San Andreas independent., 1857-02-28
Notes of Travel.

At three o'clock on Tuesday morning, Febru-
airy 10th, we took seat in Dillon b Co.'s O.
s. Mail Coach, bound for Stockton. Leaving for
a time, San Andreas, its surrounding camps,
their " big strikes" balls, dances, hydraulics
and all other Independent cares, far behind; the
stage proceeded onward to the plains, hurried
along by a gallant team. The careful and ex-
pert driver, whose cleverness and knowledge in
such matters is only equalled by the punctual
! regularity and safety of the conveyance, was
| none other than our old friend Mr.. Samuel
Brown, one of the oldest and best 4" stagers" in
the State.
After changing the mail at North Branch
Post-ofice, and watering horses at Latimer's
Store, we logged along at regular gait to the
Spring Valley House, kept by Mr.. Briant, where
we had a fine warm breakfast furnished at the
reasonable price of seventy-five cents, and also
the gratuitous privilege of good wash, with
nice, clean crash-towels and combs 1--WE are
particular In these matters, as during the trip
1t was the only place such luxuries were af-
forded the public.) After changing horses, the
"whip' mounted, and away we spun, on muddy
roads, through grain felds-and passing road
side houses. An hours ride brought us into
the vicinity of Gold Diggings. We saw Jenny
Lind camp peering over the low hills, and some
| twenty sluices were in operation at the camp
Quien Sabe, on the roadside. Water appeared
to be plenty. The waterman said some of the
sluices were making from twelve to twenty
ounces OF amalgam per week Passing over
the hill to Gorham's, where our horses were
again changed, we entered the valley of the
Calaveras, which is now entirely blockaded by
ain-helds, all growing bright and green
Passing McDermotts Bridge, Douglass & Ra-
neys Ranch, and Guards, we came to Freezes,
kept by Mr.. Gorham, where is Post-ofice, &C.
AS we proceeded on towards Pendletons the
road is one continuous lane, threading its way
through growing crops on either hand At
Pendleton's there is a PoSt-office and " the
place" to take dnner-price one dollar per meal
From this place, three hours slow travel over
heavy roads, brought the stage into the slough
city
I STOCKTON.
This city is slowly but permanently impro-i
wing. Six months absence gave us an oppor-
tunity to note many changes for the better, in
every branch of business. Old shanties are
giving place to large fire-proof brick build,
ings; hog ranches in the suburbs of the town
are being replaced by neat and elegant Gotta
r. ,laJ L.
stocks of every variety of goods, and a firmness
and reliance seemed to prevail in all branches
of trade, far above what existed six months ago
the result of lively competition and un-
remittng attention to business. The planked
streets are in miserable conditon-many
places the timbers were swimming in mud 1t
is the intention of the Common Council the
coming summer, to supercede planking by fill
ing in the streets with coarse sand and gravel
similar to that on Ell Dorado street, opposite
the Theatre, which is now the best piece of
street in the city. The Artesian well had just
reached a depth of six hundred feet warm
stream of cloudy water (about one-tenth of a
sluice-head,) swiftly flows from the tubing
1t is their intention to continue the enterprise
until sufficient heighth and volume of water is
obtained for all city purposes, which may not
be until the well reaches depth of 200 feet.
At present. the augur is going through soft
blue clay. Stockton will soon compete with
San Jose in being 8" city of gardens" The
cheap plan of irrigation, with wind mills, puts
within the reach of all, the luxury of raising
fruit and flowers. Hundreds of gardens in and
around Stockton would now compare favorably
with the average gardens of Santa Clara and
San Jose. Time, labor ard care haye produced
these results. Attached to nearly every garden
is the home of family, who of course feel a
personal interest, not governed by speculative
motives, in the little Eden surrounding their
cottages, they being amply repaid by the per-
petual bloom and rich fragrance ofroses, honey
suckles, violets and heliotropes, that perfume
the air without. These are what make home
desirable, and us weary, care-worn plodders,
occasionally happy. Of course, there is al
ways g somebody else" that we wish for, to as
sist us in the occupancy of the cage-a sing
ing bird-to join in admiring the night-shades,
morning-glorys and holly-hocks, and we
took our Irregular meals" at the Jenny Lind
Restaurant, kept by Messrs Boyle Lewis two
of the best fellows as keeps on the Levee, Stock
ton. The ham and eggs, buckwheats and
honey and thousand other nice things, re-
minded US of something good to eat The sniff
of savory dishes soon overpowered the fra
GRANGE of roses and elated pictures of gardens,
cottages, and girls and pianos, and candy pull
lings and popcorn, and - we went to the
Magnolia House, procured nice room, retired
to our virtuous couch-registered No. fiat
broke free bed, free conscience and a couple
Of NJ. DIS were to have free fight in the morn