This listing is for the original hardcover, cloth over board book shown. Measures approx 7.75"x5" with 452 pages.

Across the Continent: A Summer's Journey to the Rocky Mountains, The Mormons and the Pacific States by Samuel Bowles. Springfield, MA: Samuel Bowles & Company, 1866.

Index to Contents. 

LETTER I. 
FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO THE MISSOURI.— The Railroad Ride behind ; the Stage Ride before— Spanning the Continent— Vitality of Men of the West — The Chicago Wigwam five years ago: History since — Cleveland and Chicago, and their new Life — Atchison and its History and its Position — Pomeroy and Stringfellow — The Trade over the Plains — Speaker Colfax and bis party for the Overland Journey — The Indians break the Line — Senator Foster and the Indian Question— Agriculture in the West— Coach off: Good-bye, . . 1 

LETTER II. 
FROM THE MISSOURI TO THE PLATTE.— Atchison to Fort Kearney through Kansas and Nebraska— General Connor and no Indians — The "Galvanized Yankee" Soldiers — How we Rode — The Country and its Fascinations — The Scenery and the Atmosphere — The Modern Caravans on the Plains— A Storm of Thunder and Lightning and Hail, and how we weathered it, 10 

LETTER III. 
THROUGH THE PLAINS TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.— A continuous five days' Stage Ride— The Plains the great National Pasture—The Platte River— Climate and Soil— Natural Highway across the Continent — A natural Road-bed — Population of the Region — How we Fared— Prices on the Plains and at Denver— "The noble Red Man," and our Preparations for him— Life and Death on the Plains— The Prairie Dogs and their Companions— The Alkali Water—Parting Breakfast with General Connor at Julesburg— His Position and History— Reception at Denver, 18 

LETTER IV. 
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND THEIR GOLD MINES.— A Week among the Mountains and in the Mines— The Switzerland of America— Long's Peak and Pike's Peak— Bierstadt's "Storm in the Rocky Mountains"— Theater of the Gold Development on Clear Creek— Central City, Black Hawk, Nevada— Condition and Prospects of the Business — Mysteries of the Sulphurites — Speculating Companies — The Gold Production of Colorado— Reports from Idaho and Montana—The United States the Treasury of the World— Questions of the Future, 30 

LETTER V. 
OF PERSONS, NOT THINGS.— Reception in Colorado— Grand Gala Supper to Mr. Colfax— Pen Portraits of the Party: Mr. Colfax, Governor Bross, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Otis — Social Life in the Rocky Mountains — The Young Men and the Young Women— Ben Holladay and his Stages— Famous Rides across the Plains, 43 

LETTER VI. 
SUNDAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.— Broad Church in the West— Mr. "Lo, the poor Indian"— A Day and a Night at Virginia Dale; its Scenery and its Landlady — Colorado and its People — Movement for State Government— A Mining Story : General Fitz John Porter, Smith and Parmelee, Judge Harding— Lack of "Help" in the Homes — The Blossoming of Eastern Fashions — Lack of Horticulture— Necessity of Irrigation— Canned Fruits and Vegetables — Prices of Food in Colorado and Montana— Vernacular of the Mountains, 56 

LETTER VII. 
FROM DENVER TO SALT LAKE— THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.— The Indians in our Path — Robberies and Murders on the Stage Line — What shall be done with them? — The Quaker Policy versus General Connor's Policy — Our Escape and our Faith — Wild Game on the Route: Antelopes, Elk, Trout, Bears, Sage Hens, etc.— The Desert of the Mountains— The Sage Brush— The Bitter Creek Country— Through Bridger's Pass to the Pacific Slopes— A Night Ride over the Pass — The Curious Architecture of Winds and Sands — The "Church Butte," and its Wonders — Fort Bridger — Arrival- at Great Salt Lake City, 6T 

LETTER VIII. 
THE WAY INTO UTAH: RECEPTION BY THE MORMONS.— Basin of the Great Salt Lake— Tha Home of the Mormons— Their Triumphs— Ride among the Wasatch Mountains— Playing Snowball among Flowers— Yellow the Favorite Color of Nature— Echo Canyon: its Beauties and its Ruins— Tke Valley of the Jordan— The City of Salt Lake: its Location and its Promise— Mr. Colfax's Reception by Soldier and Saint— The Hospitality of the Mormons- Excursion to Great Salt Lake— Strawberries and a Mormon Harem- Interview with Brigham Young: How he Looked and Acted— Heber C. Klnball, Dr. Bernhisel and other Church? Elders— The Anti Mormons, or Gentiles, and what they are Doing— Death of Governor Doty, 79 

