Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-25
TOWARD SUNSET.


NAPA AND HER ATTRACTIONS.
Undoubtedly among the many rich and beau
tiful valleys of California, that of Napa stands
conspicuously one of the most fertile and lovely.
Smaller than that of San joaquin, Santa Clara.
or Sokoma, one is able to clearly take in its whole
width, if not its whole length. from a single
point of view; yet it has sufficient breadth OF its
own and high enough setting Of mountains to
combine size and dignity with great beauty Of
detail With its lower end resting on San Pablo
and Suisun bays, II extends northwardly for
about fifty miles, or to where the lofty and beau
tful peak of Mount st. Helena shuts in the view.
In width it varies from eight to fifteen miles,
and for its whole length and breadth IL is a
scene Of rare and unbroken loneliness. The
high range of hills and mountains which wall it
in on either side are clad in that rich golden
garb given by the wild oats which find a foot
hold everywhere, or covered with dark ever
green trees and chapparal to their very sum-
mits. In either case, however, their crests
stand up against the sky with that clear sharp
cut beauty of outline so peculiar to the land
scapes near this coast. The interv ening valley
is an absolute garden spot in the wealth and
variety of its productions, and 1t only needs an
occasional refreshing shower of rain and little
more verdure to make 1t one of the prettiest
pastoral pictures upon which the eye can rest
On every side may be seen vast fields of waving
grain, dark green meadow lands, and rich vine
yards, thickly interspersed with pleasant little
villages and cosy cottages, while all through the
valley are scattered clumps and groves of ever
| green oak which give to the whole view the
effect OF an immense orchard of venerable and
shapely apple trees.
And the approach thereto from San Fran
cisco is in every way worthy the valley itself
| 1t is. indeed. hardly less attractive, though
| widely different in character. Leaving on the
boat at four O'Clock i'm the evening the CITY
with Its fog and dust soon fades into golden haze.
| On the right and a little astern stands Goat
Island, bare and forbidding, while in the dis
lance tempting glimpaes or Oakland and the
| islnteI outlines OF Alameda may be seen. On
| the left stern you may look through the narrow
| portals Of the Golden Gate, and, IL the day be
| clear, between the holder headiands beyond,
| out over the gray waters Of the Pacific. Close
| at the left Atcatraz rises with her crown of
| fortresses out Of the dancing waves of the bay,
| while over beyond Angel Island the picturesque
| peaks OF Tamalpais loom up grandy, flooded in
| the purple and golden glow of the setting sun.
close ahead the apostolic guardians of San Pablo
bay, San Pedro and San Pablo, seem to shut
in your farther progress. only to open their mar.
| row doors on your closer approach; and on the
| distant right old Diablo towers above his sur.
| roundings, an unfaIing and unmistakable land
mar lar lar as the human vision can reach In,
/ Is one Of perpetual but ever-changing beauty;
| and, whatever ones errand may be, he can
hardly help regretting that the ride has been SO
| The valley lie, as have already said, pecu-
| marry rich In beauty and in floral, genealogical
| and cereal wealth, but in these respects size is
| almost equaled by her pretty villages and the
| variety and extent OF her pleasure resorts and
| medicinal waters. And this demonstration is
all the more curious and striking from the fact
that one is apt to associate these evidences of
subterranean disturbance with the wild and
barren OF nature rather than with the quiet and
smillng abodes OF plenty and peace. Com
mencing at the foot of the valley the first of
these in order is
VALLEJO AND HER SPRINGS.
The town of Vallejo is an attractive growing
place Of some 600 inhabitants. 1t proposes to
some time divide the commerce of the Pacific
with San Francisco, but the day Of this con-
summation is doubtless a long way of. For the
present, her main attractions are the Mare
Island navy yard, the marine barracks, the
great dry dock and basin, and the naval hospi-
tai, all belonging 10 government, with excellent
Touring mills and extensive grain elevators, the
property of private individuals or companies.
These are valuable enough in their way, as in
surfing the future growth of the city, but they
do not possess frstclass interest for the visitor
from the east. The Sulphur Springs, by which
considerable store is set by the people Of Valle-
10, pronounced Valyaho, remember,) are stu
ated about three and half miles from the city,
AS yet they may be said to be in an undeveloped
condition,-mainly for want of patronage, L
presume, though il is likely that their nearness
to San Francisco will some day make them
much frequented. At present the hotel con-
tains only some twenty rooms, but the facilities
for bathing in both het and cold sulphur water
are ample. Reasonable facilities are already
provided for the recreation and amusement of
guests, and improvements looking to the beau
Trying OF the place are being pressed rapidly
, ,, Inc climate at the springs is also very
the cold air OF the city and the hot weather Of
the surrounding valleys.
THE NAPA SODA SPRINGS
come next. These are located five miles north
east of Napa city, which is a rather brisk and
pretty little town OF some four thousand inhab-
tants, situated nearly in the center of the
valley, on the line of the railroad, fifteen miles
north Of Vallejo. The town itself is a place of
considerable resort for Californians, and some
of the drives in the vicinity are very pleasant,
but it is not yet much frequented by visitors
from abroad. Nor are the springs at present,
properly speaking, regarded as a watering place
for want OF accommodations A fine hotel was
erected here some six years ago, but it was
burned down shortly after being opened and
since then the property has changed hands fire.
quenty without coming into the possession of
any one with sufhcient means and ENTERPRISE 10
make such improvements the beauty of the
situation and the reputation of the water would
seem to justify, The water of these springs is
IN quite general use throu ghout the state, being
bottled and sent to market at the rate of ne arly
one hundred and fifty dozen bottles per day II
EntncT PHEASANT 10 the taste, as soda water
and Is said to be valuable on account of its me-
dicinal qualities, but, happily not being on the
list OF invalids, L cannot vOuch for this.
THE "wHITR SULPHUR SPRINGS
stand higher with San Franciscans, I believe,
than any other place Of resort on the coast At
least you hear more in its praise. Yet when
you come to analyze its reputation you will find
that it stands rather on the glories Of the past
than the attractions of the present, and when
you come to visit the place you are somewhat
ut loss to understand the secret of Its popular
ity at any time. In former times, however, 1
am told, truly grand hotel stood here, which
could not only accommodate o whole colony of
guests in first class style, but which also in
cluded under Its broad roof nearly everything
necessary for their amusement night and day
In fact 1t is represented to have been Q very fair
sample Of California Baden Baden or Ham
bourg. But after brief and brilliant career Of
about year II met the fate Of many another CO.
adjustment Of its class, and was burned 10 the
ground In almost the winking OF an eye. Since
then. thu Accommodation copsisf ~ p>fh.p