The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-09-13
Hancock, August IL.

uhphuu1 ihcic
Hancock, August IL.
JULIAN Cry, SAN DIKoo Co., CAL, I
Auo. 1S, 1870.
To Editor Of the Register:
The trip from San Francisco to this
point may be made by land or water, that
is, as far as San Diego, the extreme
southern town in California, situated on
a beautiful little harbor, and about twen-
ty miles north of the Mexican line.
Early last Spring we attempted and made
the journey overland, distance of six
hundred miles. one hundred by rail and
the balance by stage. At Gilroy, the ter.
minus of the San Jose (Osa) railroad,
which passes through valley bearing the
same name, and one Of the most charm
ing and fertile in the state. we took the
stage, voluntarily engaging to share the
ills and dangers that might beset an ever
varying road five hundred miles in length,
passing through vallies almost as bound.
less as the sea, over hills and mountains
and across plains, creeks, rivers and Ia
gainas, occasionally winding upon, and
following the sea-beach n distance of
thirty miles or more, then off again upon
three or four miles of cable stone cordu-
rory, ever changing and never ceasing un.
til the end of our journey, which we made
in four days, when we found that our ex.
perience was much,in little, and impressed
with many bruises. One hundred and
eighty miles south of Gilroy we struck
the lead of Selinus Valley, one of the lar
gest in the state. Here we saw herds of
cattle numbering from one,to three thous-
and head, and passed wheat fields extend
ing as far as the eye could reach One
in particular we noticed which contained
one hundred thousand acres.
From this valley we passed over
range Of mountains and into the town of
Santa Barbara, situated on tho coast, and
noted only for its fine climate and the
mammoth grape vine. This vine is very
aged and produces, yearly, from ten to
twenty tons of fruit. To be able to be.
lieve this, the incredulous must see the
vine, which is over two feet in diameter
and covers an area OF nearly three quar-
ters Of an acre
The next point Of interest is the ancient
city of Los Angeles and its surroundings
This town is situated about twenty
two thousand inhabitants They have a
railroad running to Wilmington on the
coast, or San Pedro, the landing for the
coast line Of steamers Many extensive
orange orchards and vineyards surround
the town, some of which contain one
thousand acres. The products of Los
Angeles county are horses, cattle, wine,
oranges, wool and bullion. One mine,
the Sierra Gorda, produces fifty tons Of
bullion per month. Excepting the San
joaquin valley, in which is located one Of
Flint Il Bixbee's sheep ranches, there is
little good country between Los Angeles
and San Diego, distance of one hundred
and eighty miles. The ranch above re.
ferred to contains one hundred and fifty
thousand acres of beautiful rolling land
well adapted to grazing or agriculture
purposes. Beyond this the face Of tht
country is more broken, sterile and thinly
populated. The only collection Of build
ings between this ranch and San Diego il
little Spanish village, called San Jual
Capistrano, and this presents the appear
ance of having seen better days. Th
ruins Of an old Mission church remail
and indicate that it was once, perhap
one hundred years ago, an elegant build
ing Of its kind. 1t was made Of ado6t
The walls which are standing are eigh
feet thick. In the year 1912 the inhab
itants of the surrounding country wer
} gathered together on certain occasion t
pay a tribute of servile respect to thei
! priests and receive certificates for the re
mission of their sins, when the Lord ser
, terrible shock of earthquake, rollin
r down the temple upon their devote
t heads and killing three hundred of tn
congregation. 1t was, subsequently,. pa
, TALLY rebuilt, but has since fallen an
? now remains weak relic of formt
4, greatness.
t OF all the natural products indigeno,
t to the soil of this lower country, the ca,
e tus is the most luxuriant. 1t grows
o clusters as large as house and from
e to 80 feet high, with stocks two feet
i diameter and leaves half as large as
e cart wheel In connection with th
y plant, is associated bird called the roa
IS runner. This bird is the color of the hav
d and twice the size of the bluejay. 1t
Is as retiring and modest in appearan
IS as country maid, but noted for its teri
it to rattleshakes and its ingenious mode
IS killing the same, which is as follow
q Whenever the roadrunner finds his snak
Of ship taking quiet snooze in the sun,
Or sets to work in great haste and builds
,e hedge of this thorny cactus around hir
III this work finished, he takes piece
is cactus as large as he can carry in
ID claws, and elevates himself about ten Il
above his unconscious victim and let's
u, the pointed tickler. Suddenly the sna
A darts into the irresistible hedge, pierci
tn himself with thorns when he turns a
on dashes against the other side, when
ed meets with the same pointed receipt
ly Bafiied on every side, stinging with p
in and maddened to the highest degree,
ID turns upon and bites himself until de-
'er ensues when the bird pounces upon I
of devours him. This may be conside
Dr. something of II snake story, but it is
for less true nevertheless.
to Julian City is no more, no less thai
ID. little mining camp, Graded among
,ht hills on the top of the Cuyamacca Mo
pes tains. fifty miles east Of San Diego.
ng, was discovered on the 22d day Of
hts February, aud the first ledge located
re, called General Washington. There are
ag. twelve paying lodges in camp and
quartz mills.