Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-27
Letter from California.
NAPA CITY.

steamer which goes plodding along up the
river till it reaches Napa wharf-and l
never said but what it was very good
thing for Napa to have wharf, and a lit
tie steamer to come up to it, never; though
| don't wish to land there again.
Being stranger l happened to choose
the Antelope, thinking that as it started
half an hour earlier than the other boat [
should get there sooner by takingit. Mis- |
taken ideal Certainly it was pleasant
enough going up Pablo bay and on till we
come in sight of Vallejo, where most of the
passengers stopped. The few who were
going on to Napa here entered the smaller
steamer that came alongside; only one
woman beside myself had been beguiled
into going to Napa by this route, and we
were a lonesome two. As the boat toiled
slowly up the winding river, we vainly
wished we were in the cars which we had
seen 90 speeding out of sight behind some
hills along the shore. We listened to three
Irishmen who were discussing the Chinese
question, pounding their knees with vio-
lence as they told of the barrels of money
sent off to China by the last steamer.
" An shure, thet's what makes the money
scarce, justin hairken to thief, moo, wull
ye?"
l saw only three or four gentlemen pas
sengers beside these, so you may know the
boat was not crowded. We could see along
the shore some pleasant farms, and we
passed some two or three small towns
Disco was the largest of these, l believe;
the country was rather hilly, with some
mountain forests in the far distance.
1t was getting nearly dark; our little
steamer crept and struggled along the tor
tuous river-it stopped. We thought we
were there and went out on decl, to be
ready to land, and there we were sure
enough, up against a bank covered with
marsh grass and rushes. We rentured to
ask where the town was, 80, weare pretty
near it now, we have to back the steamer
up to it, you know" said the steward
So the steamer rang its bell and backed,
and rang its bell toilet Napa know we were
coming and pretty soon we came up to
the wharf, which is behind hill, behind
a barn. We went up the hill and round
the barn into the street, where the old lady,
my companion, inquired the way to the
Napa hotel, Of a passing laborer, and /,
taking heart, asked for the friends I came
to see. Walking in the direction pointed
out, I happily met my friends, a good old
minister and his wife, in the street, so all
my anxiety at being in a strange city in
the gathering twilightwas Immediately sci
at rest. | soon learned that the traveller,
who went by the cars from Vallejo had been
in Napa two hours.
BY morning light Napa proved to be &
beautiful town, some of the streets are
shaded by rows of locust trees on each side
In the gardens were evergreen shade tree,
such Us I had never seen except in Sar
Francisco / asked what names they bore
and got the same answer l had there, 3.
don't know, I'm sure, what kind OF tree
they are, some Of them came from tn
mountains on the coast, and some from tn
, Sandwich Islands, l believe"
+ There are not so many fruit trees in thes
gardens as we have in Knights Ferry
Fruit is brought into Napa by farmers
while the farmers about the Ferry com
: into town for their fruit, so we plant yer
few trees for shade alone.
2 There are five churches in Napa. wen
! into the Methodist church and found
} veay nicely finished inside. 1t was vaca
e ton in the schools when was there; the
= have a very large public school buildin
just finished; not very far from it is tn
e ladies' seminary. In another direction ar
f some college buildings which have nc
= been used for some time, but are being pr
e in repair this year. and will very soon b
' opened. The climate is so very healthfl
Y here that many scholars come from abroad
f; The court house is a large brick builC
d ing, very handsome, and with beautill
v grounds around it, trees and graveled wall
e in every direction. l think it is rattle
;, more imposing than either the Stockton
y Santa Cruz court house.
!. passed through two streets that wei
y quite like the streets Of a city-dry gooC
il stores, jewelry stores, saloons, ware hous,
= quite compact and business like, thong
IF business in reality is very dull here as we
e as in San Francisco and Stockton. The
l. say that the Pacific Railroad we have
2 rejoiced over IS the cause of it; before Y
5; had the railroad all towns away towaI
e. Salt Lake came to San Francisco for goo,
h which they now send to Chicago for
If There have also come merchants from Oh
re cago with goods which they are contentC
d to sell at less profit than the San Francis
70 merchants have always demanded, so dow
J. 60 prices, down go rents and wages. Pro
er ably all this will be for the best in the en-
ID but it is terrible for the property holder
G. The street grading depreciates the value
al many fine buildings in San Francisco al
g, the owners can't help themselves. RincC
c. Hill, where many grandees live, Senate
rs and Generals, is soon to be leveled, and
h seems such a pity.
a Well this general dullness, from MAJ
causes in San Francisco, seems reflect
! upon Napa; very quiet it is here indee
VI except when the cars 90 up or down. Ii
mense quantities ofwood pass through he
u from the north, long strings of cars freigf
y ed with wood come down nearly every da
il and cords on cords Of wood are piled alol
We the shore of Napa river
* This season has been much warmer
y Napa than usual, they have not had tn,
IN accustomed fogs which come down a.
D. cool the air like your gentle showers in t
at east.
" After pleasant day in the most pie;
:. ant of California towns, l took the cars
= four o'clock for my return to San Franc
co. These cars also run up north of Ma
to the Soda, Sulphur and Hot Sprin
these last being a curiosity l would ha
." been glad to see. There were many pi
sengers coming down from there and frc
g Palistoga which is above them. As it or
- cool noticed party of gentlemen p
r. ting on their thick coats in place of tn
- light linen busters. Pretty soon one
49, them says
" Boys, do you know why don't put
=: my thick coat?"
cal "No; why don't you?" they answe
in lazily.
it " Because it is all rolled up back tn
90 ooi on top of the stage at Helena"
X Immediately there was laughter amt
=. - L