Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-15
OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER.
A Discussion on the CIimate-Over-
land Scenery-The Wonders Of South
ern California.

A Discussion on the Climate-Over.
land Scenery-The Wonders Of South
ern California.
Correspondence of the Union and American.
SAN Francisco, Feb. 2S.-Francisco
has charming climate. At least everybody
saws so. so | suppose it has, though l have
the presumption to be skeptical. The fact
is. climate is a tender point with Califor
mans. They can stand anything better
than having that found fault with. They
may lose the partner Of their bosom, may
weep over the untimcly death of their first
born. NAV even see the bottom Of their
most trusted mine fall ont, with compare
tive equanimity. But no one who expects to
remain here dares defame the climate.
San Franciscans are firmly convinced that
there is no other climate or place worth
living in. They say there is only just
enough wind and fog in summer to make
it cool and comfortable, and that the people
flock in from the interior TO get cooled of.
Those living inland or down the coast dis
paraee San Francisco in return, and are re-
markably versatile on the merits of their
favOrite locality. As a rule the longer Cal
ifornians have lived here, and the more
real estate they own, the more sOlicitOus
are the for they reputation of their climate.
They seem to regard with degree Of COM
miseration those less fortunate mOrtals
who do not live in such climate and
among so much gold! They are not a bit
selfish, for while it is their country and
their climate, they have no desire to mo
nOpolize.
A SMALL RANCH
of 10000 to 100000 acres satisfies many Of
them, though some have broader views Of
farming. Most any of them if urged will
consent TO part with few acres at good
prices. They even issue an occasional
pamphlet mOdestly setting forth the ad-
yantages of this western Paradise, consid-
erately abstaining from the mention Of any
slight disadvantages that might have ten
dency to dissuade those snteTprising per-
sons who are tempted TO leave comfortable
homes and pleasant associations beyond
the mountains to seek this Eldorado.
Every place in the State has a different at
mosphere, and it is not unnatural for per-
son whose health has been restored or con-
fined in certain place to be enthusiastic
over the merits of that particular locality,
which might have an entirely different eff
feet upon another apparently affected in the
same way. Some climates which said
to be the most desirable are in portion Of
every other comfort has to be sacrificed to
that one. California is immense, its
northern boundary being on the same par
allel as New y Ork, its southern on that of
South Carolina. There being but few rail-
roads. the inland towns are inaccessible
except by stage or private conveyance. As
we are so constituted as not to be able to
live on climate alone, the eXped.ency of
V,la 10 arin = Is
questioned. Then again, climate is not to
be depended on any more than the mails
and when that alone is relied on andfails, it
is a most uncomfortable if not dangerous
predicament for an invalid. This is their
PLEASANT SEASON.
It has rained almost necessarily since the
last of November, not only Tained but
stormed. When it does not pour and
blow il drizzleS But then this is an unu-
sual season! There never was any ObjeC-
tionable weather any where that was not
.unusual" If the weather had any sort of
appreciation of the trouble people take TO
apologize for it, it would behave itselfmuch
more seemly). Such a wet season has not
occurred since the flOOd-Of 1862 when
the ladies in Sacramento and Stockton
went shopping in boats and the heads Of
families put on their rubber boots and did
the cooking in the kitchen for the rest Of
the household on the second floor! The
thermometer SAYS it is not cold, but one
cannot get warm except in the sun. Not a
few CalifOrnians boast over having
NO FIRE IN THEIR ROOMS THE YEAH
ROUND,
but Eastern people want one every day II
the wear. On one side of the street il i
uncomfOrtably warm without a shawl; OF
the other side it is uncOmfOTtably cold will
one. Flowers bloom out doors the yea
round. The profusiOn and luXuriance o.
the Gala lily is particularly noticeable. IL
some yards they form hedges. 1t j:
amusing to hear the various opinions o
THE TRIP OVERLAND.
Some cannot find words to express thef
enthusiastic admiration; no tedium. NJ
fatigue. no lack of good things for the inne
man. and no anything but uninterrupted
comfort and enjoyment. Others Insist tina
II is wearisOme and mOnotOnOuS in the eX
treme-no;hing to be seen but the leve
prairie land, rocks piled up in all sorts o
ugly and angular shapes, and the endles
sage bush. Neither is true. 1t is as i'm
possible TO come withoutfat igue and incOn
venience as it is for any one having tn
least love or conception for the grand ant
beautiful in nature not to have 1t ellie
tied. OF course one does not find thing
according to advertisement. Who ever ex
poets it? For instance, the ''palace dinin
cars" and observation cars" are myths, O
things of the past. The depots from Oma
la 10 San Francisco are all frame building
of the most unpretentiOus kind. But IL
passenger is granted the privilege of read
ING an elaborate description in the guild
book of one that is to be at Omaha, and ca
gaze to his hearts content on the picture
a magnificent hotel for tOurists,to be locate
at the junction of the Union Pacific an
Central Railroads, with parks, fountains