Year: 1866

CENTRAL PACIFIC e. R-We have been some


what amused of late at the course pursued by the


organs in the interest of the gigantic public swia-
die known as the Central Pacific Railroad Of Cali
fornia. Weeks ago these organs, who doubtless
receive bonuses to aid this ssindling company in
wringng out of the people, and in corrupting
and oyerawing their Legislatures. were putting
forth grandiloquont articles upon the sublimitF oil
the conception that located the railroad over noun


tains eight thousand feet high, when there were
natural vallies and passes through the mountains
that do not attain half that altitude. More recent
ly these venal organs have been engaged in care
fully preparing the public mind for snow storms.
The beautiful snow highly eulogised, and
attention called 10 the fact that the Central Pacific
Railroad extended from from the tropical region of
OF the of Sacramento, only five hours ride to the


beautiful snow where prancing steeds, attached
TO goose-neek and swan-like cutters, were paving
the snow in impatience to give the muddy denizens
of the Capitol City a sleigh ride. These organs
ventured far out of their accustomed paths, and
into the regions of 1.-THE frozen TRUTH to record
the fact that hard dared to fall at places
but short distance from the line of the Central
Pacific Railroad, to the depth of two and half
feet-then three feet-and finally to the depth of


five feet No more said about snow, after that.
Then came reference to the mighty snow plows
prepared and manufactured by this company whose
great energy had enabled them to 60 so deep iuto
public pocket which were to toss twenty feet of
snow from their track, easily as stub-tailed
ball tosses hay doodle in fy-time. About this
time, a friend from Plumas county had occasion to
go to Virginia City. Nevada, and taking 'shute''
down into the graded slough where stands "Eabel's
tannery," but where the foundation of the Capitol
building refuses to stand unless it is shored up. he
secured seat and began the ascent. Several Of
the moon-srnck Directors were the train. for it
understood in the Slough of Despond' where
the State is erecting her capitol that the snow had
invaded the track of the railroad high flyers. The
snow plow was brought out, and the cow-catcher
dispensed with, and away they rolled. Stationed
oned on the Engine, the Directors watched with
delight the beautiful sheet of snow it was hurled
from the track, where it had accumulated to the
depth of two or three inches. But soon it became
deeper as the heavy and powerful engine with but
a single passenger car attached labored up the
grade of one hundred and sixteen feet to the mile
grodblilS ana puiuH5 uIuer It's accuHluiitllig
den. until the driving wheels are sent flriously
around with an angry cough, without making any
perceptibe advance. Steam is shut off, and as the
train cannot remain stationary such grade it
is propelled towards Sacramento by the force OF
gravitation. Again and again. is the lion horse
unthrottled to plunge like a ba'tering ram into 30
inches of snow. 1t ceases to be interesting per-
formance that may be watched with wonder and
delight. 1t continues however, until the train is
hours behind time in reaching its destination 1t is
five hours ride to snow, but the time to Cisco is
only measured by the depth of the snow to be
countered. Twenty inches of snow, with grade
of one hundred and sixteen feet to the mle is quite
sufficient to make passengers only too glad to es-
cape from the nuisance, and brave the dangers of
the 'tieiger Grade" by stage. Since the storms of
the present week, We dare say the truly con>cien-
tious organs in the interest of this swndng crowd
and half. and possibly four feet of snow. has
fallen the track of their road. And yet if the
storms of the past week have MT placed seventy
five feet Of snow top of their track, on the line
where they propose to lay track another summer
then there mountains between California and
Nevada, aud no dishonest fools to build railroads
over them at an elevation of eight thousand feet,
in preference to going through natural passes of
less than half that altitude.