Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-27
For the Journal.
Correspondence.
sAN FRAN 11sco. Cal., Noyember 3

-
SAN FRAN5Isco, CAL, November %, 1853.
Twas the morning Of the 22d ult., that left Ills
pace, on board the good st.amtr Orient" which
plios betvsen hire and Mrysville. My Object was
short tour in the interior few jpttngs Of which
new propose givir you.
Crossing near tho entrance Of San Frsncisco Bay,
We enter Pablo Bay, which traverse for thirty
miles. The sce.iery is rather romsntc the west
the Csait R4rge Mountains rise from the margin Of
the water, their sloping sides covered with growth
Of dH arsh trees, prominent among which is the ever
green live oak, away in the d.tsnce, and at greater
hight the mountains seemed covered with growth
OF stately forest trees. To the east instead Of
mountains, are lew conical bills their smooth sides
covered with thick grass, with here and there low,
spreading topped evergreen tree. In the Biy are
many islands; are houses and cultivated
f5ds grass AID green reesoLers piles Gf harrsn
rocks
| Leaving Pablo Bay, We enter the straits Of Ccqu-
rus ra'touch at Benica, tie State capital. From
tho steamers deck, it rather pretty and pleas
place, built upon slightly ynclined plain. Again
! under way, enter Suison Bay. TIE hills and
mountains either side give way to level plains ard
instead Of abrupt, rocky islands, low, level
cnes, ely rising above the water, and covered
with growth OF willows cott0hwood, sycamores, &c.
Farther, and we have entered the Sacramepto-that
river famed in song and story. Fancy stream with
q dull, sluggish current-wa.ers of murky, reddi.h
solor--frcquent low, busty is'ands--low, muddy
banks, fringed with wows-sloughs putting out here
and there and gsipg-you dent know where-and
you see the Sacrsmsnto, near It's meueb. Beyond tie
willows but little the country has the ap-
psarane of level prairie plain, nterscced with Tu-
lare ENTHUSIASTICALLY seen clumrs Of oak and
sy elmore.
As we ascend farther, the prospect changes some
wiat; the banks Gf the river are hgh, and conss
qusatly the plains are moro elevated. Occasionally
pass farms and on the river bar ks and
as We near Sacra ncnto they become moro FREQUENT.
At the end of ten-hours run we are laying along
side the wharf boat, and, stepping ashore, find our
selves in the city of Sacramento. 1t is Handsomely.
laid out the site occupying the northern verge Of an
extended plain. Tha streets are wide, straight and
cross each other at right angles. They are numbered
beginning at the river and frem north to south Frs
second, &c., and nsmed from cast to west A, b. c. &c
which is very pretty and convenient arrangement.
Sacramento contains many fine buildings, which I
will not attempt to enumerate. Since the great ocd
OF 80 lvees kaya been thrown up on the north cast
a1d west sides Of town, to rrot il from like cali III
ty.
Just above TIE city, is The cor haence IF the Sacra-
'nants and American riye-s-the former ccming IN
frem the northeast and the latter from the east.
After sfendins day very pleasantly in SacramcnG'
70, Found myself, on the evening of the 2lth tho
inmate OF stag csach bound for the mountains and
n'aes. U i- read lay to the eastward. Leaving the
city We traTe.'i ever gontly rolling plain, dotted
with saks. Tue soil has tie appearance cf beirs
god, aud fair Proportion 6f it ID under cultivation
u'aaualy, as we advance, the appearance Of the
country eergoes charge; at the end of twelve or
hffeeD mi es the ros or swolls have become hills
WIN Valleys intervening. Some other species of tim
Ger appear, but ali OF rather stunted growth. Ten
miles farther, the hills higher and more abunt:
instead OF valleys, VIC hsvo gulches dotted with the
tents and cabins of miIersa conclusive proof tbey
We are entering the god region. TIE appearance of
the eara changes; instead # the rcb black loan of
the morning, We see red, burned-lookirg hills and.
ridges, with edges and scattered fragments of rocks
We pass the mining tnwas, P.airie City ani Mormon
Island.
Farther, the hills become higher and moro rocky
teey are covered with thick growth of tkoray rough
ioosng brush. In passing over some of the high
ridges, oltch glimpse Of the snow-crownod Sierra
Nsvadas.
Iaa hilis have b,coms mountains yet more rocky
and steeI cur road is cut sorg the mountain eide to
our sat up, Rf; tc cur lefs, down. dttca-and seei
there is not foot space between the wheels Of the
c aeh and the edge of the preciIice. Ugh! what il
hcrse were TO fall, or even stumble, and start M
rolling over the gg d rocks guess we'd never pub
sh the facts to the world. But re such thing hnp.
Pens, aad at o'clock, P. NJ, are in "Colomo,"
one OF the oldest mining towns in California C,ltmo
occupies sae on tae left baRk Of he south fork Of
tbs American river; bat what size it is not in
valley = no, it can be called canon, and nothing
more nor less. High mountains rise on every side,
and Colono is in the midst. Yst it has population
f-say 1000.
lis the m,rning Of the 25th. Now FIR q stroll.
val, OF two hundred yards brings US to Sutter
O.d MIL" Who has not heard of iil We stand
upon the franz; it is fast going to decay. There L
the unh .shed machinery, just nearly completed a.
il was on ttat eyeaing ia AS. We leave the mill,
and advancing dozen PAGES, We stand beneath q
group OF overhapging sycamorcs. Hre is tho spot
where the first gold discover here ignitsd
The iistespark which has kindled SO greats fire. Tie
report vent forth turneG The heads of one haf the
Universal Yankee Nation and sent tens Of thousands
of her gallant pilgrimage which has had no,
equal IN modern days. la due time they reached the
E.dorado; many found dwelling place in this noun
tain go.ge We sec the efcts of their labor a. We
stroll onwards climbing over piles Of earth and
stones now picking way through deep dtches and
anon looking into deep pit, or Eeepng into . drk
drift which extends hundreds of into the mcuStan.
Climbing far up the lil We canals that have been
taken out of the river twsnty thirty miles above,
AID conducted along tie sides Of the mountains.
whsrs it would alnort impossible fer a man 70
pass. From these canals long hose lead eff to the mi
nars saices, thus supplying him with water. where
previous to the construction Of canals none was to be
had. Thus wandering here and there, two days are
spent. On ths third W. On route for San Frar-
CISCO The fifth We thereo. here. as you please.
VINE.
Uscfixi Hints.
A teaspoonful of salt thrown into the wa
ter, will soften from three to four pals Of
hard water. 5fa asga
~ Il, e., an1.. l.l.