Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-06
Correspondence Of The EVENING STAR

Correspondence Of The EVENING STAR
BENICA. CAL, Dec. 30 1882.
Your correspondent left Astoria. Oregon. n few
weeks ago and sailed by the steamship Column
bia to San Francisco. the great international
city on the continent, whence, after a few days
OF sightseeing and social enjoyment. lie repaired
by rail to this refined AMI beautiful little city,
set Ike gem in the midst of cluster of noble
hills Benicia is situated - miles below the
mouths of the two -reat rivers of California,
the Sacramento and the san joaquin; 80 miles
UP the bay from San Francisco :,5 miles from the
Pacific ocean through the Golden Gate miles
from the navy yard at slare Island, Is miles
from the ineXhaustbe coal fields OF Monte
Dablo, and 20 miles from the rich iron mines of
Ei Dorado. 1t is here that the great overland
Central Pacific railroad carries it's trains
across the straits of Carquinez on the
famous steam terry boat Solano. This mon
ster ship Is 425 feet long and at one trip
transfers As cars and locomotives, 1t is here
too. that the Southern Pac:fic-another trans
continental line-cOnnectS with the Central
Pacific and follows its track to and from San
Francisco These two grand trunks. with their
numerous branches communicate with all inn
portant points on the Pacific coast, and. indeed
| throughout the United States. They form
| integral parts of that vast system Of public i'm
provements which, in very few years, will
Ctiiiilildle III COuleCtlUu WITH railways OF
British Columbia in the north and Mexico in the
| south.
| In the vicinity of the town the government
| owns large tract of land, on which it has
built an arsenal and barracks extensive enough
| to accommodate five or six companies Of
| soldiers There are but two companies Of the
Sth Infantry here at present, In COM
| lnand of Lieutenant Colonel Bryant.
| Several invalid officers OF the army are
Quartered at these barracks for the purpose of
| sharing tine SanarIVp iDt1uQNcnS Of 70
! which has the advantage of lying intermediate
between the hot unhealthy vapors Of the
! inland valleys and the cooler winds of the ocean
The United States arsenal is a great distribute
| ing center for a vast area af country on this
| coast. The munitions of war which are brought
| here from points east of the Rocky mountains
are sufficient to supply the states Of California
| Nevada and Oregon, and the territories of Alas
| ka Washington Idaho and Arizona. This is not
mandatory, but simply place of deposit for
| military stores. Hence, an earnest petition of
| the citizens has been sent to Congress, asking
that body to declare that the arsenal at Benicia
Shall be used for the manufacture. construction.
| deposit and repair OF arms, accOutrements and
| munitions Of war. II Congress shall so enact
| the advantages to the public service and to this
community as well will be incaculable.
Benicia is fast becoming the center of the
| grain trade OF California for home and fOreIpn
consumption. This season has already seen
seventy-five ships loaded with wheat at this
| point, and there is enough still in store and in
| transit to the place to load hundred more
| ships Any vessel that can enter the Golden
| Gate can come up to this port with perfect ease
! and safety. There is a large English ship now
lying at the wharf named Garfield, and is draped
| in mourning in memory of our late and la
| mented President
Benicia has won the title of the sAthens of
| California" on account of its elaborate educa-
tiOnal facilities. The College of st. Augustine
| is located In retired part Of the town, and
oyerlooks the straits Of Carquinez, Mt. Diablo
S,,,,,
with its literary department thorough course
| OF military instruction. There are sixty acres
of land In the college enclosure devoted chiefly
to the cultivation of flowers and ornamental
trees and shrqbbery; The institution has for
its president Rev. John H. d. Wingfeld. DID,.
LID, bishop of the P. E. church. The same
| preate is the proprietor of st. Mary's Hall.
| female seminary of high character and beautiful
surroundings. in charge Ofthe Rev. S. d. Mans
field as rector, and Mrs. Mansfield as principal.
The Young Ladies' Seminary, founded by
| Mrs. Mary Atkins, of Cleveland Ohio, in 1859,
is crowded with pupils. 1t is under the
| auspices Of the Congregational church.
| st. GATHERINGS academy is conducted by the
! Sisters Of ST. Dominic and though under
Roman Catholic rule, its privileges are not
| denied to any of the religious denominations
Southern California is the true Italy of the
United States. 1t is perfect paradise compared
with the severe weather east of the Rockies at
| this season. Here Defenders are as pleasant "a
May in nOthern ATTITUDES. Fresh vegetables
| are gathered daily for dinner from the gardens.
| the surrounding fields are fragrant with flowers
and grasses, sind the farmers busy in filling the
| soil; and as to fire In our rooms, We can Ordi-
narily dispense with it without any serious in
| convenience. As l stood this morning on a
commanding eminence and gazed abroad at the
green valleys, the sunny hills and sparkling
waters spread out before me, felt that this
| bright and variegated landscape was eminently
typical Of that celestial land where Everlasting
spring abides and never whitening flowers"
W.