New-York tribune., 1870-01-29
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.

SAN DfEGO-ITs HARBoR AND sURRoUNDNGs-
ITS PROSPECTS AS A RAILWAY TERMINUS
CAPACITIES OF PRODUCTION, ETC.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, Jan. 3-The excitement Of
White Pine with its rgentferous odes and ledges has
been succeeded oil by OF entirely differ
aud Of decidedly substantial and certain
results San Diego with It's peerless bay and unequaled
climate has now become OF allabsorbng interest, simply
because it has been certainly fixed upon the western
terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In forming
the Bay OF San Diego, nature has prepared haven so
admirably adapted TO meet the wants .of man that she
seems to have had that object in consideration, and
omitted nothing contributing its convenience and
safety Sixteen miles in length, and from one to three In
BREADTH this bay channel that for 10 miles from its
entrance has minimum depth Of four fathOms. and is
protected the northeast by large natural break
water feet HIGH which three miles into the sea-
rendering accessible in the most stormy weather Add
to this the fact possible rival between the
Isthmus and San Francisco and seem to have reason
for predicting that San Diego will yet become the second
great city the Here for years, unnoticed and
almost unknown, with climate in which the thermOme
stands the year round at from 400 TO 500 Fahrenheit
rendered delightfully."- cool In summer by the sea breeze
and entirely from the fogs and high winds so preva
lent In san Francisco lay the peerless harDor 0t san
Diego
Diego was founded by the Jesuit and they displayed
their customary Mexican sagacy by building at point
where little or no advantage could be derived from its
splendid haTbOr their only idea being to secure supply
OF fresh from the river of the same name This
retained It's Spanish characteristics long after the
more northern missions had been thoroughly American
lied by the great tide Of immigration from the east
which avoided this country as one TOO remote from the
great aurcrous deposits OF the Sierras, and Of limited
capacity FOR grazing or Iage These erroneous impress
generally entertained even by those who
had aG sm a e t d % P es aS
aud Hunter With the railroad surveying party for the
32d parallel last Summer which quckened the lethargc
ideas of the public respecting San Diego and produced
results as astonishing as they have been gratifying.
ont first day OF August 1865 four houses or sahtles
month ran and from San Francisco with few tuns OF
freight for Fort Yuma aud Arizona and passenger was
Diego nearly great curiosity TO the natives
gorilla would have been To-day the town boasts
than 400 houses has five steamers month at
her varves each averaging 100 passengers and 100 uns
freight The town has reached this stage OF growth,
Notwithstanding two drawbacks, either OF which would
insuperabe to any class Of people save
The trst Is great nhcer,anty as TO the Vsdy OF Sae
been built lind the other the utter ignorance as to at
Both these knOty questions have just been settled and
their solution has unquestionaby ruined the present
miles south OF the present town lies a vast tract Of land
having water front OF six miles on the bay and an area
OF than 266OO this is known as the National
Ranch" IL has been purchased entire by +. A. Il w. {.
Kmba OF Oakland who have just effected an agreement
of 100000 whereby IN consideration Of grant OF 1000
to run railroad through the entire length OF IT,
and to build thereon their repair shops fOunderles
prese f sna Sdms depot upon tract Of and adon
ing the ranch the norh given by the county to the
The extreme southern limit OF the present town Of San
Diego being noh OF the railroad lands is left entirely
In unequivocal language has created great con
sernaon among the dwelers therein aud renders the
ultimate removal OF the city to point on the Ma
tional Ranch question only OF time Unfortunate as II
is for those already tne VISION % S me ra
OF consideration, and the advantages 10 DC
gained by the transfer will more counterbaance the
losses thereby The six miles front OF the National
Ranch includes the widest portion OF the bay ut being
three miles here and less than at the present ste
md "a
hundreds OF acres sloPg gently down to the water not
only perfectly adapted by nature TO be the building OF
large city, but also aOrdng easy grade to the pass
through the mountains lying almost due east OF this
These considerations. together with title from which
there appeal were the leading governing
the railroad cUmpany's decision.
The face OF the country, although beautiful in the
Winter when covered with yerdure is dry and
during several months OF the year. that by universal
has been regarded barren waste Incapable
OF supporting life such is the first Impression OF ALL as
they gaze from the steamers decks upon Drown land
scape apparently destitute OF trees aud water changing
low hills with scrubby brush called masa lands,
aud melting away IN the distance into barren ranges OF
mountains whose bald SUBMITS OF rapidly accomplishing
granite have hled tue gorges and cahons at her ieet
hundred feet deep with debris such scene IL not lnv
Ing accustomed to the baDbng OF brooks and the
Of the wind through the forest leaves, but so
bcLnteous have been the returns made TO the most feeble
repeatedly demonstrated Three cropsof melons
squases, etc. etc, raised In year Ripe grapes III
ground last March aud figs. lemons, aud other
sem[0picai fruits ,S grow Txurigha'y u, a,dpSni GpUG
These facts have abeen revealed by the untng
energy of Messrs Kimba, whose ranch has more frut
trees upon thar there In all the rest OF the country
combined Among other newcomers We may mention Mr..
T. Roberts OF San Jose who, having Invested $4,000 IN
fruit trees including the mulberry preparing To 20
into fruit and silkworm business here very
teDsiye scale.
The next circumstance striking the new conner unfa-
yorby the scarcity OF water upon the surface, there
being streams in the vicinity OF the town that now
year round down 10 the Good water however
readily obtained by digging from 10 10 80 feet and sew
eral fine springs have been found bursting out high upon
the east OF National City, while an Organization
known the Kimba Water Co Is already Incorporated
recorded for the purpose Of bringing pure water IN
abundance from reservoir SIX miles from town OH the
river And last the scarcity of wood for fuel and b1dng
purposes be mentioned: no large bodies OF timber
beng found within many miles OF the bay. This den.
appears, the uninterrupted mild temperature for when
fuel used elsewhere enough for all purposes here,
1--WE miles 70 the east lie large tracts OF ne live OAK anu
OF the railroad that II will become valuable Tor tes
Puget Sound, however, will prevent the home CROWN
from competing successfully In the San Diego market
Posse ssDg does climate Of the most unexcepton-
improve valleys which, although Of limited extent Yield
Pacific Railroad In tho perspective, the future OF San
Diego bids fair to be indeed glorious and her name
20 take It's place with the great cities OF our country