Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-20
,nr pos1.lN1ElLIcEMCER PUB. CO.
seattle. June 10 1883.


wgxrEaN RAM8LINGs.
uhs,rspoupxscE PosT -lHTELLIaxxczR.
8Ay BsRxARDlxo, CAL, Feb. l, "a.
The physical features Of this section
~ Southsrn California are somewhat
u.sulisr. Looking either north. east OF
.osth, high ranges Of mountains obstrucs
.hs visv. some Of the most promineIt
,.aks are covered with snow the yeal
roond. Along near the base Of the
uountains the land slopes toward the
,svsl plaiu in the broad valley. In ths
nountains there are narrow strips oi
Iaud susceptible Of cultivation. which
a.s used principally for the raising Of
potatoes.
Ths climate 10 ~ varied ~ are IL
phvsical features. 1t Is q stereOtyp ped
sxuression here that one can find any
kind Of climate desired, and that, too
within distance Of but four miles. Ul
in the near approach 10 the snowy
ueaks, loo from six 70 eight inches is
found on the lakes, and il put up fol
summer use in the valley. Strange a. 1t
NAV appear, yet it is true, the warmeat
locsti"n in winter 10 along the bench
lands at the base Of the mountains.
Only yesterday ws drove cot 70 visit the
favored sections lying in close proxim:
ity 10 the foothills. We found gardeh
PEAS, potatoes, tomatoes. and all kinds
of vegetation, green aud nourishinR,
and flowers Of tender patare blowing
over the hills. We gathered violets and
blusbells ~ fresh m we're ever seen IN
spring. Il 10 here where the earliest
fruits grow; peach trees in certain local
itiss are nov In bloom. Orange groves
In all their beauty flourish along the
foot Of the mountains. After getting
several miles out We come 70 locality
where, owing to the cool. damp atruOs-
phere, fruits are not uncommon In win.
ter, but ID 10 more difficult to have the
Citr0us fruits do 70 we'll. About seven
miles northeast Of this town We found
the uoot favors section Ne have visited
in all our travels for the raising of all
kinds of fruits, and With the most de-
liQhtful climate. Several new ditches
sxU In course Of Construction, which arc
being built with AN eve single 10 the
saving of water and 10 irrigate ~ much
land q possible. The d,tchss are lined
With stone and then oementsd, that NO
water can be wasted by seepaRe. In the
building Of these bitches the mountain
ridRos are tunnsled in some places, and
In others the ditch channel 10 carved out
along perpendicular cliffs, and thus the
water is carried out Of the rugged can
ZOOS Oh ~ the bench lands along the
base Of the mountain. Water il every
thing here, 40 70 speak; more valuable,
even, than tho land itself. The water
system 10 peculiar; being cold or divided
no BY the hours run. The use Of the
uAlsg contained in the ditch, which oar
~ some 800 inches. ia rated TO those
usinQ Il at from three to fO1r dollars per
AOur, and they are entitled 10 II every
ninth dAv. Other ditches rate other
vise, In proportion to the amount OF
water they carry and the length Of time
IN mnst slapsc before each one can
Avsit, The above applies to perpetual
uates rights, VI ich. when once acquired.
continue to all future time with NO addi-
lionAl expense except small tax 0oces-
NJ - ksep ths ditch in rspair.
IL locality above mentioned 10 being
mpidly improved by parties from the
EAsG. The land il If sandy loan and
vell saited for oranges, lines, lemons,
apsioots, peaches, appies. piums, olives
and 69s, and large orchards are being
~ cut.
Coming ON gradual descent to the
Dgvee lauds, we hnd, within distance
q nve miles, every appearance OF dif
tssvut climate. Tender vegetables aud
afAins are frost. bitten, and the orchards,
noeRA extensive, contain no citrous
h1l1a. Artesian water 10 abundant, and
- eOuntry shows evidence Of long Set
eDnenk HOme Of the old, original Nor
- esttlen are still here. We are told
e1At thers is at least ono Mormon settler
- vh0 to0k part in the Mountain
uoad0w massacre.
IAe climate Of this section of country
= oouewAat different from that nearer
- eoaboard, which 10 some sixty miles
osoant. The atmosphere 10 dryer; in
!lnG and fall the weather ID most de-
un.eul; temperature steady. the nights
- and the days clear. with . pleasant
eseooa II midsummer the days are
~ langing from 80 70 l05 degrees IN
0esaade for some hours: but the nights
~ pleAsant. The rain, what falls here,
.se IN the winter; the weather 10 mild,
-, vhen not raining. the days are clear
- II certain localities the nights are
uaAy, eometimes cold enough to form
W.n ice on still water. there are no
~ U winter when il 10 toe cOld Ia
Ss9 N the open air in shirt sleevee-
- ooss disagreeable features Of the
knef eere ale An occasional nOrthes,
49, y cold, heavy wind, somt times
wing fer several days, usually In the
49, months, and dust storms that
eoms at any time during ths year.
.o - fAvsred localities near the noun
AZ more sheltered from the winds.
Oooee o. destructive storms, it seems,
n enknovn here. House flies abound
yeo1 round, With slight sprinkle oi
e1ieoes and IDEAS, now and then; u
eeAef vsxatious insects there soem "a
= hst fev.
had, IN company with our brother
- mnily, . pleasant visit into the
Slne, some seven miles, b the
i ssoeaA dot Sprinsa The name orr
"a IRON mountain Of that name
~ me- of which 10 peculiar patton
& \. - g two in area, that il psrfectly
voile the surrounding facs Of the
I. ~ ssaln . covered with short growth
sAtanu. The shape Ut this peeQ
~ - y that Of Q 6int arrowhsad
= can b seen for many miles.
Seaed mountain read leads to tbs
vaieh Are located ssvesal hun
sss ~ above the valley. From thi,
ss : magnificent view 10 bad of th,
49, no9neAius, and, 20 the south
to0Qh the vide gateway tOvary
Ss..,sI IN. Many thousand aorss q
49,. .aed lie spread cot, carpeting tn
Sss s~rie0Atsd oolors. The dafl
soeaaRe OF orange groves and q,
rSS ~ - green zelda, intermin0ls<
- and ssttlements, and lare
E - gny-appearing. uncultivates
~ ~ s..s:aisang ths coming Of the host
~ - eooo cover the vaate placsa an,
-: n IN bloesom as the rose.
xs. eas2 - far-sssinQ prophet 20 I'll
-. be9nardina, neailing sher'
1iins.s . = the fertile valley, As
pointing upward, viii BE-
-. nean M proportions q 10 dis
tnoee hos salphur apeinQ
1Ias.1 ~. - y great resort uhsn Cd
; n Rsta his mammoth build
{ aed tho bath asraaes
esso order. TAs vaAss = I