■MEXICAN MORMON COLONIES. 41 
or even indications of one, within the 
thirty to sixty miles between villages, 
my conscience is not disturbed in saying 
that I can at least agree with the great 
American poet that, 
We hear the first low wash of waves 
Where soon shall roll a human sea. 
Already a railway was talked of, and the 
usual undue excitement was manifested. 
Every stranger was supposed to have 
something to do with it. Even my own 
little expedition was thought to be a sort 
of preliminary reconnoissance. I have 
never constructed a railway in my life, but 
I have been along the advancing lines of 
a number of new ones, and have seen 
them grow from two iron rails in a wilder¬ 
ness to a great country. I do not recall 
any that had much brighter prospects 
