Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-09-12
A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA.
Mention of Many Former Resi-.
dents of Wisconsin.


the 18th Of July we left historic old
Mineral Point. Having pleasant
ride in the moving palace, we reached
the busy city of Omaha next morning,
where we laid over until p. M, and
then boarded a we'll equipped Bur-
lington train for Denver, which we
reached the next morning at O'Clock.
Taking street car, we were soon at
the pleasant and hOspitable home of
our old friend and comrade Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Evans, whom we found
waiting and watching to extend a cor
dial welcome. After enjoying their
hospitality for three days, and taking
in the sights of Denver. we again
started for beyond the Rockies, A."
making short stop of twenty-four
hours at Colorado Springs, where we
visited Mr.. c. L. Schellenger and
wife, Manatou, and the " Garden of
the Gods. The next morning we are
aboard the crowded train of the Den
yer q Rio Grande railway, composed
of eleven coaches and two baggage,
drawn by two large mogul engines
After running south along the base of
the mountains for about forty five
miles, Pueblo is reached where we
turn west up the Arkansas into and
over the Rockies. " Ascending the
Arkansas, we pass through some
magnificent scenery, including the
Royal Gorge" where the granite
rocks stand perpendicular for thous-
ands of feet. After entering the gorge
the train moves slowly, the labOred
breathing of the two monster engines
at the head of the train, with an oc-
casiOnal scream of the whistles, the
river foaming and roaring, rushing
past as if angred by the intrusion of
the iron horses with their load of
assure which it had cut for itself
through the granite rocks, requiring
ages to accomplish, with the craigs
menacing their lofty heads above the
daring intruders, makes the place 1.-The
the entrance to some Internal region,
with no possible way of escape. We
become dwarfed and dumb by the
sublime scene, and nature exhibits the
power she possesses. But, like our
course through life, if we proceed a
course will open up. Escaping from
the gorge we proceed up, up; passing
Leadville on our right, the Tennessee
Pass is reached, where a tunnel a
mile long lands us on the Pacific
slope, at an altitude of 10400 feet
the road passing down the Eagle and
Grand river canyons, with scenery
equally grand and in some respects
more stupendOus than that of the
eastern slope. After passing Grand
Junction we enter the desert of Colo
RADIO and Utah, a barren stretch of
about 25O miles. After passing the
Wasatch range we enter the valley of
the Great Salt Lake. Then on over
Nevada desert for a distance of sew
eral hundred miles the valley of the
Humboldt is reached, and followed
for 270 miles: then the road ascends
the Sierra Nevada range, with its 10
miles of snow sheds, and splendid
scenery, we enter California, with it's
orchards and vineyards, and its i'm
mense wheat fields. Sacramento is
reached the second day after leaving
Denver. After ride of a few hours
the city of San Francisco is reached.
After few days spent in and about
the city, sight seeing, and Mrs. M.
getting her feet wet wading in the
the Pacific, we started for Fresno,
where our old neighbor and friend
Nate Hayes and family live. " Nate"
met us at the depot, and after a pleas
ride of twelve miles, through vim
yards and orchards loaded with fruit
we reached his home, nestled among
his own vines and fig trees. His wife
was waiting for us TO learn of their
many friends in Mineral Point. After
staying four days we started for Mr..
James b. Wallis's at Modesto, where
he is engaged in wheat raising. We
found him and family well and pros
periug. Thence we went to Stockton,
where our former townsman and
friend NJ. w. Prater lives had a
splendid visit with E" Matt" He and
all the rest have kindly feeling for
Mineral Point. While there | saw
VIII Oates, who has become noted
throughout the state as an architect.
After, say twenty-four hours, we came
to Sacramento, where we visited
Josiah Jacka. He is we'll employed
in the railroad shops as a carpenter
We spent a very pleasant Sunday,
and found all the family we'll and