The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-05-11
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
MIR ED1ToR:-Owing to the curvature of

VI
the Bay only ono Railroad enters San Fran.
cisco, which is the San Jose, pronounced
San Wha-zay), Road. Consequently, all
trains, except the one referred to, have to
convey there freight and passengers across
the harbor in ferry boats; and that was the
way retraced my steps, and in about foul
hours was once more at Stockton, the city
of windmills-apiece of winged mechanism
which just every household is furnished
with, to pump water for domestic purposes
also to facilitate the growth of mammoth
pumpkins and squashes
Having prepared for month or so OF
isolation, took cars for Lathrop, ten miles
west of Stockton; thence on the San Joan.
quin Valley and Visalla Railroad, mot yet
completely, running south about midway
of the valley. At - O'Clock NJ, we arrived
at Merced-a city sixty miles from oul
starting point, aged about two months,
Boosting of several tented saloons, stores
and Newspaper. The cars proceeded nc
farther that night; so yours truly had to
lie over till morning. On inquiring for a
bed, big corpulent Dutch gentleman was
pointed out to me as my bedfellow, because
every other roost was full. tried strata
gem in order to sleep, as is my wont, in
single blessedness, by telling them had
the itch; but the old gentleman replied,
sine no 'fraid of that gintleman. There
fore we paid for our lodging and were
shown our room, wherein were twenty-five
of the passengers, every ones mind SO
occupied with the peculiar shaped couches
that all forgot to pray devoutly. We took
off our boots for fashions sake and dived
under a single blanket and in a few min.
utes every person was telling his own tale.
We had one pillow between two of us, it
being stuffed with hay. My nocturnal
companion said "dar is cows horns un-
der me!'' "Pm 'frayed," calculates
another, "this beats 49," Others bounced
out and departed for another house or a
stove. We took the advantage of it,
and gathered up all the rags from the va
cant beds, and by cuddling together we
survived till break o'day, notwithstanding
that night, frost killed all the fruit in the
valley.
Alto o'clock AM, started again for Ber-
anda Station, alternately passing fields OF
wheat two to three feet high, then barren
tracts, rendered so by an adobe Or alllali
soil. In due time arrived at my getting of
place, where conveyance was to have been
in waiting; but to my dissatisfaction there
was none,-neither any thing in sight,
but the mountains on either hand twenty
five miles away. Not house, nor any
living being naught possessing life, but tens
of thousands of sand cranes, antelopes, cat
tie and sheep. There was left solitary
soul on lone desert with big satchel,
bed, bedding and coffin. Oh, this puzzles
the juniors, who think I must be crazy to
take about such cumbersome load-and
the coffin too,-the idea! I remember when
I was about $50 high" it used 10 appear so
strange to me that Christ ordered the re-
stored invalids to "take up their bed and
walk" 1 supposed the beds to be an old
fashioned four post, you know, weighs
about one-fourth to one-half of ton, in
stead of a sheep skin, or sometime similar,
as was and is used by the Orientials.
A voice from under the engine water
tank: where are you going misterv star
tied me, like Friday did Robinson Crusoe
"That is what want to know; where is
Buchanan" 81 am going there, Sir; you
must take good drink of water before we
start, because there is none for twelve or
fifteen miles," So filled my little stom-
ach full, and drew breath long as lover s
signs, then logged along over carpet da-
masked with green grass and wild clover
and sweet smelling wild flowers.
Daffodils
That come before the swallow dares, and
take
The winds of March with beauty; violets
dim
But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes
Or Cytherca's breath.
Yes, valley quite level; inasmuch that
after walking three hours initiated Mrs.
Lot by looking behind,-there the old tank
was obvious to view-apparently only a
little piece from us; whilst the objects we
aimed at seemed to recede as we advanced
Journeying on for five hours we approach
cd rancho (farm) where was we'll of
water; alas! it was too warm to drink; so
we started again with my No. 6's dragging
behind like the drug Of an English stage
coach; nevertheless stimulated with hope
what gem is hope p of getting to some
cool stream shortly. However, in the elapss
of time Buchanan suddenly appeared, be-
ing nestled between the portrills of the
Serras Nevadas, close to the Chowchille
River. 1t is little town with hotel,
store. a saloon, &C.. with not even Doc
tor or Reverend. Therefore Il am inform
ed) no person dies here, but dry up and
blow away, and where is he? Here are
men of every cline. Yesterday three
Chowchille Indian squaws came into
town, riding horse back-not in such an
awkward, preposterous position as the
"pale faced " ladies of Caucasian physique
but on both sides of the horse at one time,
with spurs on each foot, jingling Mexican
style. Here the majority of the inhabi-
tants live as did the Patriarcbs, yet not 50
deveutly. Drought is the great natural
detriment to agriculture in this region;
however, I am confident that in time-per-
haps, not in this generation, you may die
and may blow away first-but the time
will come when all of this region will be
turned into fruitful fields by happy and
prosperous people, and those men whose
wealth now consist of herds and flocks as
did our primitive fathers, will then no
longer dwell in tents pitched amid pastoral
districts, but be contented to raise grain
for the sower and bread for the eater. The
soil extends several feet deep equal to what
I.have seen in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and
elsewhere. So by taking advantage of the
rainy season, planting trees, &C., and seeds
amenable to the climate and soil, profita-
BILE results will verify be realized. There
is a patch of wheat and barley before me,
as now write, three feet high in blossom,