Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-07-28

central california.

Our little party Of four bound southward
and homcwnrd, landing al the Oakland wharf
by the Q A. N. boat, speedily transferred then.
selves to the Southern Pacific train in readi
ness TO depart on its long trans continental
journey Amid the ringing Of locomotive
bells, three trains rolled out Of the large and
handsome depot, but at the end Of she narrow
strip Of filled in land which leads to the shore
a mile OF two distant, we parted company, our
train turning northward along the bay shore.
This course we followed for many miles,
stopping occasionally at small towns or villages
for the accommodation Of way passengers.
On our right hand were charming valleys
dotted with farm houses, and low, rolling,
graSs.covcrcd hills un our left the waters Of
San Francisco, san Pablo and Suisun bays,
the last two being as muddy as the Sacramento
and San Joaquin rivers, that empty into them.
a few schooner.rggcd scows were to be seen
making slow progress agains, the current.
In the distance arose the smoke Of steam
boat coming down from the Sacramento. The
scenery in the vicinity Of Port Costa has an
air Of pleasing quiet. Nothing could be more
peaceful than the view of the town of Bcnicia
the opposite shore, notwithstanding that a
detachment of Uncle Sans army is still
quarercd there.
At Antioch, back of which rises Mount
Diablo, we take a southeasterly course and
enter the great San Joaquin valley, passing
through the counties of Contra Costa, San
Joaquin, S,anislaus Merced, Fresno and into
Tularc As we travel south, the weather be-
comes warmer and the grass and grain in the
fields shorter, the southern part of the state
being in great distress from want of rain.
This lack of moisture is in a great measure
supplied by irrigation. The Sierra Nevada
mountains on the eastern side Of the valley,
whose submits clad in perpetual snow
send down numerous streams from their deep
canons, which are conducted upon the plains
in large canals and poured upon the thirsty
soil.
What wonderful change has been made
here within the last decade. There were then
very few settlements off the line of the newly
constructed railroad, and only here and there
the residence of a stock raiser. Thousands OF
cattle and mustangs and focks Of sheep fat.
tened upon the nutritious heritage, the former
roaming at will, being only gathered together
twice each year for marking, branding, etc.
Now the cattle are gone, having been driven
TO Nevada or Arizona, and thousands Of farms
contribute their quota.to the large grain export
of California. Some Of these farms OF
ranches are as large as a German prncipality.
i, is not uncommon TO see single field with
the fence on one side extending ten or fifteen
miles Everything is done on large scale
with the mos, improved machinery. The
ground is plowed by large gang plows, and is
seeded and narrowed at the same time. TIL,
heads Of the growing grain are cut of by
large header driven through the field and ar,
run into header wagons by an elevator, ant
these convey them to a stock where the graiI
is threshed by steam power, and sacked read,
for hauling TO the railroad But even this i
getting too slow. and combination heade
and threshcr is now used which cuts the grail
from the stalk, threshes it, and sacks it all a
one operation.
This valley is FIVE hundred miles in lcngtl
by fifty TO sixty in breadth, and occupies
great portion Of the interior Of the state. 1t
divided into three parts, the Sacramento, Sa
Joaquin and Tulare valleys, but it is reall
one vast level plain from northern to southern
limit. The southern portion is general
spoken Of as the@San Joaquin plain. Tn
first time the writer travelled down the wester
side of this valley, near the coast range
dwelling houses were twenty TO thirty mile
apart, and one individual was met VIII
expressed desire Il move to some me-
country, as it was getting too thickly settle
for him there. Poor man 1t is to be hope
that he has found "lodge in some va
Wilderness" where loot Of man will not trea
until he is gathered TO his fathers. At th'
time aeet.iooted antelope could be seen skin
ming over the plain, and here the writer mac
his first Intellectual attempt to shoot one !
night the only sounds to he heard were Il
lonely, mournful cry Of the burrowing owl ar
the night heron, and the dismal howl of Il
coyote OF prairie wolf. To-day the lev
plain is checkercd by orchards vineyards Al
grain fields, and villages and schoolhous
sprinkle the surface and discover the presen
OF civilization. What will this valley
twenty OF fifty years hence' What will
century make OF it1 1t would no, have to
populated SO thickly as some European cou
tJes, and less productive ones, to accomm
date and sustain half Of the present populat'
of the United States
As the train bore US on southward throul
Fresno county. the sun dropped behind I
western range and ere We reached the timber
region along Kings river, near the line
TulaIe county, nigh, was upon us. And tw
well. This section had felt the want Of II
most severely, and there was not suffice
growth Of grass to hide the bare cart
Nothing can be more drcay than the Y
settled portion Of these plains in the d
season when no green blade is to he set
save An occasional patch OF sal, grass OF ak
weed.
Al the little station OF Goshen are 1
branch roads, and here We lost one OF {
party, the proprietor Of the Visalia Delta. a
a" shipma,e Of the writer ON that journa
few years ago. lie took another train
Nisalia, and We continued ON To the next tov
Tulare, where We too, left the cars. Ne
no sooner stepped upon the platform than
were recognized by friends, dark as |, "
and they were all that we smembered. J
town and the surrounding country
changed; the houses were different; lanes
grown into streets; many Of the streets
become tree -bordered aycnuesi the spirit
s,n..soxenent in fact. had been " max