The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-30
ON TO THE COAST.
Final Stage of w. r. Babcock's Trip
To San Francisco.
San Francisco, Cal.

the Northwestern Pacific X. X. at ESQ
Pacific time, (Which is three hours
later than Eastern time), settled
down in my sleeping car reservation,
note book in hand to jot down things
that were worthy of attention.
The first few miles were uninter-
esting, as the road was built on the
Utah Salt plains and salt marshes,
until Salt Lake was reached. The
railroad is built for several miles on
trestle work across the south end of
the lake. While riding across this
on the single track / couldn't see
from the car windows anything but
water and | compared the train to a
hobo, for there was no visible means
of support.
Great Salt Lake is an inland sea,
famous as one of the worlds greatest
marvels. 1t is over 40 miles long.
There is but one species of fish that
can live in its salty water, so ! was
informed.
There are 125 stations on the West
ern Pacific r. r. between Salt Lake
City and San Francisco, a distance of
921 miles, but the vestibuled train |
was on stopped at only about half of
them
About p. m we had passed from
the state of Utah and were passing
the small station of Ola, Nevada.
when a colored porter announced
"dinnah" in stentorian tone
Two chance acquaintance, one
from Memphis, Tenn, and the other
from Chicago, responded to the call.
After dinner, owing to the scenery be-
ing uninteresting and not worthy of
note. we conversed until about 10 p.
m, when we each sought our apart
ments for the night to sleep while
the train covered the next 300 miles.
The next morning about o'clock
the train rolled into Doyle, Calf, a
thriving mountain village 1896 feet
above sea level
few miles from Doyle in Honey
Lake. the sportman's paradise for the
filmed, furred and feathered' camp
ing grounds, | was told by the Pull
man conductor were ideal on account
OF the surrounding beauty and the
temperature which is warm and clear
from April until late in November.
Amedec and Hot Springs are summer
resorts. Besides good hunting and
fishing Their are medisinal springs
near good hotels at both places
Underneath a bright April sun
about o'clock the train reached
Beckwith Junction at Beckwith Pass,
the highest point in the Sierra Ma
vada mountains on the w. p. r. r d.
which is 47S4 feet The road is so
constructed it has not over l per cent
grade the entire distance. A few
miles further on and Portola was
reached. It is in gorge on the
middle fork of the famous Feather
River. Just across the river Is
Smiths Peak, one of the highest
points in the Sierras.
About $50 o'clock the train reach
ed Spring Garden which is the east.
ern entrance of the Feather River
Canyon.
The Feather River was named near
ly century ago by Don Luis Arguel.
To-, Spaniard, who organized an ex-
petition to explore the upper Sacra-
mento Valley. They penetrated the
that the waters of the river were COW
cred with bright feathers from the
myriads of fowl that lived along its
banks, and they named it Feather
River"
The scenery for nearly 100 miles
through the canyon is almost hides
cribable The whole distance pre-
setns a panorama of magnificence to
the sight seer.
About ? p. m. we reached Orovillel.
the first place of any large size on
the railroad after leaving Nevada.
1t was a busy little city of about 5000
people. 1t was 3 o'clock when we
reached Marysville. with a population
of 5000. A large ornate depot catches
the travellers eye at once.
Sacramento, the capitol of Califor-
mia, was next reached II is a city of
about $4,000 inhabitants.
The meaning of the woru is sacred
mine. Stern wheel. fiat bottom steam
ers run from San Francisco up
through San Francisco Bay and then
up to Sacramento continuing on to
to Red Bluff which is about 200 miles
farther north.
Moving onward the train arrived at
Stockton about p. m. 1t has pop
ulation Of about $4,000. Is a maniac.
turing city and is the home of the
great Sperry Flour company. Large
Touring mills are located there. Their
product is distributed all over the
Pacific slope
Coming down the mountain. green
verdure was every where apparent
and honeysuckles. peoples and blue
bells were seen in profusion.
About 6.30 o'clock Livermore was
reached. II is a thriving village of
about 5000 inhabitants. A few miles
farther on and the train stopped at
Pleasanton a pretty place OF about
1000. As 1t was o'clock my two
friends previously mentioned accom-.
panied me to the dining car for din
ner We could see at Haywards and
san Leandro many truck gardens and
neids OF tomatoes and peas. which
are grown for the markets of the Raw
ciues. II lis also a large fruit pro
ducing section as extensive apricot
plum and prune orchards could be
seen.
The terminus OF the railroad is
Oakland which We reached about o
O'Clock. having completed the iour.
ney by rail across the continent about
1850 miles My next letter viii tell
about the San Francisco Bay cities.
W. Frank Babcock.