Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-11-19
For the Monitor.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

We closed our last letter in speaking
of the beautiful prospects obtained from
the high dome of Notre Dame in San
Jose. Descending, we visited several
points of interest about that city and
started for Santa Clara, some three
miles westward. We pass from city to
city through Alameda avenue, wide,
straight street. laid out one hundred
years ago, on either side of which is a
double line of ancient shade trees, the
overarching branches of which almost
completely cover the street. Neat and
beautiful residences line this avenue,
and the owners have selected homes as
agreeable as can be found in all these
regions. AS we proceed we pass the
Santa Clara Fair Ground, where the
county fair is being held, and only stop
to see gathered together in one place
the remarkable productions of a Califor-
mia county, Like fairs in the East, the
institutions which might be made benef-
cial, have degenerated into horse trots
and gambling.
Santa Clara dates back to 1777, when
Jesuits here planted Mission. It is a
pretty little town of 1000 people, whose
occupation is chiefly in the culture of
fruit and vegetables for the San Fran
cisco market. The chief Importance of
the town is that it is the seat of Santa
Clara college (JesuiD in which two
hundred students from all quarters of
the globe obtain thorough education.
The college building stands on the very
site where the old Mission was built. A
few of the ancient buildings remain.
They were built of adobe and covered
with tile. Across the street is large,
carefully preserved cross. which stood on
the old church. The college has astro-
nomical, chemical and philosophical APP
paratus, which is as good as the country
affords. Within this town nearly every
denomination of Christians has its suit
able place of worship. Perhaps the best
is the brick church belonging to the
Methodists.
Santa Clara county is the largest
strawberry growing county on the coast
it is estimated that $500 acres of land
are devoted to strawberries. The amount
produced is simply enormous. On one
day in 1876, it is said 80 tons were
shipped from this county. These berries
find sale in San Francisco and the Other
cities on the bay, and are carried east as
far as Salt Lake city on the cars. Tht
bearing season is from April to Decem
Der. Vine culture is another specially
in this vicinity. Nearly every farm con-
tains a vineyard, and many persons de
vote their entire time to raising grapes
The celebrated grape products of France
are said not to excel the Santa Clar;
grapes.
Among the other fruits that are sue
cessfully grown here are apples, pears
plums, prunes. apricots, nectarines. al
monds, peaches, figs, oranges. lemon
and many others. 1t is not uncommon
to see fruit trees with trunk not owe
l IL inches in diameter so loaded witt
fruit as to require propping up.
But we leave Santa Clara and man
interesting things within and about
undescribed. We take the Southern
Pacific R. R., and are whirled along a
such rapid rate as to catch only glimI
ses of the remarkable scenery throug
which we pass. On the left is the grea
range of mountains on the right tn
: country slopes toward the bay and
, covered with productive farms. We ste
off the train at Red Wood, the count
: seat of San Maeto, which is situated o
. a neck of water that sets inland from th
} bay some miles. This city has its nam
, from the red wood that abounds in th
mountains of the county. The manu-
{ facture of this timber into lumber form
an important business in this section an
; brings much money into the county
, This little town of 1000 inhabitants ha
\ its full complement of schools, churches
j hotels, etc. Taking the cars again W
continue our journey toward San Frar
i cisco. Swiftly passing Belmont an