The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-23
.etter from On Ohio County BOZ
:
sAnrAo Cruz NAY IL. 1877.



Couespondsnee Of the In~tsEigsnoer.
After leaving San Joaquin Valley, We
directed our course south to Santa Cruz
county, one hundred and twenty miles
south Of San Francisco, and bounded by
San Mates, Santa C~lara,.,Monterey coun-
ties, Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean
on the east. It Is q small but very veal
thy county Of 7O,s50 acres inclosed, and
2O,SS0 acres cultivated, and having great
agricultural and manufacturing re
sources. The Coast Range runs through
the county, rising to lofty peaks and
covered with magnificent forests, which
are often grand and majestic, equsling
the groves Of Calaveras and Mariposa.
The manufacturer Of the county include
those Of leather, glue, soap, powder, fuse,
beet sugar, and wooden ware. The valid
able lumber which Is in great quantities,
are the redwood, the oak, the laurel and
madrona, the last being used BY the eabi'
net maker. Powder IL made In large
quantities Of thewillow and hazel charcoal
Most Of the lime used in San Francisco
comes from the lime kilns Of Santa Cruz.
The climate Is glorious, the county shell:
tered from the fierce winds that prevail
further north, whilst the fogs OF the
ocean keep things yerdant and cool
Santa Cruz City, which Is the county
seat, looks down from the Bay Of Mon.
tere1y and outupon the Pacific ocean. The
surrounding mountains that rise in the
distance behind must have been familiar
to the very earliest n~ayigators. In fact,
the earliest Of them all, the courageous
Roderiguez Cabrillo, mentions them.
What attracts the attention Of the obser.
yer Ia the fact that these mountains are
covered with trees, whereas all that have
been seen southwark are bare.
Santa Cruz IL reached by steamer from
San Francisco, or by the Southern Pa
ciic railroad to Pajaro, taking the Santa
Cruz narrow gauge tw~enty.one miles
from that point. During the spring and
summer months this ia one ofthe pleasant.
est s~ea-bathing resorts on the coast. The
beach Ia magnificent and the drives in the
neiehborhood are thoroughly beautiful
and romantic. This city was reached IN
the progress Of the establishment OF \
line Of missions up the coast, on the 18th
Of September, 1901, and on the 9Th Of
February, 1888, the foundation stone Of
a church was laid, with appropriate sol.
emnities. Then came secularization and
colonization, and the town grew until 1t
was incorporated in March, 1876.
Santa Cruz Is q beautiful town Of over
six thousand inhabitants, that all take an
interest in its progress. It's leading in
dustries have become established and re-
munerative, and they are now developing
largely. The new enterprises, together
with many visitor, impart 8 ~pereeptible
stimulus 10 business In the city that Is on
such 3 basis that 1t will eventually in
crease and not decline.
The last statistical report shows Santa
Cruz to be extremely prosperous. From
It we learn that in 1877, which was q very
dry season, the cultivated land in wheat,
Of 200 acres, yielded l7s,5O0 bushels; in
barley, 1000 acres yielding $4,000 bush.
els; In oats, $3.50 acres yielding $500
bushels; in corn, $500 acres yielding 49,
40s bushels; in buckwheat, l6 acres yield.
ing:325 bushels; in beans, 400 acres yield
ing 1915 bushels; in potatoes, sos acres
yielding 2.575 tons; In hay, 1915 acres
yielding 1888 tons; in FAX, 2l0 acres
yielding,30s,0 96 pounds; in hops, 10 acres
yielding 1900 pounds, and in sugar
beets 1,l80 acres yielding $500 tons. The
dairy yielded 1925 pounds Of butter
and rs, 200 pounds Of cheese.
The value Of the fruit crop is estimated
at Sl0,5O0, not including 8 olive trees and
624 almond trees. There were l43 acres
in grape vines, making $1,000 gallons Of
wine and 10000 gallons Of brandy.
The assessed value Of real estate in 1877
was s4,0S0,O09. Improvements on the
same,Sl,2s5,935, personal property, $685.
49S railroad stock S274,60S, telegraph
line $3.50, total $G,50S,4l0.
The population Of Santa Cruz is 1920,
Of which number 1858 are registered
voters, 1927 census school children. It
was incorporated in 1850, and contains
1872 square miles, average value Of land
per acre Sl4,6s.
We have Just returned from quite an
interesting and pleasant drive Of over
twenty-five miles with Mr.. @. W. Wald-
ron Of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, who Is
good guide owe the mountains aud a
courteous gentleman possessing all the
qualities requisite for 9 printers devil.
Tie noted places Of our visit, were first
TO zee the luxuriant crops in the valley,
extending as far as could be seen, then
the cabin Of Gen. John G. Fremont built
BY himself in 1s46. It is 9 feet high and
IS by 20 feet square, made Of rude logs
among the big trees miles from any In
habitants, the nearest being a family
living in the trunk Of q large redwood
tree about three hundred feet high, 1t be-
ing large enough for two large holes TO be
cut for the windows and one for the stove
pipe. Thus they have been living ap-
parently comfortable for many months,
exempt from any tax or rent.