The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-08-26
VOL. 2.
San Francisco and its Environs.

1t Is we'll known lnat lnlS city is located
on series of hills and hollows, about seven
miles from the Pacific Ocean. The capacity
of its harbor can be imagined, when it is
stated that the bay of San Francisco is fifty
miles long and six miles wide; and that
this bay interlockS with Others, making
chain of one hundred and twenty-five miles
III length, where ships of every conceivable
draft can float in safety. On the borders Of
this chain there are the finest lands in the
world-some rich prairie, and some beauti-
fully sprinkled over with live oak and other
trees, with wide-spreading tops, giving
whole districts Of country the appearance
Of an immense park.
The natural grass is wild oats, which
grow luxuriouSly to the very tops of the
highest hills and thick enough for the scythe
anywhere Cattle subsist on these oats sum
ner 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 cultiyation.-
Such fields of wheat as are now being har
vested there, were perhaps never seen III any
country. Labor is so expensive that the
farmer cannot bestoW much time in cult
vating the ground, but CareleSsly as his work
is done, he raises from forty to seventy bush
els 10 the acre.
Immediately across the bay Of San Fran
cisco Oakland is situated d town which
aspres to the name of city, having char
ter and corporation privilege. 1t is embow-
cred in shade trees of the most beautiful
description, and the cottages have the APP
pcaranCe Of having been built III great old
orchard Close by is tie little town Of
Clinton, built behind little grove on the
open prairie, having wharf, and also fine
hotel, well kept, the rarest thing III all Cali
iornia To both these places steam ferry
boats ply constantly.
Passing OH around the BAY in a southerly
direction, we come to Union City, the coun-
" seat of Armada county. a place OF but
little consequence. Eight miles distant from
this town and from the bay, Is the old Cath
olc mission of San Jose, situated at the
base OF some high hills which overlook one
of the choicest spots in California. This
mission was established by the Jesuits more
than a hundred years ago, and here stand
the remains Of an orchard OF pear trees. of
fir 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 Mexl
can war, who made it pasture lot for their
animals It is now owned or claimed by
L. J.. Beard. Esq, Mormon, who has
turned the old mission buildings into sta
bies for horses and cattle. Going on south,
through a country of surprising loneliness,
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, and
an American town of recent growth of the
same name. The Catholics and Methodists
have each male and female seminaries Of
learning at this place The country all
about Santa Clara and San Jose is rich and
beautiful and is generally admitted to be
the most charming of any in California
The valley is watered by various streams
and by putting down an auger a few hun
dred feet, thing easily aud cheaply done
the pure, fresh water gushes out, copiously
on the highest ground. Now, turning the
southern end of the bay, we come back to-
wards San Francisco. 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 con-
stituting part of the coast range, tipped with
tall pine trees, towering up in magnificent
grandeur on the left, while you drive on and
on, through series of beautiful parks with