The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-05-18


ural scenery of the state is unsurpassed in
the world. To day wo met gentleman
just returned from visit to the Yosemite
Valley and Falls, about which so much
has been written. A digest Of what he
tells us may be of Interest to some, though
in part repetition of what every body
knows. This great natural curiosity, sits
uated in Mariposa County, is visited by
thousands during the Summer months
The first fall Of water is 1000 feet. the
second 43i, and the third, 600 feet. The
word yosemite is Indian, and signifies
'Large Grizzly Bear The Cloud Rest
Mountain Peak is 6450 feet above the
Valley, South Dome 5000 feet, Cap of
Liberty 1900 feet, Mt Star King is 5000
feet The Valley is 1000 feet above the
level of the sea. The highest mountains
in the United States are in California.
Mt. Shasta is 1900 feet high. At the
head waters of the King and Kern rivers
there are several very lofty peaks of the
Sierra Nevada range, Some measure as
high as l4730 feet The Big Tree
Grove in Calaveras County is another of
the great natural wonders of the Pacific
coast, which we intend to see before re-
turning East. Within an area of fifty acres
there are l03 trees OF gigantic size. The
larger tree is 80 feet in circumference
its hight being 32l feet, end is called the
Mother of the Forest. A stump So feet
in crcum' ference is now used as a bowling
alley, The hight of this when standing
was 3Ol feet.
As we write probably not more than
fifteen miles of track remains to be put
down before the Central and Union Pa.
ciiic Railroad Companies will clasp hands
at the laying Of the "last rail" that unites
two oceans and completes the grandest
engineering enterprise ever undertaken by
man. The progress and completion of
this great work in the presence of the
waiting mullitudes upon either extremity
has been most APPLY referred to as sugges.
tive of the meeting of two friends who
have been long separated by distance, and
the various vcissitudes Of life, and who
on approaching each other extend their
arms to full length to perform that very
common place, yet most cordial greeting
the shaking of hands, How difficult to
realize that these roads are so near com
pletion, but few days-nay hours only
are to intervene before the telegraph will
announce that California has Teen annex.
ed to the balance Of the Union by indis
soluble bands of ron. But such is the
case, and after II few days when the time
tables are arranged from Monument Point
each way, the entire trip from New York
to San Francisco can be made in nine
days. With this new avenue open to the
shores and ropulcus cities of the Atlantic
it is thought that a stream of emigration
will pour in from every part OF the coun,
try, fan exceeding anything in former
years. 1t will not be strange if this is 30,
with country Of This enormous size,-
where all the cereals yield IN abundance.
where the seeds, plants and fruits of Cen
trail and Soull, America, Continental Eu.
rope and the Mediterranean are indigen
Gus to the soil, where the bee stores its
honey, and the silk worm spins its lustrous
web, where -kics arc ever golden, and the
air always pure, fresh and balmy, where
to hive is health, ease and fortune Is il
any wonder that with all these charms,
heightened by the seductive stories, of recent
gold and silver discoveries Thousands
should he attracted thither who are willing
to brave the perils of ocean, or dust OF
continents, in order to enjoy for them
selves and be-tow upon their children a
rich legacy.
Yours Very Truly,
T.. w. p