LETTER IX. 
MORMON MATERIALITIES.— Irrigation and its Results— The Salt Lake City Gardens— Wonderful Crops of Grain— The Mysteries of Great Salt Lake — Extent of the Mormon Settlements — Navigation of the Colorado River— Supplies for Utah by that Route— Policy of the Mormons as to Agriculture and Mines — The Silver Mines in Utah— The Soldiers at Work on Them— Visit to Rush Valley and Stockton, 89 

LETTER X. 
SALT LAKE CITY AND LIFE THERE.-The Chief Commercial City of the Mountains, and the Watering-Place of the Continent — Its Hot Sulphur Springs, and its Salt Lake: their Characteristics and their Uses — The Present Status of the City — Profits of its Merchants — Prices of Goods there — Dinner Party at a Mormon Merchant's — Brigham Young's Theater — A Special Dramatic Perform- ance— Brigham Young on " a Good Thing," 98 

LETTER XI. 
THE POLYGAMY QUESTION.— Our Opportunities for Studying the Mormons — Testimony from all Interests and Parties — Conclusions — Mormonism not necessarily Polygamy— The Latter sure to fall Before the Progress of Democracy — Present Duty of the Government towards the Question — Most of the Federal Officers in the Territory Polygamists — An Important Distinction — Conversation with Brigham Young on Polygamy — Points of the Discussion— Suggestion of a new Revelation against Polygamy— Views of Young as to Slavery and the Rebels — A Sardonic Face, 105 

LETTER XII. 
THE MORMON WIVES : OUR LAST DAY IN SALT LAKE CITY.— 
The Mormon Women and Polygamy — How they Live Together — The Children and the Schools— The Soldiers Stealing the Surplus Wives — Neglect of their Poor by the Mormons — Character of the Mormon Church Audiences — Services at the Tabernacle — Preaching by Brigham Young— Their Religion a Coarse Materialism — Mr. Colfax's Eulogy on President Lincoln — Elections in Utah — Judge Kinney and Captain Hooper — Good-Bye to Salt Lake, 114 

LETTER XIII. 
SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE MORMONS.— The Cross Relationships of Polygamy — Brigham Young's Wives — Going to Heaven by the Coat-Tails of the Men — Wives the Reward of Merit— Polygamy "a good thing" for Poor Men— Brigham Young's Retinue— No Handsome Women among the Mormons — Brigham Young's Children — The Soldiers and the Mormons — General Connor and Brigham Young— Porter Rockwell, the Avenger— The Movement towards the Sandwich Islands, 123 

LETTER XIV.
THE RIDE THROUGH THE SAGE BRUSH AND THE GREAT BASIN.— The Great Desert Basin of Utah and Nevada, and its 'Characteristics— A Qnick Stage Ride through its Alkali Dust and over its Mountains— The Taint of the Alkali— Experiences of the Ride — Greeley and Hank Monk— Problems as to the Culture of this Region—Its Redeeming Beauties in Mountains, in Atmosphere, and in Exhilarating Breeze, 131 

LETTER XV. 
THE SILVER MINES OF NEVADA: AUSTIN AND VIRGINIA CITY.— Nevada the Child of California— Austin : its Location; its Soeial and Material Development— Classics in a Cellar— The Silver Mines in and about Austin— Character of the Ore— Mills— Improvements and Expenses— New Mining Discoveries— Virginia and its History and Mines — The Famous Comstock Ledge — The Gould & Curry Mine, and its Statistics— Its Superintendent, Mr. Charles L. Strong— The Ophir, Savage, Empire, Yellow Jacket, and other Mines — Cost and Profit of the Virginia Ores — Number of Quartz Mills on the Comstock Ledge— California's Account with Nevada- Conclusions as to the Nevada Mines— Advice to Capitalists— A Rhode Island Example in Colorado — Doubtful Things Very Uncertain — Profanity Discouraged, 141 

LETTER XVI. 
THE CONTINENT ACROSS.— The Ride over the Sierras— The Great Ride Finished— Still the same Republic, the same Flag— Wonderful Homogeneity of the American People — The Civilization of San Francisco and the Pacific Coast— The Material Prospects of City and Country— The Last Day in Nevada— Valleys of the Truckee, Washoe, and Carson— Steamboat Springs— Reception at Carson City— The Sierra Nevadas and their Beauties— Lake Tahoe— The Stage Ride over the Mountains from Lake Tahoe to Placerville— Hard and Watered Roads and Fast Horses— First Views of California Life, . . 159

