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

petual summer. The land 10 fertile
and very valuable. San Jose is il
the beautiful Santa Clara valley -
This valley has 1000 ArtOsian wells,
il we'll cultivated and thicklyr 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 take the ferry boat for
San Francisco. While crossing the
Bay we have q fine view of the city.
On the right is Golden Gasesnd Fort
Point, while in the channel lies the
island Of Alcatrax, back of (which rises
Mount Tamelpins. Still farther to
the right is seen the hills Of Angel
island. We pass Goat island and
make ready 70 land. AT the wharf
we took carriage for the Occidental
Hotel. There aro 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. 4 did not enjoy myself very
we'll as it was 80 cold and we had no
thick clothing, We actually suffered
when on the street riding or walking.
Furs worc being worn, which looked
queer enc ugh to me. Tho fruit was
elegant, large and very plenty, but it
lacks flavor. We were in the city
two days. It's very gay and lively.
Money plenty and freely used, and
every one seems to enjoy themselves.
California Is divided into three diYis-
ions. The coast range Of mountain
GUS country, interspersed with val
leys. The mountains are not very
high, but are heavily timbcred with
red.osk. They are well adapted for
the raising Of grain and grapes. Gil
mate warm in the winter with sea
brcezes in the summer. On the slope
towards the ocean the summers are
quite cold, but further inland tho hot
sun and sea breeses equalixe each
other, producing y delightful climate.
varying in every valley. The great
Sacramento basin running north and
south through tho center Of the State
is 400 miles long and fifty wide. Il
Is nearly level, only broken IN one
place BY . range of hills called Marys-
vile Butts they are some 1000 feat
high. It is traversed BY two rivers,
the Sacramento from the north and
San Joaquin from the south, which
unto near Mt. Diablo, and flow into
the Bay Of San Francisco. These
rivers drain the western slope and the
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 Sacramen-
to to the western summit is gradual,
rising in about so miles 10 10, 900 feet.
The whole western summit is heAy.
lily timbered. From tho 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 in the
center of tho Sierra mountains; is
4O60 feet above the level of the sea. II
was sorry we did not have time 70
visit it. On Saturday, July 31st, we
stepped on board the steamer Orri-
fianne, bound for Portland; the boat
is the best on the line, but is small
and with vory poor accommodations
Thore were 300 passengers, 100 emf
grants and coo tons Of freight. II
was expected to make tho trip in 3
days, 100 miles-bnt we were Eve.
We had a strong head wind all the
way, and worry rough soa. Coming
out ofthc Bay was beautiful, but ]
was glad when San FRANCISCO was
ont Of sight and was out ut sea. /
was delighted, and enjoyed tho trip
very much. Our party were very
social and pleasant, and we had plenty
Of fun, especially at the dinner table
the first day, first one and then an
other would jump up and run from
the table, and that is the last you
would see of them until wo nearcd
Portland, but you could hear them
quite often. They were so sea-sick,
and what time they did have. /
fortunately escaped. and was on
deck most of the time. One night
it was terrible rough. / thought
the boat would 60 to pieces when
those great waves carnc crashing
over the deck. On reaching the bar
ut tho mouth of tho Colum-
bia river, wc were unable to cross, on
account Of the fog, and 80 put out to
sea again. We entcred the river
about noon. Tho 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 wcro
met by Ben. Holiday, with three
steamers and two bands of music. -
He came 10 meet his daughter and
her husband, who are on their wed.
ding tour, she having been married in
Paris to q French Count. The boats
werc all crowded flags displayed !;
cannons fired and things were gay
and lively. We anchored in the river
that night, and had music, dancing,
10 Next morning we came in sight
Of Portland, which looks small and
miserable 10 tho distance, but we
were agrceably disappointed on ar
irving ut tho wharf, where we found
plenty of carriages, and were soon
landed at the st. Charles Hotel-,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,
go 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 a description Of Portland mex,
time I writc. H. f. b.
Wyoming.
| Cheyenne, Sept. z.
Tho elcction passed off quietly yes
torday, throughout tho Territory
Jones, Republican, is elected to Con
gress by samll majority.
Mrs. Church Howe wife Of 11 s.