The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-05
THROUGH THE SCENIC WEST
w. Frank Babcock Describes His
Journey to Pacific Coast

w. Frank 8abcock Describes His
Journey to Pacific Coast
San Francisco, Calf, May 20, 1912.
Dear Banner:-My last letter stat
ed that the train was entering Eagle
River canyon. During the night we
passed through Glenwood Springs
population about 1000, with an eleY-
alton of 575S feet. 1t is well known
Western pleasure resort, 1t has
remarkable hot sulphur springs with
extensive bathing pavilions and swim
ming pools. 1t contains one very
large hostelry. the Hotel Colorado
Near there is the largest white mar
BILE quarry in the world, also the lar
gest marble mill in operation.
During the night we passed many
stations and at $50 when | arose we
had covered 255 miles and had ar
rived at Green River II is a thirty
ing town made beautiful and produc
tive by irrigation. We crossed the
Green River on splendid stee
bridge. The river is navigable fol
steamboats, 1t flows southwark and
with the Grand river froms the Color
ado river. Proceeding on through q
desert We passed Woodside, Mounds
and Farnham.
About a. m, we reached yelling
ton where are some prosperous ran
ches Soon we reached Price. II is
an important railroad point and fine
agricultural section. An irrigation
system has just been finished thai
will water 10000 acres.
About GAS We had reached Helper
elevation 5S40 feet, 1t is a railroad
town. named Helper because there
they attach the helper" engines fol-
| the ascent of the Wasatch mountains
They are curiously constructed loco
motives and are very powerful.
Later Castle Gate was reached witt
its extensive coal mines and many
scores of coke ovens After leaving
the station We passed through the
giant castle gate, from which the sta
ton derives it's name. The wine col
ored sand stone lodges rise abruptly
in the air 500 feet on both sides o.
the track. For nine miles the train
journeys through the Price River can
yon circuitously as a rams horn. be
tween sandstone promentories, chan
ging their hue very often. 1t was
called by the Mormons in the ole
days, "The Entrance to the PROMISED
Land" The train ran counter tn,
Price river all the way
About IL a. m. we were at an elev
alton of 7454 feet, the top of the
mountain, Soldier Summit, where W,
started to descend in the great Utal
valley through the Red Narrows
| over this route marched Col. Sydney
Johnson's army, returning from the
Mormon war in 1858 He had a CAM
at this place. / was told that neal
the village, inclosed by wooden fen
ces, are some of the graves of hi
| soldiers. At noon our train "rollet
another Hot Springs health resort !
is a pretty place with a fine hotel an,
beautiful shady grounds.
After leaving Castillo we could Sc,
the Strawberry Valley tunnel project
being materialized by the Unite,
| States government When complet
ed $4,000 acres of land will be irri
gated. At Springville we could &c
a view of the beautiful Utah valley
| wherein is situated Salt Lake City
| We could distinguish Utah LAX,
which is 80 miles long and six mile
wide. We were soon at Provo, popul
lation about 5000. near the lake shor,
at the foot of the Wasatch range o
mountains. II is a wealthy Mormon
town. has broad streets, handsom,
residences and large wolen mills. Tn,
first wooden mill west of the Missouri
river, now using over 10000 pound
of wool each year, and the Brigham
| Young academy are located there
We could discern from the train MI
Nebo, the end of the Wasatch range
! At 1850 p. m. we arrived at Lehi
II has large sugar beet manufaC
tory, the first in the west, costini
half a million dollars Our trail
crossed and recrossed the River JoI
dan" a muddy looking, crookeI
stream that connects Utah Lake witt
the great Salt Lake instead of tn
Sea Of Galilee and the Dead Sea a
in the Holy Land.
/ At Riyerton. II miles from our oh
jective point. that day. we could dis
Germ the tempted spires of Salt LAX
I City. After leaving Springvill
which was on April 14th all the wa,
down the mountain. vegetation wa
green. We saw wild flowers. prir
cipally mountain peoples. in profus
ion. quite a contrast to the Easter
states which were partially under
coat Of snow April 9th when I starteI
on my long fourunv fva dave r,rov-i
Gus.
At ? p. m We reached Midvah
where there are large smelters an.
just south is the rich Bingham cor
per district az Murray. a few mile
further on being more smelling an
ore reducing plants. After leavinl
Murray are many truck garden
which supply in part the inhabitant
Of salt Lake City.
At Gas ,. m, the second sectoi