Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-01
Letter from California.
STOCKTON - INSANE ASYLUM - WOOD
WARDS GARDENS.

STOCKTON - INSANE ASYLUM - WOOD
j WARDS GARDENS.
Editor Rutland Herald A short time
since we visited Stockton, soat of Justice
for San Joaquin County. This city is
pleasantly situated on deep but narrow
bay, setting back from the San Joaquin
river in the midst of a rich farming
country, and is favorably located in a
commercial point of view.
Vessels navigating the river run out on
this bay, and we see schooners laden with
craft variously employed, evincing q
healthy state of business. Large guam
titles of wheat and barley, the staple
agricultural products of this section,
reach market from this place through
the various channels of transportation
| The Central Pacific Railroad passes
through the eastern part of the city,
which opens direct and easy communi-
cation with Sacramento and the northern
part of the State. Besides this two other
lines of railroad are projected running
ont from this city, which when completed
will add greatly TO its business prosperity.
During our stop here we called on H
T. Dorrance, Esq, formerly a citizen of
Rutland, to whom we are under special
obligations for his hospitable entertain
ment and gentlemanly amenities during
our stay. Mr.. Dorrance accompanied
us to the State Insane Asylum, situated
near the northern outskirts of the
city. The Asylum consists of two
spacious brick buildings accommodating
each of the sexes. which are lnnatAa OF
some distance from each other. Through
the politeness of the Superintendent, DIR.
Shurtlff, an usher was deputed to take
us through the male department, which
exhibited evidence of the most perfect
order and neatness throughout its hume
rous apartments. We were here shown
specimens of the skill and handiwork of
the unfortunate denizens of this retreat
in the shape of paintings, sculpture,
carved work and various mechanical de-
vices, many of which would do credit to
prohcients possessing the superior advan-
tages of unimpaired reason. The govern
ment of this institution we understand
is mild and parental, and the class of
unfortunates that came under our view,
appeared altogether quiet and managea-
bic.
About the female department are ex-
tensive and beautiful gardens sustained
by irrigation, and under a thorough and
systematic culture, bid fair to reward the
labor expen ded by an abundant produc-
tiveness. The grounds around this de-
partment are also beautifed by various
fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs,
iutersperss,d with numerous walks and
alleys, eviacing at once desire on the
part OF its managers to render the home of
the unhappy inmates as pleasant and at
trsctivo as possible with the means at
command.
The number under charge at the male
department at the time of our visit, as re-
ported, was 72O, and of the female depart
ment $40, making total of 1880. The
total number of inhabitants in California
is supposed to be near 100000, which, if
the estimate be correct, will probably show
greater number of cases of insanity in
proportion to the population than any
other State of the Union.
Besides the asylums, Stockton has
several fr,e public buildings, among
which are the Court House, Odd Fellows
Hall, Theatre, public school buildings
and churches. 1t is watered by means of
an artesian well 1000 feet in depth, the
water being raised by steam power, and
distributed to various parts of the city
from an elevated reservoir also by the
additional means of wells, from which the
water is drawn through pumps operated
by W indmills, which are observable in all
directions.
Stockton is Supposed to contain q popu-
larion of 10000 inhabitants. 1t is situa-
ted AZ miles nearly south from Sacrament
to and has about it all the elements of
apparent prosperity .. |
wooDwARD's GARDENS.
Woodward is the P. L. Barnum of San
Francisco. During our stop in the city a
few weeks since we visited the celebrated
''resort" bearing the above title, which
consists of an enclosure of several acres,
accommodated with buildings adapted to
the various purposes for which they were
designed. These grounds are beautifed
by great variety of botanical specimens,
prominent among which were the Centu-
ry plant and the Cactus; also numerous
trees and shrubs, both native and exotic,
among which We saw the orange tree in
bearirlg, the italian cypress, species of
the palm, the California laurel, and many
Or .er kinds too numerous to mention. The
a. limal kingdom is represented by the po-
Jar, grizzly, cinnamon and black bears.