Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/153



OREGON BOUND 1853 143

common form, because then if one breaks it is easy finding another with which to replace it.

Dry Sandy Creek, July 31.

We are 16 miles by the summit of the South Pass, actually descending towards the level of the common earth though descending very slowly indeed, and through a region of little feed and less water. We are 7640 feet above the level of the sea, our guide books say, and almost to the line of perpetual snow. The Wind River range of mountains, abutting on our right, loom out almost over our trail with their sides white with snow down almost to our level. The wind comes cold from them, and the moment the sun's heat is obstructed, the air feels like that of a winter day. We have passed over, perhaps, the highest point of unbroken surface on the conti- nent yet we should hardly be conscious of being in a high altitude, so gradual has been our ascent. But the remains of the last winter's now, here and there lingering on the northern hillsides and the abundance of mosses on their summits, the cold chilling air, and the difficulty of weak lungs to breathe when a little wearied, indicate our situation.

I have a word to say here in regard to traveling on the Sabbath the almost universal habit of this road. When we left home, we commenced the experiment of observing that day with accustomed strictness, and to this time have observed it against the practice of every train and the opinion of almost every man we have met. Our experience, though it be that of but a single train, has so convinced our company of the economy and expediency of resting on Sunday, that I think our irreligious men, if traveling by themselves, would from policy, do as we have done. We have been on the road six days less than four months a time sufficient to test whether our teams need such a rest, and whether the rest is given them at the expense of time. We supposed we should fall behind a little, and that we should have only a good conscience though that be enough certainly to console us as other trains left us but now, after 16 weeks of draught, and four weeks