Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-26
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Dear Monitor The Seal Rocks and
Golden Gate are six miles vest of the
city front. We started in the morning
to visit these places of fashionable re-
sort. Horse cars run out 2 Ii miles, |
with regular omnibus line
the balance of the way. Within the
f-At th-eA miles we pass number of |
some of which contain very
beautiful and costly monuments. On our
right, under that tall and most conspic-
uous monument. rests the remains of the
lamented Senator Broderick. On our
left can be seen the monument of Sena-
tor Sharon, and near this are the monu-
ments of Messrs. humphrey and Dora-
hue, the celebrated car builders. We
had previously spent a half day here,
among these beautiful cemeteries. The
principal ones are Lone Mountain, Lau-
rel Hill, Odd Fellows and Free Masons.
On the summit of Lone Mountain, to the
left, stands large cross which is not
ed land mark. and can be seen for many
miles around. Close by the road we
pass is one of the most noted race cour-
ses in the State. This road is called the
San Francisco and Point Lobos road. On
our left is the Golden Gate Park, which
contains LOO acres. The city has al
ready expended 100000 in improve
ments on this park, and will expend sew
eral millions more before tits completed.
This drive to the San franciscan, is
what the Central Park is to the New
Yorker, and the style of the former is
not to be outdone by the latter. As we
reach the summit of the last hill on the
road, we are almost lost in admiration
of the magnificent view of the ocean
spread out before US. We soon reach
the Cliff House. On the west side of
the house. fronting the ocean, is broad
veranda which is situated on a project
ing cliff, IS feet above, and almost over
hanging the water. Three hundred yards
away and directly in front of us are the
famous Seal Rocks; and on these, at any
time of day, can be seen hundreds of
seals, or Sea Lyons, laying on, scram-
bling up, plunging off, fighting and
! sporting around these little rocky islands.
The seals keep up constant yoi-hoi
yoi-hoi! which can be heard at the dis
lance of mile or more. These seals
are protected by the laws of the State
against capture. On our left, broad,
winding road is blasted out of the rocky
cliff to the sandy beach below; while on
our right, fight of l2S steps-some OF
the lower ones cut in the solid rock
takes US down to the beach near the Seal
Rocks. 1t is now low water, and We
spend an hour walking over the hard,
sandy beach. Sea fowls in large num-
bers are lowering on and around these
rocks. We see numerous ships, small
craft and steamers constantly passing
out and in at the Golden Gate, which il
one-half mile to the north of us. JUS
now comes large steamer, bound fol-
China. At times old Ocean would re
mind us that we were on forbidden
ground, by sending wave higher thar
its predecessors, and we would have tt
beat hasty rctreat-not in very gooC
order. Telegraph Station is just to tn,
south of the Gate, situated on a SANDY
cliff, 500 feet above the ocean. This il
: connected with the port at Fort Point
, one mile further east, on the same side
and also with the city, miles distant
}. The lighthouse is situated on a high
rocky cliff on the north side of the Gate
Fort Point is the most heavily fortife'
; on the coast, on the plan of Fort Stump
r ter. But the setting sun reminds us W
r must return to the city, and on our wa
] we stop at the old Spanish Missio
E Church, founded in l775. We vislte
7 this place in 1850. 1t then seemed
long way out of the city. 1t is situate