Catoctin clarion., 1908-08-20
Local Items.
SALT LAKE CITY TO SACRAMENTO.

Salt Lake City is situated at the base
OF the Wasatch Mountains whicn are
part of the great continental range di-
v.ding the far west from the plains which
extend from the base of the Rockies to
the Missouri river. The finest residence
portion of the city occupies the Mountain
bench, once the shore of great inland
sea from which ages ago the waters have
gradually recedcd until they settled in
the basin of the great Salt Lake distant
eighteen miles from the water works
vet plainly to be seen above the city.
The location is such AS to command view
of the entire valley, both ranges OF
mountains and the southern portion OF
the lake. The streets are very wide and
bordered on each side with long rows of
shade trees. Streams of pure water are
conducted in bitches along both sides OF
the streets. Temple Square is the most
interesting part of the city for the tour
ist. Here are situated the Mormon Tenn
ple, Tabernacle and Assembly Hall. The
Tabernacle is immense in its proportions,
the roof resembling an upturned boat can
be seen from nearly every part OF the
city. The Temple is with the exception
of St. Patricks Cathedral in New York
the grandest and costliest ecclesiasti-
cal structure in this country. 1t was be-
gun in 1853 and completed in 1893 and
cost nearly $6,000,0 900. The walls are
ten feet thick and is built of snow white
granite, and stands on one of the highest
points of the city and can be seen long
distance down the valley.
From Salt Lake City westward the
railroad traverses narrow plain. On
the west lies the great Salt Lake Of
which we have an almost continuous view
until we reach Ogden. Here is the ter
minus of the Denver and Rio Grande K.
K. Great Salt Lake is l26 miles long
and 45 miles wide. One of the strangest
things about this lake is that it has no
visible outlet. After leaving Ogden
short distance the railroad runs directly
across the great lake. To do this %
miles of trestlng was necessary, the
balance of the distance through the lake
is filled in. The trestling is in water
from rs to 35 feet at low level of the
lake. In crossing the lake the train is
never out of sight of land but it requires
only little imagination to give the i'm
preston of travelling at sea By rail. This
"cut off" across the lake has been built
quite recently and just saves seven hours
time over the old way going round the
lake.
Leaving Utah we pass into Nevada
and go through many large mining dis
triets, sheep and cattle ranges. Truckee
is the first town at which we stop inside
the California line. 1t stands at the
eastern base of the great Sierra Nevada
Mountains and might aptly be called
Thurmont as it is the doorway of the
Sierras. A short distance from Truckee
are several beautiful lakes highly elevat-
ed and surrounded by lofty mountain
peaks some of them snow-clad The as
cent of the Sierras begins ut Truckee.
In order to protect the railroad against
snow drifts, slides, ETC., the railroad COM
pany has constructed All almost unbroken
line of snowsheds for forty miles. These
sheds interrupt the view but serve a
practical purpose especially during the
winter time. Through the loopholes cut
in the snow sheds we could catch occa-
sional glimpses of the magnificent seen
cry. Two powerful engines pulled our
train to the summit which for many
years was the highest railroad point in
North America. Beyond the summit we
come to the famous "Cape Horn" pass.
OF the height of this pass it is said that
a hand thrust from the car window could
drop stone straight as the plummet
falls into the chasm two thousand and
fve-hundred feet below. AS we go down
the western slope of the Sierras we pass
through some fine large fruit farms Tor
ranches as they call them in California; i,
cross small portion of the valley and
soon arrive at Sacramento.
F. A. r.
Do<ur,,aJ AFtop Manu Noap,S