The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-09
FROM SAN FRANCISCO.


SAN FRANCIscO, Sept. "A, 1859.
xEssRs EDITORS: believe l,ft off in my
lest at Promontory. We arrived At that place
On Sunday evening about O'Clock.
The hrst thing noticed was what appeared
to BE- bonfres, and thinking it some demonstra-
ton in honor of our arrival went over where I
found two gamblers, each having table before
him, on which were dirty packs Of cards and
Thousands of dollars in gold. They were at
tempting to "drsw on some of the crowd around
them, and told all sorts of tales, among which
was one to the effect that Vice President Colfax
won $500 of ono of them and very generously
gave it to poor widow! An instance of gen.
srosity like this should not go unrecorded and
therefore hope you will not omit this suthen.
tic and reliable anecdote?
Being night of course did not see the ooun.
Try Immediately beyond Promontory, and when
lawoke in the morning we were passing through
humboldt valley, my reccollectious Of which are
thatit was barren, dssolate and dusty, one of the
most unpleasant portions Of four trip, SO much 20,
that was glad enough at night to take moon.
Light ride Of about twenty miles on the engine,
Where 1got plenty Of fresh air and no dust.
Your readers viii not care for personal i'm.
pressions, and !, therefore, will not record them
further than to say that at one time when we
were going at the rate of about thirty miles an
hour and saw light on the road where none
should have been, it occurred TO mo that there
might be safer places to ride than on the engine.
wish had time and sufficient command of
language to describe the scenery of the Sierra
Nevsdas as sesa from the road, but such de-
scriptiOn is beyond my power. tits grand. mag
ni6cent, sublime, and 1 shall long remember
those lofty mountain peaks, and deep valleys,
through which at times stream Of water is
seen winding like thread Of silver along, or a
lake Downes) nesting between the mountains
like . beautiful pearl of natures setting-the
miles on miles of snow sheds presenting an ap-
pearance Of being studded BY thousands of stars
(csused by sun light shining through crevices in
the roof-these, and many other crowd upon me
but must pass them with the briefest mem
ton.
Since our arrival in California 4 must skip ga
heapN We have been received" banqueted, and
e1cursioned (how's that y invited to everything,
and everywhere, and it still continues. "a
There seems to be no limit to the generosity
and liberality Of these Californians, and the San
Franciscans in particular. l have not even al.
luded TO- much less described, one half of the
invitations given or attentions shown the Grand
Lodge as body-as individuals Judging from
my own experience we have been equally no
ticed. For instance, Mr.. G. w. Arcularias, soon
after my arrival here, drove up with IS minute
team and asked me to ride when he took me to
NH popular seaside resort, the Cliff House, where
we saw innumerable seals sporting on some rocks
on the ocean side and lots of other things-from
thence to the Ocean Side House, muscle rocks,
then back by another route through the country,
and coming suddenly upon magnificent birds.
eye view of the city.
DR.. Soule, one Of the most prominent physicians
OF the city has also shown enaanyattentions both
social aud professional, but although il would be
very pleasant to enumerate and gratefully &C.
knowledge the many courtesies shown me person
ally, the extreme length of this letter warns me
that must pass on. For the same reason can
but most hastily and briefly speak Of my impress
sions of the climate, business and prospects of
the country, &c.
As regards the climate, too much can no. be
said in sts favor for in the State almost any
climate may be found at any time Of the year
Here in San Francisco, from April to October,
10 A: NJ. to sunset, chilling sea-breezes prevail
the balance of the year is the rainy season, the
average amount of rain being 30 inches. Not.
withstanding this, the weather is actually warm.
or than during the dry season and the verdure
ofthe hills and valleys, together with tho lu1u-
RANT vegetation largely compcnsates for the un-
pleasantness Of the rain. Wooden clothing is
worn the season through--summer clothing,
never ladies consider furs "in," the year
round. lFa' ar
In my Judgment, this is decidedly fast
country, the people living at the rate of about
FIVE years in one, consequently ii is NO place for
idlers or drones. Colossal fortunes may be made
in few years, and although these are the OK.
osptions I am informed, BY an intelligent Cali.
iornian, from whom the most OF these facts are
derived that the rule as regards legitimate buii-
ness 10 that success follows diligence and strict
attention to ones affairs i
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