Fair play., 1873-08-14
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Visit to the Yosemite Valley and
the MaripOSa Big Trees.

h6d OCCASION, recehtiS, W Ai"hc tHc P''S. la
AGE myself (both as matter OF pleasure
and business), will, with your permission,
lot down the ne. results Of my experience
and observations. wcs accompanied by Il
gentlemen from Chicago, al esteemed friend
and an enthusiastic traveller whose conlp3n-
ionship contributed much TO the pleasure q;
the excursion.
L,avin., San francisco on an afternoon
train, ride Of one hundred and thirty-eigh-
miles brought us 20 Merced, small to;E
on the V,sulia branch OF the Central Pacific
railroad. Next morning, We lett, BY stage,
for Clark & Moore's ranch distant sixty
two niles, which was however, not reached
until the day following. Oar route ex;en-
ded across the fertile plain Of the San 'jo;l-
uuin Valley, with It's ,ntermirabe acres Of
grain, inow invaded with al the modern
appliances for reaping,l and, beyond II, tie
long range Of the Sierras. with here and
there Snowy peak, WAS sharply defined On
the horizon. The inonotoI4y Of miles OF
yellow grain and parched vegetation was
suddenly relieved by the green verture and
shady groves that border the Mer'ca river
TIE same whose crysta. stream, makes glad
the enchanting valley whittier our eager steps
were tending. We forded tie Herced near
Smelling, ali ancient California town, t,e
water reaching up to the body of The C aci..
/ Beyond Sneliirg we again crossed 1t, upon
II floating bridge, consisting Of boa, at
tacned by guys ana pulleys TO Il tout wire
gable anchored on either shore. The bon.
WAS urged along by rope worked ain!dshiPi
with reel and crank, un ,er the riuscul"i
manipulations of 1, chinanan. Here We
parted from the river and began to climb the
loot hills; ard here and hereale We bega-
to witness tine patient and laborions opera
tions of the gold seekers. A halt for re-
freshments was made ut the old ''mininl
CAMP" Hornitas, whero the ground fol
miles around has becnn throushly over
h.uied, ,riddled and sifted for the shining ore
Placer digging Is still carried on in most o
these old time localities, but the best re
suits are now obtained with quartz-crushing
machinery, and mills are getting quito nu
merous.-all Of which require capital, ane
are to the disatvantag. and discompiturc o
the typical miner. Quite a contrast exist
between these two settlements Smelling anC
Hornitas. The fomcr is evidently repro
sentative of an agricultural and mercantile
community. while the latter is Of a mining
community. Smelling is cheerful-ioohins
place. embowered in trees, and centainin:
we'll cultivated gardens ard vineyards
Hornitas is barren and dreary. and SOM
portion of it was recenly farther desclate'
by FIRE. Both places seem to have seei
their best days.
l We next reached tho boundaries Of III
famous Nariposa esta;e-the property ono
of Gen. Frcmont-and, while crossing il
were afforded an opportunity to note ii
!, typographical features. At Bear Vale
"a town located upon the cstatel, the hous
where Fremont, "Jcssie, and the children
once resided was pointed out to us; no'
occupied by our polite informan
himself with his family. The General
worn out, supposedly incessant litigation
disposed of his claim, some years ago, to
company, who are accused Of !aYing OF
pressivc restrictions upon tho efforts Of ini
pecunious prospectors; and, except tn
company's own operations, littlo is don
towards developing its yet hidden wealth
Several extensive quarts mills are erccte
:. on the estate, hut they are not worked wit
vigor at present. Our days ride tcrmina
ted, at early evening. at the mountain he.
thery of White !S Hatch, where we wer
comfortably housed for the night
The next day Sunday, june cd W
continued by stage fourteen miles farther !.
, Clark & Moore's, arriving there about noon
We were now within six or seven mile
rice Of the Maripcsa groves of Big Tree:
and at point beyond which there are n
, wagon roads. Procuring animals and Ii
services Of Guide, We got into the saddle:
after dinner, ard ascendel the mountain;
and descended, until broush: to q ia.
among the venerable giants Of the forest
The first sight of these trees (they are
, species of redwood is usually disappointing
So much of the effect is noutralizeG and los
by the extraordinary growth of other tree
principally pines) surrounding them; bu'
both in color and size, they plainly asscr
= their individuality, and the mind is not slc'
IN rallying to something like q
appreciation of their vast bulk and pre-
eminerce. One PROSTATE trunk. appropri
atcly named Thy Mrs. Fremont, it is said,
1.-The Fallen Monarch would furnish q
, admirable flooring for q bowling aliey
| Our party dismounted, and rromensded u
and down this elevate hocr-a portion Of
ten or twelve inches in thickness,-with IL
same sense of assured footing experience
on level ground. Through section G
, another fallen giant followed out by fire
We spurred our horses, and rode with head
but slightly depressed. The sensation wa
so novel, that We wheeled, and urged tneu
through second time. At another plac
{ We rcde, with heads erect, through a
. archway burnt through living tree (many c
, these noble trees have, at some time or Al
other, been set on fire. hy rowing Indian:
i. is surposei). with plenty O; leeway owe:
head and on either side. The champion {
these groves. named The Grizzly Giant,
, came in for full share OF our wonie.in
. attention. The base of its ,remendo,.
trunk measures over cae hundred feet
circumference where it touches the ground
and clear above what Nigh: be termed III
:. sad >