The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-09-15

petpal summer. The land is fertile
and very valuable. San Jose 10, ia
tho beautiful Santa Clara valley -
This valley has 1000 Artosian wells,
10 we'll cultivated and thickly settled.
Passing through many towns with
beautiful residences, groves OF oak
trees and lovely flowers, We arrive at
Long Wharf. Leaving the cars ct
Oakland, we tnke tho ferry boat for
San Francisco. While crossing the
Bay We have q fine view Of the city.
On the right is Golden Gateand Fort
Point, while in the channel lies the
island of Alcatrnx, back of which rises
Mount Tamelpins. Still farther to
the right is seen tho hills Of Angel
island. We pass Goat island and
make ready 70 land. AT the wharf
we took carriage for the Occidental
Hotel. There are besides the Grand,
Cosmopolitan and Lick House. These
hotels are equal to any IN the eastern
States. While in the city We visited
tho Public Gardens, City Market,
China Town, and several other pla-
ces. I did not enjoy myself very
we'll as it was SO cold aud We had no
thick clothing, we actually suffered
when on the street riding or walking.
Furs were being worn, which looked
queer enc ugh to mo. Tho fruit was
elegant, large and very plenty, but it
lacks flavor. We were in The city
two days. Its very gay and lively.
Money plenty and freely used, and
every one seems to enjoy themselves.
California is divided into three divis-
ions. The coast range Of mountain
GUS country, interspersed with val
leys. The mountains are not very
high, but arc heavily timbcred with
rcd.oak. They are well adapted for
the raising Of grain and grapes. Gil
mate warm in the winter with sea
brcexes in the summer. On the slope
towards the ocean the summers are
quito cold, but further inland the hot
sun and sea breeses equalize each
other, producing delightful climate,
varying in every valley. Tho great
Sacramento basin running north and
south through the center Of the State
is 400 miles long and fifty wide. II,
is nearly level, only broken In one
place BY range ofhills called Aafys-
vile Butts they are some 1000 feet
high. It is traverscd By two rivers,
the Sacramento from the north and
San Joaquin from the south, which
unto near Mt. Diablo, and ;fiow into
the Bay of San Francisco. These.
rivers drain the western slope and tho
Sierra Nevada mountains. The eli
mate is hot in the summer and tenn
perate in the winter. The Sierra
Nevada mountains, bordering the
State on the east, are about 20 miles
in width. The slope from Sacrament
to to the western summit il gradual,
rising in about SO miles TO 10, 900 feet.
The whole western summit is henv-
lily timbered. From the summit to
the great basin IL is broken with deep
cany ons, each canyon having . stream
Of water running through it, fed by
melting snow Of the summit. The
Yosemite is situated directly 10 the
center of tho Sierra mountains; 10
4O60 feet above the level Of the sea. /.
was sorry we did not have time TO
visit it. On Saturday, July 31st, we
stepped on board tho steamer Orri-
fannie, bound for Portland; the boat
is the bost on tho line, but is small
and with worry poor accommodations.
There were 300 passengers, 100 emf
grants and 600 tons Of freight. 1t
was expected to make the trip in 3
days,-700 milcs-but we wcrc FIVE.
We had strong head wind all the
way, aud very rough soa. Coming
out of the Bay was beautiful, but |
was glad when San Francisco was
out Of sight and was out at sea. 1
was delighted, and enjoyed tho trip
very much. Onr party were very
social and pleasant, and we had plenty
of fun, especially at the dinner table
tho first day, first one and then an
other would jump mp and run from
the table, and that is the last you.
would see of them until wo neared
Portland, but you could hear them
quite often. They were so sca-sick,
and what q time they did have. I
fortunately escaped, and was on
deck most Of the time. One night
it was terrible rough. thought
the boat would 60 to pieccs when
those great waves came crashing
over the dock. On reaching the bar
at the mouth of the Colum-
bia river, wc wero unable to cross, on
account Of the fog, and 80 put out to
sea again. We entered the river
about noon. The river is delightful,
very similar to the Hudson, water
clear aud very deep. The people were
busily engaged catching salmon all
along the river. At Astoria We wero
met by Ben. Holiday, with three
steamers and two bands of music
He camo 10 meet his daughter and
her husband, who are on their we'd
ding tour, she having been married in
Paris to q French Count. The boats
were all crowded /; flags displayed !;
cannons fred and things were gay
and lively. We anchored ia the river
that night, and had music, dancing,
30 Next morning we cape in sight
Of Portland, which looks small and
miserable in tho distance, but we
were agrceably disappointed on mr.
irving ut tho wharf, where we found
plenty of carriages, and were soon
landed at the st. Charles Hotol--.just
opened. Mr.. Edison, of Denmark
School, Iowa, was on board the
steamer. / was introduced TO him
and found him very pleasant. The
weather here is delightful, just like
our Indian Summer. Nights cool,
so that blankets are necessary, and
you can sleep ten hours and then not
feel satisfied, that is said of all peo-
pie on first coming here. Will give
you q description of Portland next
time l write. H. F. b.
Wyoming.
Cheyenne, Sept. Z.
Tho elcutlon passed. off quietly yes
to-day, throughout tho Territory
Joncs, Republican, is elected to Con-
gress by . samll majority.
Mrs. Church Howe, wife Of U. S.