Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-09-06
From Cliff House
to Coney Island
By q. A. WaltenspieI.

l don't know any one who has more
time to read some rubbish, and pass
it on than you do, so thought l would
let you know how we passed our time
on our trip overland.
We left San Francisco Aug l., at
4 20 p. m. and arrived at Sacramento
about 40 minutes late, where we
shook hands with Hon. SIIas Penny
and wife. After about one-haIf hours
stop we passed up the Sierras and got
into the suowsheds by daylight, the
air up there was cool and refreshing;
some snow left on the mountains.
days and nights until we got near
the Lucien cutoff across Salt Lake.
In building this cut off %. 900 piles
we're used. 1t is the largest and
longest piece of trestle work we have
ever seen, it has several stations
along the Ioad, also numerous side
tracks. By the way although our
train was supposed to be the fast
China and japan mail, we were side
tracked for every train west bound,
whether it was passenger, freight or
gravel, so we we're landed about five
hours late at Ogden, and had to wait
there for the next train to Salt Lake
City.
At Odgen we had our first eastern
showers. My brother met US at the
depot in Salt Lake, so after procur-
ing room We had dinner, but before
we had finished We were treated to
what they said was an unusual wind
and rain storm. with plenty of light
ming and sharp thunder. 1t lasted
for an hour and did considera BILE
damage to trees, telephone and light
wires besides some buildings. We
did not know whether nature was
saluting our arrival or whether the
Saints of Zion were protesting ouI
presence and praying to their gods to
drive US out. We stayed, and did moi
get hurt or wet. We saw all the in.
teresting sights including Camp
Douglas, which overlooks the valley
We we're told that Chicago professor
is trying to use the water of Sail
Lake for irrigation, he is trying tt
raise sailed peanuts, but has not beer
successful so far.
After leaving Salt Lake City nexl
day by the Denver and Rio Grande
We passed through the canon of the
Grande river, the canon of the Eagle,
also over the Tennessee Pass, We
reached an altitude OF 1O,24O feet,
then passed rapidly through the
Royal Gorge of the Arkansas river,
OF course the scenery is beyond des-
cription, pictures can not do it JUS
tice. We arrived in Denver about
$50 p. M, had to wait ~ hours fol
the next train. that gave us little
time to see the town. We saw a fire,
1t was in two-story building selling
clothing, etc., with big signs outside.
l guess it was Jacobite fire. but the
engines got there in time SO they
can have a great fire sale. 1t was
very hot in Denver. When we woke
next morning we we're passing through
Nebraska corn fields, and we went
through corn all the way to Chicago.
we never saw SO much corn in our
lives, and 1t was all looking good and
promised tn be a big crop. About
dark while passing through Iowa two
sets Of clouds came up, one at the
northwest. and the other at northeast,
slowly moving toward one another
with plenty of sheet Lightning. Just
as the two clouds got together a
fierce lightning and thunder storm
began, intense vivid flashes, instantly
followed by sharp crashes of thunder:
then the wind blew a cyclone, with
hail and rain. By this time it was
dark, and our train going about SO
miles an hour. The hail beat the
windows so hard we pulled down the
blinds for fear the glass would break
and cut our faces, but we got through
alright. Ihe next day | got q Chi.
cago paper giving an account of the
storm. 1t called it a cyclone, that
the hail was as large as walnuts, kill
ed some animals and injured a num-
Der of persons, besides blowing down
buildings and injuring crops.
The next morning was fine, but
warm-in fact good corn growing
weather. We passed through corn for
three days and nights, and arrived IN
Chicago about $50 a. NJ, leaving
hgain at IL a. m. This gave US time
to take the kinks o1t of our legs, SO
we were ordered over to Michigan
Ave, and the Lake front. Sat at the
base of the Logan monument and
took in the view of lake commerce.
Soon after leaving Chicago we passed
through northern Indiana still in
corn. Here also the old snake and
rail fences are still in use, as there is
quite lot of oak timber, the oaks
growing with a tall straight body.
different than in Amador county.
Here and there along the road was
saw mill getting out oak lumber, also
railroad ties. We finally got to De-
troit, where we wished to visit for
day, but the Wabash K. K. agent re-
fused to extend the time on our
70 kas