Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-07-07
M. I. GENERAL CONFERENCE
TOUR no THEPAcIEIc COAST.

TOUR TO THE PACIFIC COAST.
/ On Wednesday evening May II, took
the II. 30 train oyer the Southern Pacific to
Berenda. By taking this route we missed
the beauties Of the Coast Line. but saved
considerably in time, an important factor
with u.s. At Berenda we left the main line
and went over the branch road to Raymond
twenty-five miles distant The trip from
Raymond to Yosemite, a distance Of seventy
miles, is taken by coach, and a day and
half is usually consumed in the journey 1t
is possible to cover the entire distance in a
day by taking the 'canon-ball express,
which is light outfit carrying not more
than six or eight persons. The cannon
ball'' carries mail and express matter, and
makes the trip in twelve hours. The entire
journey is a longer ride than the average
person cares to take in one day, and few
do so.
After refreshing nights rest, we left
Raymond for Wawona, fortY-four miles
distant with stop for lunch at Ahwahnee
just half way between the two points. A
portion Of the way is dusty and hot, but
the coaches are very comfortable, and any
| congenial party can find much more pleas
ure than discomfort in the ride. The horses
are changed every eight or nine miles, and
are very safe and sure footed.
This first days journey took us over the
western foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, and
the view Of the mountain and valley and
the gradually cooling atmosphere were in-
spring Range after range of hills were
passed, each higher than the former. Snow
caps began to appear, and when our days
journey ended at Wowna, we were filled
with the spirit of the mountains and looked
forword with pleasure to the next days
ride.
All through this section of the Sierra
Nevada where the altitude is not too great,
axe magnificent trees OF yellow and sugar
pine and cedar, thousands of them, having
diameter of four and six, and even eight
feet, and towering straight as an arrow a
distance Of nearly two hundred feet. These
trees are beautiful in their symmetery and
strength, but outside the reservations they
are doomed. A lumber company employ
ing four hundred men is denudIng the
mountains, and has enough grants to keep
them busy fol twenty years. A narrow
gauge railroad has been built, and the
timber is carried on flat cars to the mills.
The finished lumber is carried through a
flume sixty miles in length to the main
distributing center. This hume is wide
trough, largely built on trestle work,
through which runs swift stream of water.
A mountain stream supplies the water,
which, after having done its duty in trans
porting the lumber, is valuable for irrigat-
ing purposes.
We were in time to see the ice-plant or
snow-hower, an exquisite creation which,
we were told, is found only in the Sierras
and appears a few days after the snow is
gone It is a deep crimson, has no leaves,
and the entire plant is destroyed if it is cut
off. It sometimes reaches height of eight
| or ten inches, and contrasts brilliantly with
the floor Of pine needles. Within the state
reservation around Mariposa grove, the
penalty for taking ore of these plants is
Imprisonment. They were a constant de-
light to all of us, and drew heavily upon
our store Of adiectiyes.
We were aroused early the next morning
and resumed our journey at six o'clock.
The sun was just glinting over the hills
and the grass was sparkling with dew As
on the previous day there were twelve in
our coach and we had had a merry time,
but the invigorating atmosphere and ma
jestic surroundings combined to bring forth
the brightest in each on this Saturday
mornings ride, and made in one replete
with pleasant memories. From Wawona
the road ascends steadily for thirteen miles
to the height of the pass, and has a,corres-
ponding descent on the other side.
We stop at Inspiration Point on the val
| ley's rim and feast our eyes on the magni-
ficent panorama which lies before us. A
sharp descent of three miles brings US to
the floor of the valley which is seven miles
long, from half to mile and quarter
wide, and as level as plain. We soon
came to Bridal Veil Fall which makes
perpendicular drop Of $50 feet, and stop to
drink in a little of its beauty. A mile
through the valley and we are at the SEN
tinel Hotel where we are nicely located
and served during our stay Of two days.
From the rear Of the hotel person can
fish in the Merced river. This is a swift
stream which drains the valley, receiving
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