LETTER XVII. 
OVERLAND TO OREGON.— A Pleasant Revelation in Oregon— The Overland Ride from California— Up the Sacramento Valley— Chico— General Bidwell and his Farm— Red Bluffs and the Family of John Brown— The Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, and Umpqua Rivers— Shasta and Yreka — The Tower House and its Proprietor — Mount Shasta and its Snow Fields — Jacksonville and its Gold Diggings — Pilot Knob — The Forests— Pines and Firs — Oak Groves — The Mistletoe and the Spanish Moss— Joe Lane and Jesse Applegate — Farming in the Umpqua Valley— Entrance to the Willamette Valley— Its Agricultural Wealth and its Rural Beauties— The Agriculture of Oregon— The Rains— The Summers and the Winters— The To#nsand the People of the Willamette Valley— Portland : its Location and its Importance, . 16>

THE COLUMBIA RIVER: ITS SCENERY AND ITS COMMERCE.— 
The Reach and Importance of the Columbia— Its Breach Through the Continental Mountains— Fort Vancouver and its History— General Grant as Remembered Here— The Cascades— The Dalles— The Scenery of Mountain and River— Steamboats on the "Upper Columbia—A Bit of Private Fun— The Scenery of the Columbia as compared with the Hudson, the Rhine and the Upper Mississippi- Mount Hood— The Great Mountain of Oregon— The Highest Peaks of the United States— The Oregon Steam Navigation Company— Its Rise, Progress and Purposes— Oregon's Pacific Railroad Cut Oft— New-Route to the Carribou Country— Summing Up of Oregon— Its People and Their Promise, 184 

LETTER XIX. 
THROUGH WASHINGTON TERRITORY.— From Portland to Monticello by Steamer— A Rough Road— A Hard Ride through the Forests—Ferns, Blackberries and Snakes— Skookem Chuck— Olympia and Reception there— Pacific Tribute to the Stomach— Basis for a Religious Superstructure— Washington Territory— Its Name'and its Capabilities, *. ... 198 

LETTER XX. 
PUGET'S SOUND AND VANCOUVER'S ISLAND.— Great Lumber Market for the Pacific Coast— Saw-Mills and Ships on the Sound- Victoria, and its English Features— British Taxes and Expenditures — Frazer River Gold Diggings — Prosperity of Victoria — Depot of the Hudson Bay Company — Grand Dinner to Mr. Colfax — The San Juan Boundary Question— Summer Gardens under the Perpetual Snows— The Pacific Coast Climate versus that of New England, .... 204 

LETTER XXI. 
SAN FRANCISCO: MR. COLFAX, AND HIS RECEPTION IN THE PACIFIC STATES.— Back to Frisco— Its Fascinations and its Incomparable Climate— The Town always "in the Draft"— The Loss of the Steamer Brother Jonathan— Speaker Colfax's Tour Complete —His Reception Described and Analyzed — His Speeches — The Mexican Question— His Speech at Victoria— Governor Bross and Mr. Richardson, 213 

LETTER XXII. 
THE YOSEMITE VALLEY AND THE BIG TREES.— First Impressions—The Great Natural Wonders and Beauties of the Western World— Distinguishing Features of the Valley— The Verdure of the Valley — Where the Zebra and Dr. Bellows' Church were Borrowed from — Various Shapes of the Mountain Rocks — The Water-falls of the Valley — The Journey to the Yosemite — Cession of the Valley and the Big Trees to the State of California— Our Party and its Experiences— The Excursion to the Big Trees: their Size: their Age: their Beauty: their Majesty, 223 

LETTER XXIII.
THE CHINESE ON THE PACIFIC COAST : OUR GRAND DINNER WITH THEM.— Number of Chinese Emigrants— What they Do-Raising Vegetables— Building the Pacific Railway— Servants in Families and Gleaners in the Coal Fields— How the White Men Treat them— Their Habits— Their Religion— Their Vices— How they are to be Reformed— The Chinese versus the Irish and the African — Chinese Merchants — Their Intelligence and their Honesty — A Dinner with them — Specimen of Chinese Pigeon-English— How the Dinner Began, and how it Went On — The Chopsticks, and the Food— The Writer Rescued by the Police, and Taken Out to get "Something to Eat," 238 

LETTER XXIV. 
THE GREAT THEME: THE PACIFIC RAILWAY.— How its Need is Felt— Anxiety for its Construction— The Hunger for " Home "—The Condition and Prospects of the Enterprise — Where Timber and Fuel are to come from— Routes over the Rocky Mountains— From Salt Lake to the Sierra Nevadas — What the Government has Done — What the People are doing at each End — Lack of Enterprise and Progress at the East^-Superior Zeal and Progress at the West— Rival Routes over the Sierras— The Wagon Roads and their Business — Mr. T. D. Judah and his Route for the Railroad— Rapid Progress up the Mountains— Four Thousand Chinese Laborers at Work— Five Years Long Enough to Complete the Whole Line— Appeal to the Men of the East, . 255 

