Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-21
Correspondence.

FLRSTLMPRESSIONS OFCALIFORNIA.
To the Editor Of the Kenne5ec youynaI:-
Since my last letter have gathered 4 few
notes relative to this State which may be Of in
terest to your readers. I had the opportunity
to spend day in
STOCKTON.
winch is situated on the line of the Pacific
Central, about midway between Sacramento
and 'Frisco." This city is:built upon a plain
al the lower end of the San Joaquin Valley,
ana contains population of 1900. The
founders of the place were generous Of the
'"io when laying out the streets, which are
very oroad. This is characteristic Of the
western towns, as space is abundant Na.r,v
all the dwellings are built in the co,,.o 90
style-small and neat-and are almost ;nc,o.
ed by trees and shrubbery, which remain
green all the year round. The Court House
stands In pretty park in the centre Of the
city, an artesian well in front of the hniI,I;n,
throws powerful jet of water several feet
INTO the air, thus forming beautiful and
continuous fountain. There are npmero,s
ciiurehes built in the modern style of arcbi-
lecture, and fine hotel-the Yo Semitic.
Inc State Insane Asylum is situated here.
It's constructed of brick, and occupies a fine
position IN the western part of the town.
Nevada pays this State an annual sum for
the accommodation of its invalids at this in.
stltntion. The High School building is a
splendid edifice, but not so handsome az the
new one in Augusta. Considerable nrinters,
ink is consumed. Three daily papers and a
religious weekly are published here. Stock.
ton mas excellent communication with the
rest OF the State. Besides the Pacific line.
the citizens have constructed q road to the
base Of the Neavda's, where copper mines are
located, and also by Steamers, that run mn
the San Joaquin river. They are light draft
boats built like the Southern cotton Steam
er. by this route the grain is easily and
cheaply shipped to market, large trade is
carried on in the grain and wool business.
and 1t is depot for an immense supply of
agriculture implements. Stockton has the
appearance Of becoming large and thriv-
ing city, as it is the natural market of the
great
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
This valley lays between the Sierras and the
Coast Range, is about 800 miles long, with
an average width of forty miles. 1t is vast
plain nearly devoid of timber. The San
Joaquin river is the largest of the numerous
Streams that intersect it; rising in the Neva-
da mountains it flows eastward nearly across
the valley, and then changes its course in a
northerly direction, finally emptying its wa
ters into Susan Bay. The maps that are
published in the interest of Capitalists tend
to give wrong impression regarding the
rivers of this section. Two or three of these
are navigable for several miles during the
entire year, but the rest are mere creeks and
dry at that During the rainy season the
water comes down these creeks in torrents
from the mountains, sometimes overfowing
their banks. This does not occur often and
In dry seasons not at all, as is the case this
year. If the rivers that are pictured out up-
the maps were fact they would greatly en-
hace the value of this part of the State. As
general thing the soil is excellent, and we'll
adapted to the production of nearly every
thing that can be grown anywhere. In some
portions it is of black ''adobe" composition n;
near the foothills it is gravelly, a greater por-
tion is light, sandy loan, which is easily
cultivated and if supplied with sufficient
rain yields heavy crops. This is the only
serious disadvantage of this valley-scarcity
of rain. When farmer puts his seed into
the ground he is not sure of any return, as
it all depends upon the amount of moisture
1T receives. This is the one thing needful
to make this the richest and most productive
country in the world. In good seasons the
land will produce an average of thirty BUSH
els of grain per acre, while some portions
have been known to yield 60 bushels. The
best lands lay in the vicinity of the river
and creeks, and are valued at $40, to $40,
per acre. Some spots are full of alkali and
are not worth cultivation. There are large
quantities of "tule" or overfowed lands
along the San Joaquin river, which could
undoubtedly be levelled and made to grow cot
ton, as well as on the Mississippi This may
be done within few years, for the subject
has been favorably discussed. The first
thing, probably, that would attract the atten-
tion OF "down easter" in the absence of
gardens on most of the farms Instead of
raising their own provisions with very little
labor and expense, they neglect it and pay
enormous prices for those which are brought
from the cities. A few farmers have their
own gardens and irrigate them by wells--
the water being raised by windmills. Orch
ards are also very scarce, the fruit is grown
in the foothills and around the cities.
Much has been said and written about the
prospect of
THE WHEAT CRoP OF 1871,
which at present writing looks rather doubt
full An immense quantity of seed was put
into the ground, some farmers having over
l 100 acres under cultivation. 1t was sown
early and came up in good shape. For SOW