Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-22
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
OAKLAND, Oct. L, 1877.

we saw the farmers sowing wheat last
January, we saw vast piles of straw,
where the threshing machines had left
them, and huge piles of wheat at the
depots, awaiting shipment to the San
Francisco market. Though the drought
of the season has been very severe, there
is no danger of starvation, as in the San
Joaquin valley alone, 100000 BUSH
els of wheat were grown, while the
northern valleys have produced much
more.
Our better half having already been
in Oakland some weeks, had become
a great admirer of the climate and the
beauty of that city, so We decided to
make our headquarters here, while we
visited some of the surrounding counties
and places of interest. Oakland is what |
its name suggests land Of oaks. Here
the live oak is ever green, and the prim-
tive trees have been left standing in
the streets and parks of the city, wher-
ever it could be done. The growth of
the town has been remarkable. 1t was
incorporated in 1852, and in 1870 con-
tanned a population of 10000, which has
increased to $4,000, with taxable prop
erty of $27,OOO,00O. In 1876, there
were built 1855 dwelling houses, l27
stores and "a other business blocks. The
city is surrounded on three sides by tide
water, but has an elevation in the GEN.
tire of 80 feet. Six miles northeast, the
foothills of the Contra Costa mountains
begin, and the fast growing city is rap
idly reaching that way. The city has
81 Churches much larger number in
proportion to its population than the
neighboring city of San Francisco. Ma
ny of the churches are very costly, large
and beautiful-better than any other
church edifces on this coast The city
hall, very beautiful and costly build
ing was burned, Aug. 25th. The court
house, on Broadway, is magnificent
building, 18OxlSO feet, three stories
high, and cost 1926, 900. This is sur
rounded by beautiful lawn with shrub
berry, and enclosed by an ornamental
iron fence. There are GA hotels in the
city, two of which are 10Ox30O feet,
four stories high; they are the Palace
hotels of the city. There are daily,
and s weekly and semi-weekly papers
one commercial college, public libra.
ries, one free union reading room and
| s0pethiRg. like. 90 secret societies ip tbs
mile from the water front is valued al
$500 per front foot. corner lots being
held at higher figures. Broadway is the
principal business street; it runs nearly
through the city from north to south.
On the night of the State election
this long and elegant street was brill
iantly illuminated, and stirring music
I patriotic speeches and loud cheers made
. the scene of intense interest. Both par
= ties enthusiastically endorsed Presiden
e Hayes, and hardly knew what to quar-
d rel about during the campaign. We lis
y tened to one of the candidates for tn
: State senate, on the evening mentioned
i and was not little pleased to hear tn
t band strike up, "Sweet By and By,
e when he had finished his speech. Wheth
# er the leader of the band expected tn
It politician to gain victory this side o
:. Jordan or not, we could not tell.
}. The city is lighted with gas, and wei
supplied with water from the highland
e near the mountains. There are line
It of horse railroads, running, all together
n nearly thirty miles. The Central Pacii
n ic R. R. runs through the city and ez
d tends by branch 1000 feet out into tn
E, bay. There is an immense business don
rs on the steam railways. The travel t
s, and from San Francisco is very large
/. nearly sixty long trains go to and froI
N the ferry landing. There are eight d.
y pots in the city. Everybody can rid
t. through the city and 2 IA miles out o
t. to the pier, free. The single fare to Sa
OF Francisco is Is cents, or So per montI
re Not less than 600 passenger cars reac
" the long wharf daily, from the Eas
re form the Southern Pacific r. r. and Il
ut San Jose branch. Of freight cars, abol
VS. 800 is the daily average. The immens
er steam ferry boat, Transit" CARR,
I'D more than 250 of these across the ba
to San Francisco, daily. This ferry BOZ
has capacity of 80 car loads, freigl
and loaded cars counted in, and makes
u round trip in an hour.
ct. On one end of this vast artificial
a land, built far out in the bay on pile
ce are the great wharves where the produc
ne of California are brought to be emptit
as into the bowels of the ocean vessel
he which are to carry the products to Il
ed ends of the earth. Here thousands
nd vessels are loaded annually for t
cts worlds markets. On this immense pi
Ill are vast store houses, long depots, wi
In and long slips into which the boats al
all ships are run, and vast number of ra
lite road tracks 1t is busy place, day al
he night.
at Oakland is the chief railroad cent