Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-25
NAMES G. A. r. PARTY.
The Last Stages of its Journey to CAL
ifornia.

San Francisco, Cal, Aug. 1S.-(Spec-
iaD The Merricll Party arrived at
Salt Lake City about nine o'clock Fri
day night. our train being ten hours
behind time, we had no opportunity to
see the city. as was intended, but had
to start out after a stop of a few min
utes. In Il short time, we are at Og-
den. Now the route winds through Il
valley, green and beautiful. the effects
of irrigation. All thro' the night we
are rushing along thro' the Sierra Ne
vada Mountains. and on Saturday our
route is along the Humboldt river and
its tributaries, whore for many miles
are broad level fields of grain and hay
in process of harvesting. Now we
come to the desert plains of Nevada
1t is hot, dry and dusty. West of Re
no, the commercial capital of the state
the steady climb of the mountains con-
tinues; when we awake on Sunday
morning we find ourselves in Califor
mia. Truckee is the first important
station in the golden state. A little
farther on, the train stops for few
minutes at It small mining village.
Here we all get off and walk
around to the booths out side,
where fruit of all kinds was
displayed for sale. If such d thirsty
crowd as ourselves We're to call on
these vendors every day, they would
soon get rich. Fourteen miles west of
Truckee we come to Summit Station,
the highest point We reach in the Sier-
ras. After leaving Colfax the route lies
through the Sacramento Valley, a
beautiful place with it's fertile fields of
wheat and great fruit orchards laden
with luscious, ripe fruits, peaches, APP
ricots and other plums. We have n
dining car on the train, so needn't go
hungry. Can get a light lunch, or Il
good square meal as suits ones appC-
lite or purse. Sunday was Il pretty
warm day, tho more comfortable than
Saturday. All are looking forward now
to our arrival in the golden city, the
Mecca of all our hopes. In the after
noon about four o'clock we are met
at a station Il few miles from San
Francisco by Mr.. VIM. H. Wharf,. a
citizen of the city. a G. A. K. man. Sec
rotary of the State of Maine Associa-
ton of California a fine looking old
StHlltiiidil, Vel y PHEASANT htll July anu
solicitous for our comfort. He told us
he was formerly a Bangor man. At
Bcnicia, our train is run on to a ferry
boat, not a little one by any means.
The conductor informs us it is not only
the largest in the United States. but
the largest in the world. the only one
that carries Il large engine and heavy
train of loaded cars. After a ride of
an hour in this novel way, we reach
Oakland. Here we all leave our train
and walk along across the street and
into what seems good deal like
the interior of n fine church. the
seats being much the same, but
we soon find that we are on
another large boat and rapidly APP
preaching the great city of San Fran
cisco. Like Rome, this city is built on
a number of hills and the view, as we
come near is grand and beautiful.
The weather is delightful. clear and
bright none of that thick fog we ever
associate with the mention of this city.
Now the floating palace draws up to
the immense wharf, and stops with
scarcely n culver. The great thronS
of people, in which our party seems
a small squad, quickly and quietly leave
the boat and pass out on to the street
escorted by Mr.. Wharf whore we board
the electric ears and are landed at the
Manhattan Hotel. 1t is an elegant
house, everything delightfully."- new and
clean, large. airy rooms, splendidly
furnished. The house is run on the
European plan and everything is excel
lent so now, tired and happy and
with thankfulness that we have all
been brought safely across this great
continent of ours, we all enjoy the lux
ury of a good nights rest. Crowds OF
people are pouring into the city from
every quarter but there seems to be
plenty of room for all who come. There
are many meetings of old friends and
comrades. 1t really seems that the
Great Commander orders events to
please the G. A. r.
ONE OF THE PARTY.