San Andreas independent., 1857-02-07

honor to be the first train to cross this route.
and | would recommend all nv friends
who expect to cross the plains to travel
this route, as it is at least one hundred and
fifty per cent. better than any pass vet
opened over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
1t is known as the Calayeras or Bic Tree
route.
Speaking of the Big Tree" (called
the Westinghouse Gigantica y | meas
ured its stump about three feet from the
ground, which is hirtytour feet in diam
eter, or one hundred and two feet in cir
cumference This is planed off, and forms
the floor of splendid dancing saloon.-
On the log, besides drinking saloon and
billiard room, there is very fine ten pin
alley. I was presented with cane from
this tree, and piece of the bark, which is
eight inches in thickness. Besides this
tree there are many others of almost equal
ly gigantic proportions, belonging to the
same species, and which | am informed
have never been found in any other part
of the world. If / am not mistaken,
portion Of the bark from this tree was ex-
hiblted at the Worlds Fare in New York.
x x y \
The climate of California Is sufficient
to recommend it, if it had no other advan-
tage. There is no melting here one day
and freezing the next, but every day and
every night is alike. No night is too
warm for blanket, and no day that gen
tleman cannot wear his cravat. You can
see more clear, pure, unclouded and un-
mistiied sunshine in California in one
month, than you can in Missouri in twelve.
This is indeed the country where, as Bay
ard Taylor has beautifully and poetically
described it, "the last lingering rays of
the setting sun mingle with the mists of
the eastern morn" Her schools and acad-
emies equal those Of almost any other
State. In all the learned professions she
is well represented Her manufactures in
every department, are truly astonishing,
and would do honor to one-half the old
States. And as for vegetables, fruits and
flowers, she has no equal in the Union.-
Grapes never fail here, and |
have to see the first rotten or blasted one
yet The Assyrian (Which [ believe is
the kind spoken of in Scripture), is raised
here to perfection. | saw some samples
of this grape at the Fair, measuring one
inch in length by thrce-fourths of an inch
in diameter. Among the miscellaneous
articles were some splendid specimens of
California cured hams, some very fine but
ter, and a cheese weighing 346 lbs
San Jose is the model city of the model
country; with model houses, and model
gardens and everything Of the most per-
feet model. 1t is city of Colleges, of
the most perfect Downing architecture
| With its green trees, its fruits, and flowers
of thousand brilliant hues, their deli
cious fragrance waited on the air of every
month, from January to July-winter and
summer alike; while its thousand Artesian
wells are pouring forth as many Jets of
pure, crystal waterfall combine to render
it In appearance, one of those bright elys-
iums pictured in the fruitful imagination
Of some ancient dreamer-unapproa
BILE except by the potent agency Of the ma
gician' wand, or other supernatural power.
Such, at least, does it seem, to the way
worn traveller, on first beholding it, after
his long and fatiguing journey across the
Western Plains.
j. w. 3. REYNOLDS.