must climb before Denver is
reached London and Liverpool fruit ex-
press was side-tracked. Large streamers
designated this latest rail enterprise, which,
though it be freight, has right of way ahead
of some expresses. 1t came putting up hill
close behind, winding in and out of the cuts
and defiles at highest speed. A few miles
from the summit the feed pipe of one of the
locomotives hauling the flyer collapsed, and
then the nearness Of the rail companion
was appreciated 1t gave us push to the
top of the mountain, where behind single
engine we ran down into Wyoming's sandy,
bunch -grassed, yellow-fowered plain.
THROUGH long cheerless wastes, past
patches of parched grazing lands. the swift
train sped over level and close-tied road
bed into a land of wind-turned sand hills,
barren but fantastic. Here, like on the
colors compelled the eye to gaze and the
thoughts to wander in an uninhabited fairy
land. At one point a promontory was
rounded which upheld reddish castle
shaped formation. To carry natures de-
ception further q flagstaff had been planted
on turret fashioned by the winds.
There it stood like an ancient
fortress guarding steel tracked gate
way. For hours the train sped through
these. enchanting but desolate. dunes of
shifting. variegated sand. There was no
life, and in the pictures wrought by the
Imagination there was no death either.
Long before reaching Denver the mail-car-
rying coaches were uncoupled and attached
to speedy locomotive. These were sent
on ahead with their secret and silent mes
sengers. Thus the mails make the over
land jou rney quicker than the tourist.
eyes, California gold will soon have to
be mined in her orange groves and vine
yards" said a sombreroed, wiry six-footer
who had boarded the train in Idaho. 1.-THE
gold production of California is falling
off fast Montana, Idaho, Colorado and
Utah must soon be relied on. And
much of the gold, too, must come from
the silver to be mined In these mineral
bearing spots have been prospecting for
eight years in Idaho, and believe it will
soon add largely to the nations store of the
yellow metal. Some rich placer prospects
are now being developed there, and in one
place the samples yield over 81 per cubic
yard, or about 81, 100000 per acre. I, as you
see, am sick man. The salt meats
and the canned stuff 1 have lived on
SO long have completely upset me,
and I'm going to the hot springs to get
boiled out. 1 sold half q gold location the
other day to see me through. When get
fixed up I'm going back to Idaho and de-
velop some claims in a mountain whose
quartz leads carry the same shaped gold as
that in the rich placers far below. Yes, I've
driven in the stakes and have the mineral
in place. See herer' And the sick but con-
fident gold hunter opened a well-worn
valise and fondled some rich specimens of
free gold. l saw him afterward in Denver,
and the result of the assay had almost made
him feel like well man. GEO. A. MADDEN.
FROM SCYLLA TO CHARYBDIS