The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-05
ESTABLISHED AUGUST "a, 1862.
which, phe is rapldly taxing pre.e .emlnenee.

whlchBhe t5 rapidly taking pre- e-eminenee'
This valley is one Of the so called grape
and wine districts OF California, but not 80
famous asthe Los Angeles district. One oi
the pioneers Of the industry lives here,
General il. N. Naglee, an officer in the
Mexican warand in the late war, anda grad
uate OF West Point-a relative OF the militia.
ry Negleys Of Pennsylvania, although he
doesn't spell his name the same way. His
vineyard and wine cellars are within the
corporate limits Of the city. He com.
meneed the business quarter OF q century
ago and was long time experimenting, at
a heavy expense, before he made success
OF his specially, which is brandy making.
He has now In his cellars 100000 gallons
OF brandy, much OF II ten years old, and
some oft still older. He claims that 1t isthe
only absolutely pure brandy in the world.
He uses Eve gallons OF wine In distill-
ing one gallon OF brandy, and It Is as white
as alcohol. He sells 1t at s. so to $40 90 per
gallon, and supplies calls for 1t from all
parts OF this country as well as from En-.
rope. He uses but two varieties Of grape,
the Reislipg and the Bergundy.
another famous vineyard hereaboutsi Is
that Of Charles De Franc, Frenchman,
who lives seven miles from this place. He
also has very extensive cellars. saw two
casks that contained 1000 gallons each Of
wine. Hehas a national, and also an inter-
national reputation as q wine maker.
His white wine. OF the vintage OF 1874,
which he sells at So per case twelve quart
boitles) is o great iavorite with connois.
seuIs. His crop this year will be scarcely
moro than third OF crop, owing to q
scald which the grapes got in June. he
said TO me, "if we only had little more
moisture in GUNNER in this climate We
would be all right for grapes"
DE FRANCS PLACE.
The drive out to De Francs place is
through very thickly settled country-a
succession Of small fruit farms. DR..
Thorne said to me, as we went along,
"You will observe the character OF the
houses-how much this tells the story of
prosperity on the part Of their owners"
| asked the Doctor about the climate Of
Santa Clara Valley from q physician's
standpoint. He did not consider il good
winter climate for delicate people, espe-
cially those with bronchial or pulmonary
troubles. He said the weather was too
damp and raw. lie also did not think
that it was good climate for people suf
ering from nervous troubles at any season
OF the year. II Is too stimulating on the
nervous system. There is also good deal
OF rheumatism in this part OF the State as
at San Francisco and other parts, and not
a liltls catarrh.
While We were at De Francs we saw
curious specimen Of the hybrid tendency OF
plants. He had planted wild grape and
after it was bearing he had grated on it q
domestic variety. The pol!ens of the two
varieties had sexualizsd and the leat OF the
wild grape had taken on the domestic siza
and peculiarly, and the fruit also had
become domesticated.
Among the pleasant people whom have
met here is the family OF Mr.. ]. NJ. Davis,
formerly of Jefferson county, Ohio. Mr..
Davis is the bYotherin-law OF ex-senator
Sharon, and the father OF the estimable
wife Of our friend Charley Mccoy. He Is
not only man Of wealth, buG Of practical
philosophy, and gets, apparently, a great
deal OF enjoyment outof lie as he goes
along. Although he is an ardent Californ.
ian he said to me that it cost family fully
twice as much to live in San Jose as in
Wheelinr or S:eubenyilIe. awe