The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-05-03
TRAINS PASSED
IN THE DESERT
Passengers Exchanged Greetings as
They Rolled Along.
FIRST TRIP DELIGHTFUL
SALT LAKE ROUTE is NOW A
REALITY.
Especial to The HeraldD

n y BOARD first east bound train,
II Salt Lake route. Caliente, New
Nav The two initial trains of
the Salt Lake route have made a meet
ing in the desert and the last mile OF
track between salt Lake and the
southwestern sea board has been form
ally opened to the public. At 2:33 p m
this last event took place well down
among the rolling foothills which
fringe he Nevada desert below MOapa.
where d sign board against a telegraph
pole told the story Of location at the
station called Byron and the distance
401 miles from Salt Lake. The east
and west bound trains exchanged
greetings as the west bound train took
the passing track for the meeting The
east bound train has, from the excess
siVe weight of its equipment. met
with a two hours delay i'm the heavy
climb over the Cajon ASS. but its OD-
pOSite from Salt Lake made the meet
ing point on time TO the Minute.
Continuous Welcome.
The progress of the east bound train
had been continual series of glad wei
comings. even at Daggett and Otis.
which points were not reached until
long past midnight What seemed to
b the entire population of these des-
ert towns was present to welcome the
initial train and speed it on its way
with noisy adieu.
Here and there at the now sparseIy
populated construction camps bronze
faced Greeks or diminutive Japs lined
up to wave their hats and send a cheer
after the line of coaches and PuIlmans
that was being whirled over the grade
IN which their hands had so long been
busy in building.
lengthy stop at Las Vegas gave
the passengers a peep at this typical
outpost of the frontier. its rag houses
and other types of temporary struc-
lures being new sight to many of
these overland travellers.
Lost Time Made Up.
over the divide between Las Vegas
and down to the meeting point in the
valley of the Muddy some of the lost
time was gained as the train rolled
smoothly over the new construction.
once in while six or eight horse
fTeighter toiling along the old trail
gave opportunity for comparison be
tween the present time and those DAYS
when the sand-buried pathway was the
only connecting link between Salt Lake
and southern California. Entering the
Meadow Valley wash. under which title
is known that long pass through the
mountains of southern Nevada. the
eastbOUnd train winds its way through
a stretch of ever varying scenery. This
portion of the line has impressed the
passengers with its beauty.
The dull gray cOlOrings of PaIisade
canyon have given brilliant hues. which
tine the stratas of the Rainbow cam
yOn. Everywhere there is constant
shift and change of color. which gives
the Salt Lake route a place among the
scenic lines of the west
Grim Reminders.
At many points along the WAY this
narrow defile still retains portions Of
the abandoned grades, grim mementoS
OF that great battle for the possession
Of this right of way, which marked
the early days Of the salt Lake route
before peace came to the warning fac
tons and rendered the present opening
OF the line a possibility
taiente was reached at $40 u. m.
where the people. although they had
today already welcomed one initial
train. were out in numbers to greet the
passengers from the Land of Sun
shine" From here the rest is easy
and the run home to Utahs capital
will barring mishaps. be made in such
time as to send the train into its ter
Ininal station close to its scheduled
time.