AND PACIFIC COAST GUIDE ivi

 

The upper portions of the valley, especially
that which borders on lake Tahoe, is ex-
cellent farming land. Between these two
points—the meadows and the lake—but
little meadow land is found, the val-
ley being reduced to narrow strips of
low land in the canyons and narrows, and
broad, gravelly uplands in the more open
country.

Salvia—a small side-track, comes next
after Wadsworth, 7.25 miles distant. «Soon

| we pass around a lava bluff, called Red

 

Rock, on the right, and 7.55 miles brings
us to

Clark’s — in a round valley, sur-
rounded by fenced fields, where good
crops of vegetables are raised for market
in mining towns to the south. From
Clark’s, it is 11.96 miles to

Wista—a small station situated on the
northern edge of what is known as the
Truckee Meadows. In early days these
meadows werea noted rendezvous of the
emigrants, who camped here for days to
recruit their teams after crossing the desert.
They have an extent of about twelve miles
in length by about two miles in width,
inclosing considerable excellent grass
land. Vegetables and small grains are
successfully cultivated on portions of the
moist land.

Reno— is 7.64 miles from Vista; is the
county seat of Washo county, and contains
a population of about 1,500. It was named
in honor of General Reno, who was killed at
the battle of South Mountain. This city has
rapidly improved within the last six years,
and now contains five church edifices, two
banks, a fine court-house,anumber of good
business blocks, a steam fire department,
several small factories, two daily news-
papers, the Journal and the Gazette, and is
the distributing point for an enormous
freighting business to the north, as well as
the south. Some good agricultural Jand
surrounds the town, as well as many herds
of cattle and sheep. The State Agricul-
tural grounds are located here, in which is
a very finerace track. The Lake House is
the principal hotel. Stages leave daily for
Susanville, 90 miles.

The English works are near the town,
affording excellent means by which to test
the ores discovered in the neighborhood.

The greatest mining region in the world
isreached via Reno. Virginia City, located
over the mountain to the southeast, from
this station is only 21 miles distant, by the
old wagon road, but by rail it is 52 miles.

Before the completion of this road, Vir-
Bie City was reached by stage, over a
earfully steep zig-zag mountain road, but
the difference between the “old and the |
new” is more than made up in the com-
fort of the passage if not in time.

At the time when these stages were run-
ning to convey passengers, a fast “ Pony
Express”? wasrun for the purpose of carry-
ing Wells, Fargo & Co.’s letter bags. This
pony express was once a great institution. |
When it left Reno, the traveler could have
observed that the mail express bags were

{thrown from the cars before the train had

ceased its motion. By watching the pro-
ceedings still further he would see that
they are transferred to the backs of stout
horses, already bestrode by light, —_
riders. In a moment all is ready, anc
away they dash under whip and spur to
the next station, when, changing horses,
they are off again. Three relays of horses
were used, and some “ good time” was often
made by these riders.
Let us take a run up and see this
Huge Bonanza Country.

Virginia & Truckee Railroad.
Principal office, Carson, Nevada.

 

D. 0. Musas... 22... Pres t........San Faancisce.
H. M. Yerrneron....Genl Supt....Carson, Nev.
Bi, NGGES. 3-2 cate on Gewl TOA, ... kd re

This 10ad was commenced at Carson
City, March 19th, 1869, completed to Vir-
ginia City in the following November, and
to Reno in 1871. Thelength is 52,2 miles; —
the grade in places is 115 fect to the mile,
and there are six tunnels, of the aggregate
length of 3,000 feet; the shortest curve is
19 degrees—between Gold Hill and Vir-
ginia City.

The train for Virginia stands on the oppo-
site side of the station building from the
C.P. Let usstepon board. From Reno,
our course is eastof south, crossing a por-
tion of the Truckee Meadows, a few well-
cultivated fields and greater quantities of
sage and grease-wood. The first station on
the bills is 3.5 miles from Reno, called

ANDERSON’s—but we do notstop. Cross-
ing the river, we pass the first of a series °
of V-shaped flumes, which are constructed
to float down wood and lumber from the
mountains. The one we are now passing
is said to be 15 miles in length.

HUFFAKER’s —comes next—after 3.6
miles, where another flume is passed, both
of which are on the right, and land their