The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-07-09
The Wonders of California.

Two hours from San Francisco by Steam
en- we reached Vallejo, q pretty littI,.
town where we took rail lor Calistooa
Springs. ail'ording us a most charmiG2
ride through Napa Valley, considered one
OF the finest in the State in point of cult
walton and richness Of soil. such a sue
ccssion Of beautiful ranches owned by
residents in San Francisco and occupied
as summer residences - such fields of
gram, orchards, vineyards made nay Npw
England eyes open wide. The road side
d perfect Hover garden-the fields all
around gorgeous with flowers of all imagi-
nable hueS-I thought at the time that
nothing could surpass them in beauty.
Callstoga, where we passed the night. t.
a little village Of houses clustered round
large hotel with grounds prettily laid
out and numerous pretty little cottages fol
the accommodation of its guests. The
sulphur springs, hot and cold, constitute
the only attraction. The water of some
| OF the warm springs is very like chicken
broth IN flavor, particularly when sea
sohed with pepper ard salt We, our
party, had one of the little cottages 10
| ourselves and had n merry time. 1t was
| the prettiest little nest imaginable: nest
led in the very shadow of the hills; in one
yard were beautiful fan palms giving it
quite tropical appearance.
AT seven the next morning we started
in open stages for the Geysers. The ride
was perfectly magnificent; scarcely know
where to begin. There was constant
succession Of lovely views as We wound
up the mountain. the summit of which
is 1000 feet from the plain, views OF Napa
and Russ an River valleys. Mt st Helena
in the distance Mt Tamalpais and in the
DINNER distance the Pacific ocean. Iht
road is succession of curves; two hun
dred and siNty-two in twelve miles; from
which you may imagine what n constant
ly changing panorama we had The road
was dreadfully bad in many places OF &C
count of the heavy rains, bun they served
to make the many waterfalls more beauti
iul. We crossed trout streams that would
have made ---- wild; the water in them
so clear that we could distinctly zee the
front
We changed horses at Pine / lat, q Itrle
mining place which has sprung up this
year and which brought Brete Harte moss
yividly to my mind There is grea1 ex-
eitement in quicksilver mining in thig
region. In every direction we saw claims
taken up tunneling commenced sc
From Pine Flat the drive was even more
exciting, The road wa almo7t on the
edge OF the precipicss, winding round ana
round. looking down on a little river boil
ing and tlmhling below. 1t was the Cheat
river valley over again but more enjoy
able rs we could enjoy il at our leisure
The driver discovering that we We're a.;
enthusiastic crowdWent along Very leisure
ly Flowers again never saw them be
as the eve can reach the hill sides arc
| coored with them; only think III COW
| feeding ON beds Of Nemophilla, Acre
after acres yellow with Snapdramcn-the
again purple with a Hover like our Heat
scarlet with masses of bright scarlat
| Iarkspur; the varieties almost innulneY
able. Then the variety Of trees Th-
manzanita with its white blossoms and
| bright red trunk and stems; il sheds II
| bark every spring and comes OUT in new
dress smooth us silk The madrane. which
| passes through a similar change hut come
out with a new bright yellow dress. aud
large masses Of white blossoms. the buck
eve. with very heavy dark green foliage
and blossom similar to the horse -chesnuI
but dropping and Of very sweet perfume
| oaks. with dropping branches like thu
weeping willow laure}s. making the .i.t
| heavy with perfume: but / have not lin,
| to continue the list. have sOluc cone
which measure ten and halt inchcg iu
| length and twenty-onc in circumference
Y You needn't 'whi-tlc"-l'll scnd vun one
| of them.
| W. rn,cbad fin. ,,n,.snr IIntnl ah,,,,. ..
| P. NJ. llmched and started for tramp. Ii
| was so hot that we tool, off our dress 7liri-
| IL ~