Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1882 — Culifornian Correspendence. [ARTICLE]

Culifornian Correspendence.

Sacramento, Cal., Dec. 27,1881. D e.vb -Republican : I closed my last letter, giving you rejvort of otiv journey to Council Bluffs, at wjiicb place we bought tickets and transferal our baggage through the commodious and convenient depot building of the Union pacific R. R. to the west side, where the- train was waiting for us, and having checked our baggage and bought ticket* to Marysville, Cal., we boarded the train and crossed the “Big Muddv”on the notable bridge ono half mile in length, With the approaches of over one mile. This bridge is known as the “Post Patent”. The columns are hollow and are 22 in number, they are made of cast iron 1| inches in thickness and feet in diamater and feet long, and weigh eight tons each. They are bolted together, are air tight and sunk to the bed rock, after they are firmly seated on the rock, they are filled for 20 feet with stone concrete, and from the concret to the bridge with regular masonry, thus making a very solid foundation. , The bridge seat is 50 feet from higli water mark, These columns were cast in Chicago and delivered to the rail road company in the form of huge rings 10 feet long. Soon after crossing the bridge our train stops at the Omaha depot, a largo building with one enormous span of iron and glass through which some kulf dozen tracks run. On the south are the dining rooms, telegraph and baggage rooms belonging to the company. Omaha boars evidence of being a very progressive town, yet we see but little of it. It is situated ou the west side of the Missouri river and derives its name from the Omaha Indians. At one time it was the State capital, but the capital was removed to Lincoln. The high school building is one of the prominent features of the city standing on Capital Hill, on the site of the old State house and the first object to attract the eye of the tourist as he approaches from east, north, or south. Fort Omaha is three miles north and in full view of the rail road. But the signal is given and we glide out through the southern suburbs of the city,over a rise and then we descend, passing through a beautiful rolling prairie, most of which has boon made beautiful by the honest yeomanry of our country, and elegant furm houses and substantial improvements bespeak the wealth and richness of this laud. Continuing our descent, we fines Gilmore and come to Papilion, and here we reach the lowest elevation after leaving Omaha that we have on the line.. From here we commence a - gradual up-grade until we reach Sherman, on the Black Hills, 535 miles westward, rising in the distance 7,270 feet. The station is on the east aide of the Papillion river, a small stream that empties into the Elkhorn a few miles below. We cross the Papillion, we pass Dilland an important station, and 14 miles west we come to Elkhorn on the east bank of Elkhorn river. This is a town of considerable note, as is also the river pf the same name which empties v into the Platte. This far we have passed through a very rich agricultural tract of country. Further on ws come to Valley, at which place the Omaha and Republican Valley R. R. branches off, From this place we proceeded along the north side of the Platte river through a comparatively low tract of land, with the river on our left, while to the right as far as the eye can reach, may be seen thousands of tons of hay m stack on the broad prairie. We pass the small station of Riverside and come to Fremont, the county seat of Dodge county, about 3 miles north of the Piaffe river, which contains a population of about 3,000. The Sioux City & Pacific R. R. connect here with the Union Pacific R. R.,here the shades of night overtakes us, as we pass along up the north bank of the Platte*

On waking on the morning ofthe 17 th the first station called ip Alkali, but it was not light enough for us to see much, and there would not be much to see if it "was, as this is a small place which recieves its its name from the alkali bottoms uffcm which it is situated, Rosco is passed and 7 miles further on, the light has now so nearly dispersed the ahades of night that we can see the neat little village Of Ogalalla, the county seat of Keith county, and we find that we

have had a very long sleep, measuring in miles about 300, being now about 340 miles West of Omaha, Here the settlers afe mostly engaged in stock raising, stock yards ana shutes for loading aie located here, it is the river crossing for large droves of cattle en-routr toand from the Indian reservation and Black Hills’ country. Near this place several years ago the Indians attempted to week a train by massing their ponies on the track, the result was that number* of their ponies killed, and the Indians received a* warm reception from the revolvers on the train, from which they fled in dismay, being much surprised that they had not harmed or stopped the progress of the train and now they call the locomotive, smoke wagon. Big chief, Ugh, no good. Brule the next is near the old’.California crossing, where they crossed the North Platte to take the sooth i pass route, and 9 miles from Brule we come to the Big springs, the most of the way from the last station we have been passing along a low marshy piece of grounds which resembles a river, as we approach this place, and which is the source of the. Big Springs, which make out of the Bluff opposite the stationjin plain view of the cars, the water is said to be excellent. It was£at this placo wkerejthe Big Springs robbing took place Sept, 18,1878, when ajparty of 12 men took possession of the Btatioiy bound the men,{[cut the; telegraph and when the train came took possession of it with guns and revolvers, in the name of “hands up*’ securing’s66,OOOifrom the Express company and about SI3OO from the passengers. After leaving this station at points the road runs so near the river that the water seems to be right under the cars. Bat we emerge and after a short run we pass Barton, cone to Junotion, formerly called Julesburg just opposite tne old town of Jcuesbarg on the south side of the river, which is all torn down now, here is the junction of U. P. company a railroad running to some point in Colorado, the name of the road I didnot get all the business done in this section of the country ..is stock raising. Lodge Pole, situated on Lodge Pole oreek is passed here, the valley is narrow and high rolling prairie extends to the northward as far as the eye can reach and the same of lands ascending from the blufia on the opposite side. We passed another station Cotton and came to Sidney a regular eating station for trains east, but we do not eat here, it is a town of about 1,000 inhabitants, at Brownson passenger trains do not where large supplies of wood and ties are procured from Lawrence Fork about 20 miles out, which is tributary, to the North Platte, bat I must close this letter. I had intended to chat with yon until dinner time, but least I worry Sou I will close, and commence at lis place with my next, Jo*.