Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-22
Letter from California.
SAN JOSE, Cal, Aug. 81, 1915

SAN JOSE, Cal, Aug. 81, 1870.
Editor Rutland Herald Having heard
much of the great fertility of the Santa
Clara Valley and the beauty and thrift
of it's city and towns, yesterday took an
early train and arrived in this city early
in the afternoon, distant from my present
abode 112 miles. Stopping at the Ausar-
ais House, I soon made the acquaintance
of Frederick Hall, Esq, native of Rut-
land, whose agreeable presence and fami-
liar acquaintance with men and things in
this locality, contributed very much to
make my visit here both pleasurable and
interesting. Mr.. Hall, it will be recol-
iected, was called to act as counsel for the
Emperor Maximilian in his dire extremity
in Mexico, ,and has also written biography
of that in-advised and unfortunate man.
Mr.. Hall is at present engaged in writ
ing the history of San Jose and adjacent
towns. This city is the county seat of
Santa Clara county, and is situated in the
midst of the valley of the same name, 80
miles southeasterly from San Francisco,
and is represented by tourists as being
the paradise of California. The valley is
some 60 miles in extent from north to
SOUTH and has a width ranging from ten
to fifteen miles from east to west, and is
valley of great natural beauty and fer
tility. The city is regularly laid out, and
=, nOp%oIn y,OrT11atinn of
5000 or 10000. 1t has numerous public
buildings, several of which are quite ele-
giant. The Court House is a spacious and
imposing edifce, erected at a cost of $175,.
600, and is the finest of the kind in the
State, aud one of the best in the Union.
1t is surmounted by lofty dome, which
visited in company with my friend Mr..
Hall, and from which we had an enchant-
ing view Of the city nestled below in the
midst of beautiful gardens and extensive
vineyards and enclosures, filled with fruit
trees Of various kinds, the products OF
which here attain to the greatest perfec-
ton. Eight miles to the north is the
southern terminus of the Bay of San Fran
cisco. Five miles eastward is a ridge of
high hills and mountains extending from
north to south, that would do honor to
Vermont. To the south lies the broad
valley stretching away in the direction of
Gilroy while ten miles to the west the
of it's highest submits attaining an
altitude Of more than 1000 feet. The
city is watered by a number of Artesian
wells, also by the Coyote river on the
east, and the Gaudalupe on the west,
both at this time nearly dry.
The educational interests of the city
appear to be well sustained. The Acad-
emy Of Notre Dame for females is located
here. There are also two other High
Schools, accommodated with elegant
buildings, besides eight or ten public and
private schools of lower grade. A costly
State Normal School building is also to be
soon erected at thi4 place.
Easy access to the Bay of San Francis
co and the convergence of three lines of
railroad at this point give ample facilities
of communication in all directions. The
growth of the city for several years has
been quite spectable but building at the
present however seems to be very nearly
suspended, though business in the way of
trade appears to be quite as brisk as in
other places which have-visited
A. place of residence considering it's
frujttulnes$ and the fascinating beauty of
its surroundings II surpasses any other
place that have visited here or elsewhere
From San Jose to Santa Clara three miles
runs the Alameda or grove of willows
through which are constructed horse
railroad and carriage road, making one
OF the pleasantest drives in the country.
These willows were planted on either
side of the way by the Fathers Of the mis-
sion of Santa Clara in tho year 1899, and
are highly ornamental.
SANTA CLARA.
was one of the missions founded in an
early day by the Jesuits and il every way
pleasantly situated. The Santa Clara col
lege is located here, which I understand,
is under the domain Of Catholicism. Con-
uected with this institution are several
college buildings some Of which are quite
spacious and elegant. The Methodists