AND PACIFIC COAST GUIDE.

169

 

brackish and Soe impregnated with
alkali. The general characteristics of the
other lakes in the great basin belong to this
also; the description of one embracing all
points belonging to the others.

hite Plains—is 12.17 miles
west of Brown’s. This station is the low-
est elevation on the Central Pacific railroad
east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As
indicated by the name,the plains imme-
diately around the station are white with
alkali, solid beds of which slope away to
the sinks of Carson and Humboldt lakes.
No vegetation meets theeye when gazing
on the vast expanse of dirty white alkali.
The sun’s raysseem to fall perpendicularly
down on this barren scene, burning and
withering, as though they would crush out
any attempt which nature might make to
introduce vegetable life.

The water to fill the big tank at the sta-
tion is pumped from the “Sink” by means
of a stationary engine, which is situated
ay midway between the station and the
Sink.

Mirage—is 7.96 miles from White
Plains. This station is named for that cu-
rious phenomenon, the mirage (meerazh)
which is often witnessed on the desert.
In early days the toil-worn emigrant, when
urging his weary team across the cheerless
desert, has often had his heart lightened
by the sight of clear, running streams,
waving trees and broad, green meadows,
which appeared to be but a little distance
away. Often has the unwary traveler
turned aside from his true course and fol-
lowed the vision for weary miles, only to
learn that he had followed a phantom, a
will-o’-the-wisp.

What causes these optical delusions no
one can tell, at least we never heard of a
satisfactory reason being given for the ap-
pearance of the phenomenon. We have

sSeen the green fields, the leafy trees and
the running waters; wehaveseen them all
near by, as bright and beautiful as though
they really existed, where they appeared
too, in the midst of desolation, and we have
seen them vanish at our approach. Who
knows how many luckless travelers have
followed these visions, until, overcome with
thirst and heat, they laid down to die on the
burning sands, far from the cooling shade
of the trees they might never reach; far
from the music of running waters, which
they might hear no more.

Onward we go, reclining on the soft
cushions of the elegant palace car, thirty

miles an hour; rolling over the alkali
and gray lava beds, scarcel iving a
thought to those who, in early days, suf-
fered so fearfully while crossing these
plains, and, perchance, left their bones
to bleach and whiten upon these barren
“Hot S ngs—is 6.57 mil f
0 ri is 6.57 miles west o
Mirage. tere, the right of the road, can
be seen more of these bubbling, spurting
curiosities—these escape pipes, or safety
valves for the discharge of the super-abun-
dant steam inside the globe, which are
scattered over the great basin. Extensive
salt works are located at this station, from
which a car-load or more of salt is shipped
daily. The salt springs are about four
miles west of the station.

The Saxon American Borax Co. have
erected works here which cost about $200,-
000. They are situated a half-mile south of
the station, in plain view.

Passing on, we find no change to note,
unless it be that the beds of alkali are oc-
casionally intermixed with brown patches
of lava and sand. A few bunches of
stunted sage-brush occasionally break the
monotony of the scene. It is worthy of
notice thatthis hardy shrub is never found
growing singly and alone. The reason for
it is evident. No single shrub could ever
maintain an existence here. It must have
help ; consequently we find it in clumps for
mutual aid and protection.

Desert—is 11.7 miles from Hot
Springs. Thisis, indeed, adesert. In the
next 5.97 miles, we gain about 100 feet alti-
tude, pass Two Mile Station, descend 82
feet in the next 2.37 miles, and arrive at

Wadsworth—This town is situated
on the east bank of the Truckee River and
the western border of the desert, and con-
tains some good buildings, and a popula-
tion of about 450.

The division workshops are” located
here, and consist of a round-house of 20
stalls, car, machine and blacksmith shops.
Adjoining the workshops, a piece of land
has been fenced in, set out with trees, a
fountain erected, and a sward formed, by
sowing grass-seed and irrigating it—mak-
ing a beautiful little oasis. Considerable
freight is shipped from this station to min-
ing camps to the south. :

Pine Grove Copper Mines lies six miles
south of the town. They attract little at-
tention, that mineral not being much
sought after. Ten miles south are the
Desert mines, which consist of gold-bear-