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Early depiction of the proposed Transcontinental Railroad routes!

Fine treatment of the American West seen through the lens of a Republican newspaperman traveling through the continent after the end of the Civil War.

This 1866 edition of Bowles's work, first published in 1865, includes a marvelous map of the western states showing stage roads and proposed railroads across the continent. An inset in the lower right shows a focus on central California.

The book includes an extremely detailed description of the West, describing many aspects. The subjects covered include polygamy in Utah, winemaking in California, the high coastal cost of living, and much more.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is its interactions with Schuyler Colfax's trip across the continent. Colfax, then Speaker of the House, was visiting the western states. He was one of the first high-ranking elected officials to do so.

Letters

1. From Massachusetts to the Missouri
2. From the Missouri to the Platte
3. Through the Plains to the Rocky Mountains
4. The Rocky Mountains and their Gold Mines
5. Of Persons, Not Things
6. Sunday in the Mountains
7. From Denver to Salt Lake Through the Rocky Mountains
8. The Way into Utah: Reception by the Mormons
9. Mormon Materialities
10. Salt Lake City and Life There
11. The Polygamy Question
12. The Mormon Wives: Our Last Day in Salt Lake City
13. Social Life Among the Mormons
14. The Ride Through the Sage Brush and the Great Basin
15. The Silver Mines of Nevada: Austin and Virginia City
16. The Continent Across
17. Overland to Oregon
18. The Columbia River: Its Scenery and Commerce
19. Through Washington Territory
20. Puget's Sound and Vancouver's Island
21. San Francisco: Mr. Colfax, and his Reception in the Pacific States
22. The Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees
23. The Chinese on the Pacific Coast: Our Grand Dinner with Them
24. The Great Theme: The Pacific Railway
25. Country Excursions
26. Of San Francisco
27. Mining in California: It's Varieties, Results, and Prospects
28. Social Life in San Francisco: The Women, Religion, and Ministers
29. Climate and Productions: Cost of Living: The Currency Question
30. The Mining Questions Again: General Review
31. The Farewell Festivities
32. The Voyage Home by Steamship and the Isthmus

Collation

[Folding engraved map], xx, 452, [Blank]; [2]; [Final blanks]