Edward C. Smith to Henrietta Fletcher, 1873 June 12
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You will see by the above heading that I am once more landed in the golden state
far away toward the sun We left Chateaugay on Monday June 2d
at 10:12 O'clock stayed in Chicago Thursday night and from there we came
directly through to this place not stoping at any place longer than one hour we
took a Pallace car from [Ogdensburg] through at an extra
expense of only 20 dollars we never could have stood the Journey otherwise but
as it was Rillie & Carlie stood it tip top
much better than I
anticipated To attempt to give you the idea of the very many sights and wonders which we beheld would be useless on this
small sheet for it would fill volumes the scenery through Illinois &
Iowa was beautiful through Nebraska Wyoming and Utah wild
and romantic We [ ] one
point on the Rocky Mts. nearly 9000, feet above the level
of the sea here we found plenty of snow and ice and Pikes Peak was
in the distance Before reaching this point we saw very
many antelope Dogs and Wolves also the noble RedMan of the plains were seen all along the route and they
looked quite anxious to some of our but they seem to fear the troops which are stationed
along the route and are compelled to remain quiet We found some 800 miles of the
plains very unplesant owing to the dust from Alkali beds and vapor from boiling
Springs but when we reached the Nevada Mountains our
sight-seeing just began I thought while coming through Echo Canyon in the
Rockeys where the rocks were from 200, to 500, feet high on both sides of the
road that it was fearfull but when I came to the peaks of the Syras and the
bottomless gorges they were awful and that
word dont half express it
in one place (Cape ) we made a curve around a point of
rocks and then looking to our left not six feet from the cars we could look down
the bank which was perpendicular the distance of one thousand & five
hundred feet but this was not enough and so we crossed a trestle work 600 feet
long and 150 ft high think of being placed on stilts on a train of cars this
distance above ground and then shudder But enough of this for this time I have
looked around but little as yet but times are rather dull at present for the
harvest has just begun
the crops are not hardly an average from lack
of rain in the spring But fruit is plenty we had for to day
green peas string beans black berries strawberries and rasberries. Peaches and
grapes will ripen next month and then we will feast. Sis I wish you would draw
off Craigs account as it is on my book both debt & credit together with
the furniture bill &.c. on the little
book in where I Kept account of such sales also
Cash $100.- $[ ] at another time $75 also
$15.50 to [Mudgett] if I [die] not put them on
the Ledger and send to me so I can look it over cross out the
[fees] on Stanley
and Smith for that is all
right. I only received $78.48 from Bent. and the Boy my due I would like as soon
as convenient. but you need not send any until I get the account together with
what Craig has collected and then I will see if it is right and tell you how to
send the money and where for I may not stay here but a short time Sis be
both of you to write by return mail and tell me all the
news everything that is going on &.c. It is hot. here & dusty
but the nights are so cool it is lovely Give my regards to all my friends there
if I have any and Kiss Katy for me Rillie sends love to you all
Your Aff BoEd