The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-11-16
CLEAR LAKE, cALIFoRNIA

CEAEAES LANE O2AASAE OAANAA
was growing tired OF my daily du-
ties. We have now some $50 pupils,
and the work of school is heavy and
constant. l was therefore not at all
sorry when the gray haired principal
ordered me TO start for Clear Lake.
The North Coast railroad terminates
at CIoverdale, On the Russian river, one
of our Pacific paradises. No town in
America Is more inviting in itself and
Its surroundings. From this place
stages go TO the famous Geysers, and an
other line to Lakeport.
I took the latter. We crossed the
broad, sandy bed of the Russian river,
and at once began to climb the noun
tain rim of Lake county. A continuous
mountain wall of CLASSY volcanic rock,
nowhere less than 3 600 feet high, COM
pletely encloses the lake. tits natural
" one of the most inaccessible places 10
California. OF all my stage rides this
was the most wonderful. At last, as the
sun was going down splendidly, we
! rested on the top of the wall, an q looked
down upon the Como of the Pacific.
Clear Lake is about thirty miles in
length, and two TO twelve in breadth.
There are two or three smaller lakes in
the basin. The soil about the lake,
which Its waters once overlooked, is
wonderfully fertile, aud the oaks til al
grow in the meadows are won
derfny The huge 1ge.o,an clean r.s q, ana nc
sides with surprising steepness Tie
| great dead volcano called "Unclc Sam
fiattened dome of MoIut Ripley towers
splendidly in the background. The
| world has no fairer landscape.
| We drove through the growing dark-
ness across the valley. and arrived at
Lakeport Just in time for the evening
session of the teachers institute.
This valley is a little empire cut off
from the world by the surrounding vol
lcanic rim. Cache creek is the guile; af
the lake, but il flows through a narrow
canon through which mo- man has ever
passed. All exports and imports must
pass over The mountains, paying heavy
1 tolls to costly turnpikes.
Lakeport is pleasant little village
on the southwest shore. Vast and most
profitable hop-fields grow all about it.
Extensive vineyards have been planted.
THE orange thrives in sheltered places
A good deal of wheat is sent over the
range. There is enough pine on the
mountains for home needs. The climate
Is unsurpassed.
Within the next two years q railroad
will be extended from Calistoga. and q
huge tunnel will pierce tbs
obsidian wall of the lake. Wealth,
fashion and architectural taste
will come With it. This beautiful
basin, now SO inaccessible, will soon be.
come one of the centres oi
the worlds social life. Min.
!. eral springs abound here. Nature
has furnished an abundance of boiling
springs and of every sort of nauseou'
Oscillation. There are vast deposits 81
borax, sulphur, antimony and mercury
The whole region is volcanic Two o.
three small steamers now navigate tbs
} lake The life of 1t will be thoroughly
| Venitian by and by Ny sojourn her
was an entirely delightful one, and re
GREETED the coming of the morning tina
, called me back TO my work. The star
: were still shining and the comet va
|, splendidIy reflected from the bosom o
the lake. as clambered into the stag
for my homeSerd journey.
H B. NoRToE.