The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-05-24
A TRIP TO THE PACIFIC

the present centufy, leglons began the toll
some march across the plains and over the
mighty mountain barriers to the land OF
promise and gold, a journey which required
months Of toll and priyation and the CON
fronting Of innumerable dangers. With
In period of time SO brief that many now
living made this Journey in the early days
to the wonderful West, what marvellous
changes have been wrought in methods OF
transportation. To-day, surrounded by
every luxury and comfort OF modern ex-
istence, making it veritable holiday. OF
pleasure, the Journey is a delight rather
than a task, and as one is swiftly carried in
palace sleeping cars through to destination
little thought is given TO the labor, effort
and privation attending such a journey in
days gone by.
The Chicago, Union Pacific & North
| Western Line comprises the Chicago d.
North h-Western, Union Pacific, and South
ern Pacific railways-the direct through
car route every day in the year between
Chicago and the Pacific Coast.
The Chicago & Northwestern Railway
was the pioneer line west of Chicago, and
the first engine run over its rails was
named the Pioneer" The Union Pacific
Railroad from Council Bluffs to Ogden was
the pioneer railway from the Missouri River
across the plains and the Rocky Mountains,
while the Central Pacific, from Ogden to
San Francisco, was the pioneer line from
the Pacific Coast across the fertile Sacra-
mento Valley and Sierra Nevada Noun
tains. The roL.e traversed by these trans
continental trains is virtually the same as
that travelled by the thousands Of pioneers,
who rode or tramped over prairie and
mountain.
That part Of the country traversed by
Nha frnv, al zf LII
Union Pacific & Northwestern Line i'm
mediately after leaving Chicago, is the Mis-
sissippi Valley, an ideal agricultural region,
with evidences of prosperity on every hand.
After leaving Illinois, the trains cross the
Mississippi River to Clinton, Iowa, the gate
way to the "Hawkeye" state. The entire
distance across the boundless prairies lying
between the Mississippi and Missouri Riv-
ers is succession OF fertile fields, pros
porous cities and thriving towns Between
Council Bluffs and Omaha, the overland
trains cross the Missouri River, which sep
arates the states of Iowa and Nebraska.
1t is 475 miles from Omaha to the state
hne of Wyoming, the route being through
Nebraska all the way except for the di-
version of a few miles into Colorado to
reach Julesburg, and the. direct gateway to
Denver. All the way the traveller sees
corn and cattle North Platte near where
Colonel w. +. Cody, Buffalo Bill, has his
famous ranch, is the center of a district
from which great quantities Of live stock
are shipped, and from North Platte west
ward cattle-raising predominates, crops
gradually giving way to grazing until, when
Cheyenne is reached, there is little seen
in the way of diversified farming, while
cattle, horses and sheep are everywhere.
Cheyenne, the capital OF Wyoming, is
city worthy Of more than passing glance,
and from here, as well as from Julesburg,
one can make detour to Denver, Colorado |
Springs, Pueblo, and other Colorado points. |
The first important town west of Cheyenne
is Laramie, with $500 people, and the
next is Rawlins, thirty miles west of which |
the train crosses the Continental Divide. |
The purity and rarity of the atmosphere |
is stimuli lating and refreshing, and mountain
ranges, hundreds of miles away, deceive
the vision by their seeming nearness-the
Sweetwater Mountains, Wind River Noun
talns and Rocky Mountains all being in
sight. Evanston, Wyoming, is halfway be-
tween Omaha and San Francisco, and from
here nearly all the way to Ogden the
traveller may see a succession of scenery
marking the grand as well as the curious
and grotesque in nature. The train glides
swiftly through Echo Canyon and past Cas-
tie Rock, Steamboat Rock, Great Eastern,
Giants Teapot and Pulpit Rock, into Web.
er Canon, where Witch Rocks, DEVILS
Slide, LOCO Mile Tree and Devils Gate are
points OF interest eagerly watched for by
travellers; then, almost before the transi.
ion can be realized, the mountains are
left behind and the train speeds through
! fertile valley with farms and orchards
IN every side, s,.,s @ortly comes to a stop
V the fine .u9io. I, .ationia at Ogden, the sec.
ond city in Importance in Utah, and the
JUNCTION point of the Union Pacific and the
southern Pacific lines. Salt Lake City, the
Zion of the Mormons, is but thirtysix miles
% the south, with frequent train service,
md is the principal city of Utah.
From Ogden to San Francisco the Journey
S one OF notable contrasts. Immediately
Ifter leaving Ogden the route lies through
!. valley made productive by irrigation
Next, the traveller obtains splendid view
II Great Salt Lake, and afterward come
he Sierra Nevada Mountains with varied
scenery unrivaled for picturesqueness.
West OF Reno, Nevada, where the United
states experiment station is locared, the
teady climb of the mountain continues,
nd few miles west of Verdi the state line
,etween Nevada and California is crossed.
,ruckee is the first important station in Cal
lorna and is starting point for beautiful
lake Tahoe and Donner Lake, which lie
hidden IN the mountains short distance
way. Fourteen miles west of Truckee is
summit Station, the highest point reached
y the train in the Sierra Nevada Noun.
aims, and after a most enjoyable ride
round Cape Horn," where the train is
thousand feet above the smiling valley
,eneath, the descent is rapidly made to
,olfax: Leaving Colfax the route lies
through the fertile Sacramento Valley, and
% region can surpass the wheat fields and
rult orchards to be seen. Sacramento, the
apltal OF the state, is in the midst of this
ch region, and 1t is journey of but nine.
Y miles to San Francisco. From Sacra.
lento, Los Angeles and all of delightful!
outhern California are reached by the
outhern Pacific Railway.
EXcursionlsts desiring to return via Port.
md and the northern routes, can have I
holce OF the Shasta route of the Southern
aclilc, which is renowned for its marvel.
US scenery through the Shasta Mountains,
an ocean voyage between San Francisco
nd Portland, on the magnificent steamers
the Oregon Railway & Navigation Com. =
any. Portland is delightfully."- situated, and =
the chief city Of the north Pacific coast. Q
rom Portland all points of local interest, :.
hlch are many, as well as those of the )
uget Sound country can be easily reached =
From Portland to Chicago, the Chicago =
mon Pacific & Northwestern Line. which 3
ciudes the Oregon Railroad & Navigation 4
0. and the Oregon Short Line, is the only :
ne running solid trains of chair cars, =
'aches and standard and tourist sleeping .
lrs every day in the year. ,
Tickets via this route are optional be. q
veen Portland and the Dalles via rail or 6
'at, thus giving tourists the opportunity =
viewing the magnificent scenery for which =
e Columbia River is noted. Stop.overs .
lll be allnmed nt and mnst Of SLI.L-.-.- 2