Year: 1870




side of the mountain. We should
Judge them TO be about 10 feet apart


but distances are very deceptive, anC
We find them to be really from so t,
100 feet apart. Their height is abou
1000 feet. The sides Of the noun
tains here on the left side Of the rive
have a slight slope, not being wholly
precipitOus, although their altitude il
from l 900 to 1000 feet. On the lef
side of the canyon the mountains arr
continuous, and at frequent points
Just out in bold prOmOntOries or start
ling angular rocks. On the right side
close to the railroad, the mountains
are almost entirely precipitous, anc
often split asCnder, showing immense
clefts and refts of startling abrupt
ness.


Crossing the river, we hold Oul
breath as we dart into a dim, cavern
Gus tunnel, cut through the solid rock
while above us juts out Finger Rock
a long, slender rock prOtruding from
the mountain and perhaps 50 feet IN
Iehgth. ne emerge again from the
uaIkhess OF the tunnel just in FROM
OF the Devils Gate. Was ever a place
more appropriately named? The
mountains close in on every hand
seeming to bar all further progress ;
yet the river, with impetuous velocity
dashing its way along, by bold cir
cult enters the narrow gorge at its
side and pOurs its volume Of water
under the frowning cliffs. The noun
tain sides tower up 1900 feet, preci-
pitOus as the side Of a house, and wat
er foams and bubbles and writhes
with the utmost fury., Just at the
outlet to this strange, seething caul-
drOn the railroad bridge has been
thrown across the stream, fully so feet
above its surface. Here the train
stops a moment to permit the aston
ished tourists to view itmOre thorough
ly. Was ever a scene more awe-in-
spring and wonderful than this >
What art could never have done Ma
tnre has accomplished. We gaze up
on it with perfect admiration, and
look from river and torrent up the
steep sides Of those tremendous rocks,
and down again, and are completely
lost in wonder and praise. We think
of that grand old verse Of David -
1.-THE heavens declare the glory Of
God, and the firmamentsh showeth forth
his handiwOrk."


The rest Of the canyon offers slight
attraction, compared with what we
have just seen, although il is still
grand and beautiful. We sit down
on the front bar Of the engine, and
gaze in silence at scene after scene to
this lovely valley. Suddenly we turn
TO the right, emerge from the ravine,
and behold the valley Of the Great
Salt Lake before US. Thankful of
Heaven for such glorious scenery and
such an inspiriting ride, we are glad
to welcome Ogden, and prepare for
our sOjOurn a few days among the
MOrmOns. 1t seems strange that the
finest scenery Of this tour should be
gathered up in so small a compass
the last so miles out of ,023 contain
ing all that is really grand and aston
ishing. For two days after leaving
Omaha we travel through dry, tame
prairies, with few startling objects OF
natural beauty; and only on the last
half days ride do we find our ideas Of
Rocky Mountain scenery realized
But when we do approach it our heads
bow with reverence and our voices are
mute in astOnishment as we behold
these wonderful scenes Of CREATION
1t is worth the tour Of a continent just
to behold alone the incidents of the
last halliday. There is, however, all
along the line something to interest
the traveller constantly. Either the
prairies are a curiosity, or the towns,
or the Indians, or the exhilaration Of
the ride up and down the mountains.
He can speculate upon the possible
future value Of this immense tract Of
land, 1 900 miles long and as many
broad, wherein few people live, and
whose mountains are rich in miner
ais of richest character. Every stop
for meals has some inter-
esting feature, or its curiOsity-shOps
for the sale of native minerals, woods,
Dr. animals. And the ease Of travel,
together with the steady, majestic
of the train, impart a zest
and life which make the enjoyment Of
he trip cnmplete.-COr. N Y. IN