Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-07-10

an engraving of both foliage and cone,
of about natural size. The Sugar Pine,
most beautiful and majestic tree,
abounds in the mountains, and if it
were not otovershadowed by its mammoth
neighbors would be thought of immense
proportions. We measured some that
were more than ten feet in diameter,
unless we have forgotten the correct
figures. They bear elegant cones, some
times eighteen inches in length, and as
they grow among the big trees, and the
cones drop to the ground, they are Of
ten collected by tourists and carried
away as the fruit of the Mammoth Tree,
which bears but a small cone, as will
be seen by our engraving"
THE GEYsERs.
Among the other curiosities visited by
Mr.. Wick, were the Geyser Springs, of
which he says: s.+
SON reaching the Geyssr Hotel, the
first thought almost was that we had
arrived alta railroad station, for we heard
the rush of steam, and even the whistle
of the engine, and could we'll detect the
sulphurous smoke of the coal. 1t
proved, however, to be all Natures
work; for looking down the canyon we
saw the steam issuing from its sides,
from almost every crevico; everything
seemed to be boiling and seething, and
we do not wonder that poor affrighted
German hurried away, declaring it was
not Won mile from very bad place.
The Geysers are situated in a deep
rocky cspyep which seems truly Ma,
ture's laboratory, for here are springs of
alum, soda, Epson salts, sulphuric
acid and ammonia. In one place is a
boiling spring, called the Devils Ink
stand in which we boiled an egg hard
in three minutes. A hundred feet
above, in a ledge Of the rock is the
Steamboat where the periodical puff
ing of the steam is more frightful than
curious. A few steps further is the
Devils Grist-mill, from which issues
a terrible confusion of rafting sounds.
Still on you SO to the Devils Tea-ket-
tle,' boiling hot, and if you thrust
stick into in, there is an angry sputter7
ing and splashing of water that will
cause hasty retreat. The ground
upon which you tread is hot, you are
enveloped in cloud of steam which
issues in thousand jets, and though
not willing to show fear. you cannot
help feeling little, and you hardly
think it best TO remain there great
while, though of course perfectly safe,
and all that" 50 Tis .sse.
IMPRESSIONS OF CALIFORNIA.
Too much cannot be said of the beau
tiful valleys of California, but were sur
prised to find so much land that can
never be cultivated, rocky, barren
mountains, furnishing only scanty
growth Of brush for cattle to browse.
The growth of grain was to us a wonder,
heads of wheat more than twice the
length of any we ever saw east, though
we did see many poor crops. Water is
of the utmost Importance in the growth
of summer crops. The enormous fields
of wheat miles in length, ranches con-
tanning thousands of acres. all owned
by one person and he residing in San
Francisco, afforded us no pleasure.
We would much rather have seen these
large ranches divided up into one and
two hundred acre farms, with pleasant
dwellings. school-houses and churches,
No sensible man will settle with his fam
lily on a moderate-sized farm, while on
either side is ranch three or four miles
in length occupied by rough ranchmen.