The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-10-18
SAN FRANCISCO AND ITS ENVI
R0NS.

= Gated on a series OF nils anu uolloMs
k about seven miles from the Pacii
e Ocean. The capacity of its harbor cal
i be imagined, when it is stated that TIN
n Bay of San Francisco is fifty miles lonl
s and six miles wide; and that this ba.
t intcrlocks with others, making chail
t of one hundred and twenty five miles il
4 length, where ships of every CONCEIVABLE
E draft can float in safety. On the Dor
dcrs of this chain there are the fines
lands in the world-some rich prairie
! and some beautifully sprinkled ovel
with live oak and other trees, with wide
spreading tops, giving whole districts o
country the appearance of an Immense
park.
The natural grass is wild oats, which
grows luxuriously to the very tops of the
highest hills, and thick enough for the
scythe anywhere. Cattle subsists Oh
this oats in summer and winter. In
some places clover is indigenous, and
covers the uncultivated soil with thick
mat. Excepting near the city, where
the soil is not productive, the whole
range of country on the borders OF these
BAYS, is under high state of cultiva-
ton. Such fields of wheat as are now
being harvested there, were perhaps new
er seen in any country. Labor is so cx-
pensire that the farmer cannot bestow
much time in cultivating the ground, but
cerelessly as his work is done, he raises
from forty to seventy bushels to the
acre.
Immediately across the bay of San
Francisco, Oakland is situated town
which aspircs to the name of city, hav-
ing a charter and corporation privilege.
It is embowered in shade trees of the
most beautiful description, and the cot
tares have the appearance of having
been buiic IL Il great old orchard. Close
by is the little town of Clinton, built
behind a little grove on the open prai-
rie, having a wharf and also line hotel,
we'll kept, the rarest thing in all Call
fornia. To both these places steam fer
ry boats ply constantly.
Passing Oh around the bay in a south
crly direction, we came to Union City,
the county seat of Almada county, n
place of but little consequence. Eight
miles distant from this town and from
the bay, is the old Catholic mission of
San Jose, situated at the base of some
high hills which overlook one of the
choice spots of California. This mis-
sion was established BY the Jesuits more
than hundred years ago, and where
stands the remains of al orchard of pear
trees, of fig trees, apricots and olives,
which produce the best fruits of their
kind, respectively. THIS orchard was
greatly injured by the United States
Volunteer troops in the Mexican war,
who made it pasture lot for their ami
mails II is now owacd or claimed by
L. L. Beard, Esq, a Mormon, who has
turned the Old mission buildings into
stables for horses and cattle. Going on
south, through a country of SURPRISING
loveliness, We come to the town or city
of San Jose, the first capital of the State,
and four miles distant is the mission of
| Santa Clara, an American town OF recent
growth of the same name. The Catho-
| lies and Methodists have each male and
female scminaries of learning at thls
place The county all about Santa
| Clara and San Jose is rich and beauti-
full, and is generally admitted to. be the
most charming of any in California
The valley swatered by various streams,
and by putting down an augur few hun
dred feet, thing that is easily and
cheaply done, the pure fresh water gush-
es out. copiously, on the highest ground.
Now, turning the southern end of the
bay, we come back towards San Fran
cisco. A man may travel the world
round and round, and not find more
charming drive than he will find from
Santa Clara to Pulzas. Beautiful lawns
are spread out on the right, stretching
down gently to the clear blue water
lofty hills constituting part Of the coast
range, tipped with tall pine trees, tower
up in magnificent grandeur on the left,
while you drive on and on, through a Sc
ries of beautiful parks with wild flowers,
clover, and wild oats, growing up luxu-
riously under the green trees, for dis
tance of twenty miles There can be
no prettier country than this any where
this side of heaven. Such is the coun-
t y around or near San Francisco, at this
moment teeming with rural beauties and
agricultural products. Some day, not
far distant, an iron rail will be laid down,
one end of which will be at ST. Louis
It will be laid on the ground last de-
scribed.
The prosperity of San Francisco is
not so rapid as formerly. Heretofore
every pound of flour, meat, and nearly
all the grain and vegetables consumed
by the population of the State passed
through this city, affording business and
employment for thousands of people.
Now no flour comes from Chill, and
but little from the Atlantic States for
the reason that, in addition to large
stock of old -four on hand, the country is
full of wheat It is also full of cattle
and hogs, and of barley to feed them on,
and the country people send it to the
mines themselves, and the consequence
to San Francisco is, that her trade in
provisions is not one quarter what it was
two years ago.
A few nights ago we had another big
fire which burnt up about two millions
of dollars worth of frame houses, sltua
ted on Government Reserve, east of Da-
Wis street. But this loss is nothing
compared with poor doomed Sacramen-
to, now smoking in ruins But the peo-
pie here must have some excitement, and
they would as soon burn down the city
and build it up again as not. If they
i have nothing else to do, they shoot each
other by way of amusement, and our
judges and jurors being exceedingly ami
able, they good naturedly allow the shoot
ing to go on.-iSt. Louis Republican.
Two millions ofdollars in old shantiesis con-
siderable OF pile, but tits peculiar way they have