The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-06

~ The ssbJoiRed description ~ -
California are by Col. Frsmon, F''''Sn' Of
hesse" west ef the sssrx
west OF the Sierra Nevada, and h...N 'saa.
mountain and the sea, is the seen zen That
~ s"n VI oaniofnis, and the only part ~
a,.., aRpnes IN the current languags - is
80 ~ 'ne occupied and inhabi,.S me
and so different in character. a. part
mountain wall Of the Sierra g.. oy the
Basin above, as to constitute a raa;.. .ne Urea,
with struetsre and eonhguratio5 70 lsself.
mats and productions Of its ov,r- - SOL, eli
thern rersla may be referred 10 "a - As Nor
'he FORMER so may Italy be referred A. SPs Of
point OF comparison for the latter Nse., some
south this region embraces about a., - ''h and
laiitude-from 80 deg, whsr. !, ,. usg'ees Of
peninsula Of California, 10 ~ 49,. The
bounds on Oregon. East and vsss Nnsre IL
sierra Nevada TO the sea, il will aver In = NE
middle parts 100 miles; in the no,,bs,a y NE
Soo-g"ihg an area Of above On, bn.f1s
| thousand square niles --Aafsd
Looking westward from the summit q, a.
S ei's' us man feature presented is the L."
Io"' O'oaH 'shey OF the Joaquin and Saersm-1s'
dred miles long and fifty broad lying .io nun
west BY the low coast range Of mounl,inS ING tas
separates II from the sea. Long d.,I I;' "uSh
timber indicate the streams, ana hri-b, IS o.
marx the intervening plains. LAte,sI ,er es
parallel 10 the Sierra Nevada ana In.
marx the structure Of the country and 80 :,
into a surface Of valleys and mounf.ia' =,
valleys few hundred. and the mouD,si-- 'u7
to four thousand feet above tbs -, ~ NO
form greater masses, and become mar sl .Isss
IN the north, where some peaks. a. III So,
enter the regions Of perpetual snow. S,,-,~e 'I,
along the mild coast Of the Pacific, with 90.
raj elevation in its plains and valleys Of o..
few hundred feet above the level Of tbs -!
and backed by the long and lofty wall Of M.
oierra-mlidhess and geniality may be assum.5
as the characteristics Of its climate. r.
habitants Of corresponding Iatitad.s ~ y, -,
Atlantic side of this continent can Win IA
Guilty conceive Of the soft air and souths,n -
dnctions under the same ATTITUDES in ths M,
time region Of upper California The ,inguI..
beauty and purity Of the sky in the souib a.
this region is characterized by Humboldt :.
rare phenomenon, and all traveller, rssl,J. ~
truth Of his declaration.
Hall century ago, around the NISSAN.
established by the padres, there were fonn-
growing apples, pears, figs, oranges, grsp-,
peaches, Pomegranates, bananas, sugsI-esn.
indigo, and almost every vegetable eonrrooD H.
the temperate zone Of this continent Sine
the decline of the missions these products h.v-
disappeared wheat Is the staple production Of
the north.
Perhaps few parts Of the world can produc.
IN such perfection so great a variety Of fruii,
and grains as the large and various region an
closing the bay Of San Francisco and drsipss
by its waters. A view Of the map will shaur
that region and its great extent. comprehendiny
the entire valleys Of the Sacramento and San
Joaquin. and the whole western slope Of tb-
Sierra Nevada. General phrases fail 10 Div.
precise ideas, and have recourse 10 the na,..
in my journal to show its climate and Drodue.
tons by the test OF the Thermometer and N.
state of the vegetable kingdom.
valleys efthe Sacramento and san . 60 q lin
These valleys are one. Disseminated only By
the names Of the rivers which traverse H. II /.
single yalley-single geographical formation
near 5OO miles long, lying al the western bas,
of the Sierra Nevada, and between il and the
coast range Of mountains, and stretching across
the head Of the bay Of San Francisco, With
which delta Of twenty-five miles connects H.
The two rivers, San Joaquin and Sacramento.
rise at opposite ends Of this long valley, receive
numerous streams, many Of them bold rivers.
from the Sierra Nevada, become themselves
navigable rivers, How toward each other meet
half waJ, and enter the bay Of San Francisco
together, in the region Of the tide water max ing
continuous water line from one end 10 The
other.
The valley Of the San Joaquin is about 800
miles long and 60 broad, between the slopes Of
the coast mountain and the Sierra Nevada, with
a general elevation of only few hundred feet
above the level Of the sea. IL presents valirly
Of soil, from dry and unprOduetiYe 10 well va
tered and luxurianty fertile. The eastern
(which is the fertle) side Of the valley is inter-
sected with numerous streams, forming largs
and very beautiful bottoms Of fertile land, wood
ed principally with white OAKS (gHsrcus I0Rgi.
gland, TORI and Frem.) in open groves Of
handsome trees, often five or sir feet in diane
ter, and 90 10 30 feet high Only the larger
streams, which are 50 to $50 yards wide, ana
drain the upper parts Of the mountains, pass
entirely across the valley, forming the Tular.
lakes and the San Joaquin river, which, in IN.
rainy season, make a continuous stream from
the head of the valley 10 the bay The foo
hills Of the Sierra Nevada, which limit the val.
ley, make a woodland country, diversified with
undulating grounds and pretty valleys, and "a
tered with numerous small streams, which
reach only few miles beyond the hills, III,
springs which supply them not being eopiOui
W CnIIy hCIO.S lur plains luesl
afford many advantageous spots for farms, ma.
king sometimes large bottoms Of rich mOis
soil. The rolling surface of the hills present.
sunny exposures. sheltered from the winds
and, having highly favorable climate and suit
able soil, are considered to be we'll adapted to
the cultivation OF the grape, and will probably
become the principal vine-growing region o.
California. The uplands bordering the valley
| Of the larger streams usually wooded viii
evergreen oaks; and the intervening plains are
timbered with groves OF belts of evergreen AM
white oaks among prairie and open land. The
surface Of the valley consists Of level plains
along the Tulare lake and San Joaquin river
changing into undulating and rolling grOunc
nearer the foot hills Of the mountains
The valley of the Sacramento is divided into
upper and lOwer-the lower two hundred miles
long, the upper about one hundred; and the
latter not merely entitled TO the distinction Of
upper, as being higher up ON the river, but also
as having a superior elevation Of some thou
sands of feet above IL. The division is strongly
and geographically marked. The Shastl peak
stands at the head Of the lower valley, in the
forks Of the river, rising from a base Of ] 900
feet out Of forest Of heavy timber. ltasesnds
like an immense column upward Of 1900 feet,
| NEARLY the height Of Mont Blanc } the summit
glstening with snow, and visible, from favora-
bic points Of view, at distance Of l4O miles
down the valley. The river here. in descending
from the upper valley, plunges down through a
Canon" falling 1900 feet in twenty miles
This upper valley is 100 miles long, heavily
timbered, the climate and productions modified
by its altitude, its more northern position, ami
the proximity and elevation of the neighbOring
mountains covered with snow. Il contains
valleys of arabic land, and is deemed capable Of
settlement. Added TO the lower valley, II
makes the whole valley Of the Sacramento 300
miles long.