AND PACIFIC

COAST GUIDE.

241

 

Bealville. This station is not an impor-
tant one, and trains do notalways stop, but
pass on, across two bridges in quick suc-
cession, many deep gravel-cuts, and then,
after curving to the right, we approach
the “ Loop” and tunnel No. nine. hosioan |
through this tunnel, we start on the gran
curve around the “ Loop,” and soon find our-
selves over the tunnel and in the position
of the train as illustrated on page 233.
This “Loop” is340 miles from San
Francisco, is 3,795 feet in length, with
an elevation of 2,956 feet at the lower
and 3,084 feet at the upper track, making
a difference between tracks, of 78 feet.
Leaving the “Loop,” our train continues
to climb and curve, first to the left, then
to the right, and after passing through two
more tunnels, Nos. 10 and 11, comes to
Gerard —a station 5.4 miles from
Keene, more in name than fact. Here
the old Tehachapi Pass stage road ap-
pears. The mountains are not as high
above us, but are rough, broken, and
ragged, covered in many places with
stunted, scrubby pines and cedars. Rolling
on, we pass through, in quick succession,
tunnels Nos. 12, 18, 14, 15, 16 and 17, be-
sides a number of short bridges, and come
to more open ground; pass Graceville,
once an old stage station—on the right,
and 6.4 miles from Gerard arrive at
Tehachapi Summiit— elevation,
3,964 feet—the highest on the road. This
station consists of one store, a hotel, tele-
graph office, and halfa-dozen buildings.
To the southeast about five miles distant,
a marble quarry is reported, of good
quality. The station is situated on a high
grassy plateau, of a few thousand acres,
with high mountain ranges to the east and
west, and although near 4,000 feet in alti-
tude the climate is so mild and agree-
able that some years the crops are very
good, and grazing excellent. Many sheep
are to he seen in the valley and on the
hills which are covered with fine grass.
Leaving the summit, we run along this
plateau for a few miles, and then commence
a gradual descent towards the Mojava
Desert. To the right is a small lake—dry
in summer—where salt can be shoveled up
by the wagon load. About eight miles
from the Summit, the little valley down
which we have been rolling, narrows to a
few hundred feet with high canyon walls
on each side.
Cameron—is the first station from
pammit, 9.2 miles distant, of little account.

   

Near this station we find the first of the
species of cactus, as illustrated on page
243. In this country they are called the

Yucca PauM—These trees grow quite
large, sometimes attaining a diameter of
from two to three feet, and a height of from
40 to 50 feet. They are peculiar to the Mo.
java Desert, where they grow in immense
numbers, presenting the appearance, at a
distance, of an orchard of fruit trees.
Everything is said to have its uses, and
this cactus, or palm—apparently the most
worthless of all things that grow, is bein
utilized in the manufacture of paper, an
with very good results. One mill is al-
ready in operation at Ravena, and consid-
erable shipments have been made. The
supply of “raw material” is certainly
abundant, and if the quality of the paper
is as good as reported, the Mojava Desert
may be able to show cause why it was
created.

Leaving Cameron, our train speeds along
lively, and 5.2 miles we come to

Nadeau—soon after emerging from
the canyon. Itis a side-track surrounded
by sage-brush, sand hills and cactus. Away
to the left are several lakes, dry the greater
portion of the year, but having the appear-
ance of water at all times, owing to the
water being very salt, and leaving a thick
deposit on the bed of the lake when dry.

From Nadeau, it is 5.6 miles to the end
of the Tulare division, at

Mojawa — (Proncunced Mo-ha-yey.)
At times, the “Mojava Zephyr” is any-
thing but a gentle zephyr, yet, by using
both hands, any person of ordinary strength
can keep their hat on. The surroundings
of this place are not very beautiful, situ-
ated as it is on a desert; but for its size, it
is a busy place. It is a regular oo
station where trains stop half an hour, an
good meals are served, at the Mojava
House, close to the depot—on Mazn St.
The place consists of several stores, one
hotel, large station building and freight
warehouse, a 15-stall round-house, a repair
and machine shop and about a dozen pri-
vaie residences.

The water used at the station comes in
pipes from Cameron station, eleven miles
north. A large amount of freight is re-
shipped from this station on wagons to
Darwin, 100 miles, and Independence, 168
miles, in Inyo county—to the northeast—
on the east side of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. Returning, these, wagons are
loaded with bullion from the mines. The