Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-29
For the Monitor.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
OAKLAND. Oct. s. 1877.

~ 10 OANOAAShNJ oUoPeOU W ehO SiO"en
of fruit and vegetables, and produces
enormous crops and prOdigious specimens
of everything grown. The town of Ala
media lies four miles southeast of Oak
land, and is connected with it by horse
and steam railways. 1t was chartered
in 1872, having been previously laid
out in broad, straight streets, which
cross each other at right angles. The
population Of the town doubled the first
year, and is now 5000, with prospect
of reaching 10000 by 1880. Like Oak
land, it is well surrounded by tide wa
ter, and is very favorably situated for
business. The town has four public
schools, four churches and dozen Sc
cret societies. 1t is now supplied with
pure water from artesian wells, but will
soon be supplied by the Oakland water
works. Throughout the city are fine
evergreen oaks and natural groves that
add much to the beauty and healthful-
ness of the infant city. Steam cars run
the whole length of the city. A narrow
gauge railway will soon be built through
to San Jose, thence down the coast to
south part of the State. Flood & O Urine
are said to furnish the capital for this
new road. and it will not be in the con-
troll of the Central Pacific monopoly.
Five miles east of Oakland is Mills
Seminary, school for young ladies, said
to be the best in the State of its kind.
The horse cars run out to the seminary,
and pass beautiful, well-shaded street,
on which are some of the finest residen-
ces in this county. Further to the north
is Fruitville, named and noted for the
great amount and variety of excellent
fruit it produces. 1t is beautiful little
town, nestled among the Contra Costa
hills, and abounds in splendid residen-
ces, where fine houses. fruitful gardens,
green lawns and extensive flower gardens
are seen on every side. Five miles
northeast of Oakland in canon of the
mountains are situated the celebrated
Piedmont white sulphur springs. l Wis.
tied these springs and found them strong
ly impregnated with sulphur. but owing
to my antipathies against birthstone, de
cided not to 60 into ecstasies over Thu
sulphur water. A stream of pure waite
, bursts out of the rock within two feet o
i, the sulphur springs. The speculator
Z have been out here, bought up the lands
@ laid out city and are now holding lot
q at fabulous prices. A large hotel is al
. ready built here, which is the forerun
4 ner of civilization and crowd of cit
n visitors.
d Mountain View cemetery is thre
= miles north east of Oakland, and situa
Q ed among the foot hills-a mile wild
r, and mile and halt long. The ground
B. have been greatly improved by grading
\. lawns. and the planting of trees, shrul
to costly and beautiful monuments an
y pieces of statuary.
D. Berkeley, four miles north of OAKLAND
v is connected with it by both horse an
X steam cars, which make many dali
d trips. The University of California
L. located here. The buildings are mao
lg of brick and iron, and are thought to |
IN both brick and earthquake proof; the
BE stand on an elevation of 800 feet abo'
ID the bay. and are 1-2 miles distal
7e therefrom. The two main buildings a
It. very large and of elegant proportion
Re The cost of the institution was $70C
IN 600; it has an endowment of $4,000
and is generously aided by the Stat
r In the extensive grounds about the Un
ks versity are some of the most magniice
id oaks in this part of the State; they a
r. four feet in diameter, and their wild
1g spreading branches reach out forty
It. fifty feet from their trunk, and thu
?' look, in the distance, like immense a
d. pie trees.
West Berkeley is situated 2 IL mil
II west of Berkeley, on the bay, and has
: fine beach. The railroad runs throu,
! the town, and ten trains a day furni
" ample accommodations to the citizens
:. this suburb. The ferry boat to s.
= Francisco makes four round trips dali
= Here are the S. F. Co.'S chemical work
who paid $4,000 for their lands;
- large watch factory, and an immense
, tablishment for the manufacture of soa
The main building is 100x9OO feet a.
FIVE stories high, with other buildin
nearly as large. These works turn o
- 800, 900 pounds of soap daily, when q
e ing their best work. We went throu
= the various rooms and was kindly I'M
:: ated into the mysteries of soap-maki
: by one of the proprietors. We forbt
to describe what we saw in this ma
moth establishment, lest our story
a unbelieved. This town is having r;
= id growth, and lots are held at city p
=. ces. The railroad skirts along the b;
and some of the most beautiful scene
can be seen by taking trip on the ca
=. But space will not permit us to DIV
=, longer on the beautiful county of A