Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-08-19

deavor Convention Trip Up the
Ukiah Valley.
UKIAH, Cal. July ID, 1897.
Mr.. EDITOR:
Our last letter to you was finished at
Ogden and mailed at Promontory,
where the golden spike was driven in
1859, which finished the trans-con-
tinental railroad. Many of us went
out TO see the spot, and some even ex-
pected TO see the golden spike. Our
ride west from PrOm0ntory was through
more of the American desert, and all
through Nevada the land seemed TO be
worthless, and about as we heard the
girls express it dozen times, ut is
perfectly AWFUL The porter makes
our bed and we retire early, preferring
to sleep the time away through these
bad lands.
On the morning of the Sth we woke
up as we approached the Sierra Nevada
mountains, over which our train is
hauled by two engines having three
pairs of large drive wheels to each
engine. In crossing the Rockies our
route run mostly through the valleys
and gorges, where we had to look up to
see the sights: here We go over the top
and look down with as much interest
rs before. We soon descend into the
Sacramento Valley, into the fruit
regions where it is offered to us at any
price the vendor sees fit to ask. Here
our reception begins in earnest, for we
are greeted all along the line, and if
any one had any regrets for this trip on
account of being delayed, they certain
ly we're wiped out by the fine reception
that awaited US as we rolled into Sac
ramento City. The depot was thronged
with Endeavorers from the city, who
greeted US with Misunderstanding and gave
Us flowers and bouquets with lavish
ness that was surprising. We wonder
ed if the other fifty or sixty tram loads
which passed here before and after us
were welcomed in this way. Well, we
finally arrived in San Francisco at 8
o'clock, only two days late, and the re-
| ceptiOn committee met us and took us
up town on the street cars, thinking 10
lind us a stopping place, but in this
they failed, anyhow SO far as our Da-
kota squad of six was concerned. Ho-
tells and private houses that were Of
fered were all full, SO we finally started
out on our own hook and soon found a
fair place for all six in one house. The
restaurants and eating houses are of
good quality and very cheap. The
nights are SO cool that furs and over
coats are worn on the streets.
Well, we hardly know what to say
about this city. Anyhow, it is not in
its natural element with $4,000 Chris
tian Endeavorers here. This includes
the writer.) 1t is billy and mountain
Gus, and the streets are paved with
cobble-stone, which makes it the
noisiest place out. Judging from the
number Of wine houses and saloons that
keep open seven days in the week one
would conclude that it is morally, as
we'll as geographically, rough city.
The headquarters where the general
services are held is in the Mechanics
Pavilion, located in the central part OF
the city. The Pavilion seats 10000
persons. Generally twice this number
try to get in and fail. The crowding,
squeezing and jamming trying to get
in when the doors are thrown open is
one unavoidably bad feature. How.
ever, those that are not successful in
getting In here are invited to other
halls aud churches, where overflow
meetings are held. We attended both.
We think, aside from curiosity, that
the smaller ones are the best, because
they can be better conducted and the
singing more under control aud much
better. Ten thousand persons all sing
ing 1T once, for Christian Endeavorers
all sing, was not as harmonious as one
would like to have it, but for beauti-
full confusion it was all right. Again,
the speaker could not be heard by more
than one-half of the audience, but then
the sea Of faces and the waving of white
handkerchief was sight worth see-
ing. When we consider the excellent
behavior and social good feeling mani
tested by the Christian Endeavorers
here, and ever on our journey west one
cannot help being impressed of the fact
that it has great influence for good.
In our rambles we visited the Cliff
House with it's rocky surroundings, To-
Gated on stern and rocky coast. Then
the Golden Gate Park, with it's
museums OF natural history and fine
art gallery, which we'll repays visit.
We find that excursion trains are
branching out In every direction, SO the
writer and family 60 north up the
Ukiah Valley some one hundred and
l th{stoon yvn{loc n n3oo ufkourocrs. .s.ao