The Press., 1894-10-25
Number 80.

Leaving this grand scenery, we pass Grand Junction, when we again unite with the main line of travel, and enter upon a wild, barren country. For two hundred and fifty miles there is no cultivation, and hardly any life of any kind. One hun dred miles of this is the Colorado des- ert" Experts have declared that irriga- tion only is necessary to make this fer tile tract. This whole country is studded with mountains and hills, apparently con- posed wholly of rock. Immense boulders and ragged projections of a peculiarly streaked rock are very abundant. One place has received the name of "castle gate," which it very much resembles.
 The region from short distance west of Grand Junction throughout the entire extent of Utah, along the line of the Den- yer and Rio Grande is arid and desolate. We catch glimpse of Salt Lake City as we pass through, and that large structure on the right is the Mormon temple. The process of construction has been going on for many years, and has been but recently completed. was much disappointed in Utah. had heard much of it's industry and productions, and was surprised to find dry, parched and desolate country. But learned subsequently, that it is the part of the territory south and west of the lake that is so highly cultivated, while the railroad runs north and east. The Mor- mons have a community south and west that has been absolutely independent for many years. There are factories for man. featuring every necessity, thousands of acres on which to raise the raw material, and abundance of the best land under the very highest cultivation.
 Salt Lake is an immense body of water, with an area of 2500 square miles. For several hours the railroad runs within sight, but only small part is visible at any one time. We hardly get out of the Utah desert before we are in another as bad in Nevada. In fact from Salt Lake City to near Reno, Nevada, the country is largely barren, but at the same time exceedingly interesting from a geological istandpoint. After leaving Reno we be- gin to climb the Sierra Nevada range. The rest of the trip is delightful. We dash through pine forests, over gullies, down canons, across bridges, now climb ing laboriously, now going down hill, steam shut off and the air brake applied. | One of the most awful sights in the whole l ranoa ic roupdipo NCana Horn A c wa approach the pass we see one fork of the American river that flows past Sacrament to, dashing down the mountain side. A little further down another mountain tor rent is hastaning to the Pacific. We then climb the mountain side, gradually work ing up and out around the ''horn." Here the cliff towers far above us, and we look down a sheer precipice of 2500 feet. A stone dropped from the hand held from the car window will fall the entire dis tance before it strikes anything. Passing around the "horn" we cross trestle near ly 900 feet long and 113 feet high and are once more on the solid mountain, breath ing freely. This was certainly one of the l S1 duuCSt OI ldluI6 dHu SCl- ence we ever beheld. Perhaps should say could have beheld, for while the above description is strictly true our sight was obscured during it's passage. We round- ed "Cape Horn" in the dead of an ex- ceedingly dark night, while we were sleep ing the peaceful sleep of the just.
 Situated in the heart of the Sierras is Lake Taboe, renowned throughout Cali fornia as a summer resort In connection with this spot wicked deception is per- petrated upon unsuspecting travellers. As we pass small lake, perhaps a quarter of mile distant, the porter points it out and gravely tells us it is Lake Taboe. We take it all in, but learn a few days later that the Rio Grande does not pass within ten miles of the lake, and that we never catch sight of it at all. He evidently knows we are tenderfoot. The western part of the mountains and the most east ern portion of California are passed i1 the night, and we find ourselves in Sacra. mento, the capitol city, much too early for our convenience, for before we can dor clothes suitable for appearance in public we have left the city and are rapidly mak. ing our way to Oakland, the terminus oi the Central Pacific Road. It is an exceed. ingly interesting ride, passing miles oi orchards, immense fields of grain, and causing us to believe the local supply oi provisions to be fully equal to the de. mand. Perhaps at some future time we may tell something about this wonderful state, its resources and possibilities.
 | P. R. WATTS