LETTER XXV. 
COUNTRY EXCURSIONS: THE GEYSERS, VINEYARDS' AND AGRICULTURE.— The Valleys of the Coast Range— How California is Constructed— Oakland— Fred Law Olmsted and Major Ralph W. Kirkham — The San Jose Valley and its Beauties — Excursion to the Geysers — Petaluma — Russian River Valley — Healdsburg — A Rare Whip and a Rare Drive— The Geysers Themselves— The Embodiment of Hell— The Country in the Neighborhood— Napa Valley — — Calistoga and Warm Springs — Sonoma Valley and its Vineyards — California Wines— Champagne the Mother's Milk in California— Facilities for Agriculture in California— Illustrative Crops, .274 

LETTER XXVI. 
OF SAN FRANCISCO : BUSINESS MATTERS.— How San Francisco 
is Located— Its Sand Hills and their Fickleness— Lone Mountain Cemetery— The City Gardens— Contrasts in Business and Social Life- Character of the Business Men— The Bankers— The Bank of California — The Wells & Fargo Express and its Various Business — How it Rivals the Government in Carrying Letters — The Machine Shops and the Woolen Manufacturers — The Mission Woolen Mills and their Success with Chinese Labor — Cotton Mafcifactory and Other Industrial Enterprises — The Commerce of San Francisco, 288 

LETTER XXVII.
MINING IN CALIFORNIA: ITS VARIETIES, RESULTS, AND 
PROSPECTS.— Present Yield of the Mines of the Pacific States- Processes and Progress of Gold Seeking— The Soil Washings, the Deep Diggings, and Hydraulic Mining— Great Enterprises of the Latter— The Large Results— The Waste of Nature by Mining—" Yuba Dam" and its Anecdote— The Quartz Mining and its Status— Grass Valley— Lola Montez, and the Horse Milkman— Condition of Mining in Mariposa County— The Fremont Estate Come to Grief— General Prospects and Condition of Mining in California— The Idaho Mines —Mining in the Various States Compared— The Advantage for California—Personal Experiences in Visiting Mines— How We Went Into the Gould & Curry Mine, and How We Got Out, 302 

LETTER XXVIII. 
SOCIAL LIFE IN SAN FRANCISCO: THE WOMEN: RELIGION AND MINISTERS— Visit to the Cliff House— The Pacific Ocean— The Seals and the Pelicans— A Ride along the Beach— The Chaos of Society in San Francisco— Domination of Materialism and Masculinism— The Women Savored with it— How the Ladies Dress— A Feminine Lunch Party — Activity in Public Morals — Education and Religion— Churches and School-houses— Ambition for Smart Preachers—Rev. Dr. Wadsworth, Rev. Dr. Scudder, Rev. Mr. Stebbins— The Country Parishes— Wide Field for Missionary Labor— The Pacific Railroad the Great Missionary of All — Rev. Mr. Stebbins' Views of California Life, 321 

LETTER XXIX. 
CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS: COST OF LIVING: THE CURRENCY QUESTION: THE MINT— Advantage of the Pacific Climate for Invalids— Effects of the Climate upon the Race— The Fruits and Vegetables of California, Compared with those of the East— Beauty of the California Spring— The Best Time to Visit the Pacific States — Comparative Prices of Living — The What Cheer House— Prices in the Markets— Gold and Silver the only Currency- Question of Introducing Paper Money— The Mint at San Francisco —The World's Settling House at San Francisco, 335 

LETTER XXX. 
THE MINING QUESTIONS AGAIN : GENERAL REVIEW.— A New Word of Caution to Eastern Capitalists— Speculators and Swindlers in the Field— Other Authority for these Views; Professor Whitney and Mr.Ashburner— Double Injury of Deception— Importance of the Geological Survey of California— The Superior Richness of the Colorado Gold Mines — New Mining Discoveries in California — Latest Phase of the Comstock Ledge— The Gold and Copper Mines in Arizona—Last News from Idaho — The Oil Fever of the East and the Gold Fever of the West— The Copper and Quicksilver Mines of California— The Petroleum Speculation in California— Vineyards Growing on the supposed Oil Beds, 34! 

