Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-11-12
For the Monitor.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

Having visited some of the interesting
points and places near San Francisco,
let us journey with your readers as far
south as San Jose pronounced San Ho-
say. We take the steamer "Relief'
from the city of San Francisco, and turn
our PROV to the southwark, leaving Oak
land and Alameda on our left, with
Hunters Point and the U. S. dry dock
on the right After passing the Point,
the bay widens out to about fifteen miles.
On the west coast bold headlands, rising
to the height of several hundred feet,
appear for several miles, while on the
east the coast is low, and the beautiful
Alameda valley stretches away to the
Contra Costa range of mountains AS
we pass on, the highlands on the east
recede, and beautiful farm residences
and distant villages appear. A little
further and the land on either side be-
comes low and marshy and the water
grows shallow. Our boat only makes
one landing on the way, and that at
Dunbarton Point. some twenty-five miles
up the bay. For several miles the bay
has been growing narrower On the east
in the distance the Coast range appears.
running about parallel with the Contra
Costa range and some twenty miles from
it. But while looking at the mountain
ranges, and the de lightful sights on Ell
Their hand, the boat has reached what
appears to be the end of the bay, though
the town of Alviso, where we are to land,
after winding and twisting up through
the torturous slough for an hour, is still
some miles away. The trip through this
portion of the bay is exceedingly delight
full at all seasons of the year. We take
the stage at Alviso to cross over to San
Jose, some eight miles distant. Eight
or ten passengers inside the coach, and
as many without, and the driver cracks
his whip in regular California style,
while the mustangs are ready for quick
trip over the dusty road. We are re-
minded of old stage times in Vermont,
when stages made the whole distance
from Derby Line to Haverhill. N. H.,
in "a hours, and to Boston in three days
and nights. We will not mention that
terrible nuisance, dust, which is the bane
of road travelling in this dry climate,
lest our story be disbelieved. But when
we get within mile or two of the city,
we find the streets sprinkled, beautiful
stream of water running beside the road
in which we can wash. and find water
to cleanse our dusty threats.
We are now in Santa Clara county,
which lies south of the bay, contains
about 5000 square miles, has a population
of 10000, as fine soil as the State con-
tains and a climate second to none IN
this section.
On either side of the road we see large
orchards of various fruit trees, loaded as
only trees can be loaded in this State
We reach hotel on st. John street, and
after satisfying the inner man, take
stroll about the city. The artesian wells
are point of interest, for here is flow.
ing and spouting the pure water thai
comes from the artificial borings that
reach down into the earth several humid
red feet. This water is used in the city
and irrigates the land for some distance
about it.
!, But we proceed next to the noted res
idence of Gen. Henry III. Naglee, anc
the remarkable grounds and park II
which it is situated. These ground
were laid out in 1865, and contain l4'
acres, all of which has been put to US
for the growing of rare plants and trees
, | II Iox