Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-15

Tie StedUleTS plying DdCk anu loIlu UclHCCn
different points; the green hills on one side
bathed in the warm sunlight (tlo' more &C
customed of late to shower baths); then on
through the Golden Gate where point reach
es out to point as though they would pre-
vent the rough waves of the ocean from dis
turbing the quiet of the bay they enclose.
1t was beautiful sight. While quietly
enjoying it, l was surprised to find the pas
sengers rapidly disappearing from deck and
concluded they must be retiring TO their
state-roOms TO prepare for lunch. Some of
them must have found their rooms very
inviting, for they could not be tempted out
until the end of the voyage, when they
appeared minus the radiant enthusiasm
which characterized their starting. The
disposition manifested at first to be social
on general topics soon concentrated itself
into solicitOus inquiries about each others
health. The steamer, which for a while
had glided along so smoothly, encountered
at the "bar" big SWELL From that mo-
ment everything seemed intoxicated. Large
numbers of sea gulls surrounded and fol-
lowed the steamer, never leaving it for an
instant during the passage. They are beau-
tiful but greedy. As they hover about and
not unfrequently light on the rigging, their
little sharp eyes are on the lookout for food.
When it is thrown to them they instantly
dart and scramble for it. At Point Con-
ception the steamers salute to the light
house was responded to by the ringing of
bell. Following the coast We turned and
sailed directly east in smooth waters. II
was after dark when We reached Santa Bar
bara. The following morning we anchored
off San Pedro. Here a small steamer
awaited our arrival to convey the passen-
gers to Wilmington, from which place there
is railroad to Los Angeles, twenty miles
distant. Our steamer was detained at San
Pedro all day discharging freight. 1t was
not in the least tedious for the day was
bright and balmy. There was scarcely a
ripple on the water. Cattle and sheep were
grazing on the green hills. The little town
of Wilmington, four miles distant, gave
token of civilization; and the sea birds
still lying in wait had taken refuge for the
day ON some lighters anchored near. We
were entertained by marvellous stories of
$50 pound beets, 245 pound squashes and
40 pound cabbages, which grow in San
Diego. A lady who said she was
''TOo OLD TO LIE"
had seen them, and testified to the accuracy
of the figures. We were told also that at
Sacramento, il the spring-time, the foliage
sprouts on the canes of gentlemen while on
their way to business. We credited all this
without hesitation. But when a gentle
man told about jumping overheard after a
little boy, on Lake Ontario, and swimming
four hours in its cold waters, and then got
out feeling fresh and well, We doubted. If
he had located this feat Of heroism and en-
durance on Lake LahOe, it would not have
seemed extraordinary. We believe any
thing may happen in California. But this
taxed our credulity. We tried to account
for it, but in vain, until friend suggested
that it must be because oil nerer sinks IN
lrdter,
The third morning from San Francisco
found us rounding Point Iona into San
Diego Bay. The present town of
SAN DIEGO
is about twelve miles up the Bay, and three
miles from the old township, which con-
sists of few very old, dilapidated, adobe
houses with tile roofs. A fort is in process
Of construction, to cost $4,000, which will
command the harbor. At last We were
landed--beyond the reach of rain, thought
we, or at most only just enough to lay the
dust once in five or ten years, How pleas
ant it would be TO bask in eternal SUM-
shine, Why had We not come before,
to this destined metropolis of the
Occident, the future harbor OF
the world and terminus Of the Texas
and Pacific, Central Pacific and Northern
Pacific Railroads with San Francisco for a
suburban village, where it is never to warm
or too cold, never muddy, Except when il
rains,) where it never rains (but it pOurs)
where the dust never flies Except in blind
ing clouds and the fieas never bite Except
iu battalions) where the cattle roaming
over the fields in thousands and ten thOus-
and are too numerous to furnish milk and
butter to a small population, and where
vegetation is too spontaneous to bother
about gardens. The day after our arrival
it StOnned! The morning paper of the day
following stated that seventy-six hundredth:
of an inch of water had fallen and the
streams were so swollen that the mail had
been detained. But then this was unusual
! San Diego is four years old, has 5000 in
habitantS, four churches, two daily papers
a courthouse, schOOlhouses, a 400 acre
park, reservation and a Plaza. The arrival
of the mail once a day over land, and the
arrival and departure of the steamers three
or four times a week from San Francisco
are events Ofpublic interest. The Panama
| Steamers also touch here. The Horton
| House is a large, comfortable, two story
| brick building. the best hotel this side O
San Francisco. Its owner and proprietor
| formerly owned most of San Diego, anC
has probably done more for the place thai
any other man by erecting the hotel, flint
| bank building and three or four more of thu
| best books. The house is filled With persons
travelling for health and pleasure, many o.
| them being so well pleased as to prOlOng
| their stay from two weeks to two mouths
or longer. The guests, of whom none ar,
too unwell to join in social amusements
assemble in the parlor every night, and il
the most pleasant and informal manner
| thus making strangers feel at home at once
The resident society is good, being com
posed of Southern and Eastern peOpl,
whom the climate has induced to setUl
here. Two delightful entertainment
have recently taken place, one given by TIN
guests in acknowledgment to the citizen
for attention and Inequalities received
and the other by the citizens in compli
ment to the guests. Others are projected
Connected with Mr.. Horizons residence
a short distance from the hotel and access
ible to the guests, at all times, is a Lowell
garden, filled with a profusion of beautiful
flowers, in full bloom. The most striking
feature, perhaps, of the whole country, an
the one most difficult to become accustom
ed to, is the
ENTIRE ABSENCE OF TREES.
A young lady starting out for drive, whe
asked where she would go, replied, ''wher
[ can see a tree" They drove eleven mile
before seeing one. Hundreds of youn
trees are started and grow astonishingly
The climate is very agreeable, with tn
above exceptions. The statistics kept b
the United States Signal Service shows til
maximum and minimum heat last year {
have been s. and 81 degrees reached onl
once during the year; maximum and mini
mum in June 75 and Ga, in December 6
and SO; number of days on which rain fel
81. The amount of rain here for five yea
past has been IL inches; in San Francisc
% inches. From popularity of the so
the water runs Off or is absorbed so rapid
that one can walk without any iuconvt
nience soon after a rain. The travele
roads are hard and firm, but ground ths
has not been thus hardened is often treacl