LETTER XXXI.  
THE FAREWELL FESTIVITIES : POLITICS AND POLITICIANS.— The Pathos of Parting— Our Final Visit in San Francisco— A Crowded Week — Magnificent Dinner Party — Brilliant Faiewell Ball and Banquet, with Orthodox Belles and Hot Beef Tea— Politics of the Pacific States— Their Rescue from Secession- -Theii Affiliation with the Union Party— Governors Blaisdell, Lowe ;ind Gil >bs— Senators Stewart and Conness— T. Starr King's opportunity— His Sacred Fame on the Pacific Coast— The California Congressmen— Large Emigration of Rebels from Missouri to Oregon— A necdote of Senator Nesmith of Oregon — Pacific Loyalty a Passion, and its Intolerance—The Indians of the Pacific States— The Indian Question Briefly Summed Up — The Slang Phrases of the Coast-— A Parting Word for California and her Sister States, 358 

LETTER XXXII. 
THE VOYAGE HOME BY STEAMSHIP AND THE ISTHMUS.— , An Unique Sea Trip— Your Companions on the Voyage— The Accommodations and Food on the Steamer — The Crowd — The Mixture — The Babies— Down the Coast on Smooth Seas and in Sight of Land —Tropical Weather and its Effects — Stopping at Acapulco — The Town and its Mexican Inhabitants — The Evening on Shore — Interview with General Alvarez— Poor Prospects for Mexican Independence — The Bartering for Fruits and Shells — Down the Coast Again — Guatemala and its Volcanoes— San Salvador and Nicaragua— Arrival at Panama— Scenes in the Harbor— Burial of one of our Passengers- Day Upon the Isthmus— Panama and its Idiosyncrasies— The Railroad Across the Isthmus — The Ride and its Tropical Revelations— The Natives and their Nudity— Chagres River and the Isthmus Fever— Aspinwall and its Barrenness— The Steamship Service on the Atlantic Side— A Fortunate Run to New York— The Trip Summed Up— The Pacific Mail Steamship Company and its new Career — Prices o" Passage— The Moral Unhealth of the Crowd on the Steamers — The Summer Journey Ended : Its Limits Reviewed : Its Tri- umphs Stated : Its Results Measured, 370 



INDEX TO CONTENTS. XIX 



SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS. 
I.
THE MORMONS.— Their Present Attitude towards the Government- Defense of Polygamy— A Specimen of Mormon Preaching— The Emigration of 1865, 391 

II. 
MINES AND MINING— The Mines in Montana— The Uncertainties of Mining, by Professor Whitney — The Mining Laws and their Operation, by Mr. Charles Allen of Boston— How the Metal is Extracted from the Reese River Quartz, by Mr. Allen — Eastern Investment in Reese River Mines— General Rosecrans on the Mines of Nevada, . . 399 

III. 
MR. COLFAX'S SPEECHES.— Mr. Lincoln's Message to the Miners, at Central City, Colorado— The Respective Duties of Government and People : Suggestions to the Mormons, at Great Salt Lake City The Mines and their Taxation, at Virginia City, Nevada — The Pacific Railroad, at Virginia City, Nevada— The Republic and Peace : The Mexican Question, at San Francisco— California's Past and Future, at San Francisco — America and Britain, at Victoria, Vancouver's Island— Farewell Speech, at Parting Banquet in San Francisco, ... 405 

IV. 
IDAHO AND ITS MINES : With an Account op the Overland Journey from Oregon to Salt Lake City.— Up the Columbia— Walla WallaOver the Blue Mountains— The Grand Ronde Valley— The Upper Snake River— Thomas & Ruckel's Stage Line, and its Proprietors- Idaho Territory— Boise City— Idaho City— The Various Gold Diggings—South Boise— Owyhee— Illustrations of Mining Life— The Great Falls of Snake River— Road Agents— Sage Plains— Salt Lake, 418 

V. THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.— Its Marvels and its Beauties, Scientifically Described, by Professor J. D. Whitney, 429 

VI. 
THE BIG TREES— The Grove in Calaveras County— Exact Measure- ments of some of the Largest Trees— The Species and the Name, . 436 

VII. 
CALIFORNIA'S WEALTH.— Statistics from an Agricultural Address by Dr. Holden of Stockton, 438 

VIII. 
THE GOLD MINES OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE SILVER MINES OF NEVADA— A Special Paper, by Mr. William Ashburneb, Mining Engineer.— The Gold Producing Region of California— Placer Mining — The.Quartz-Mines : their History and Condition— The Silver Mines of Nevada— The Comstock Vein and its various Mines : the Gould & Curry, the Ophir, the Chollar-Potosi, the Savage, the Imperial, etc. — How they have been Managed— The Problem of their Future, and its Probable Solution, 439

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