The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-03-21
AN EARTHLY PARADISE.

a Picture to Make Man Sigh to Leave
che Cold NorthIand and Bask in tho
Lap of Eternal summer.
In visiting Southern California l acct
dentally stumbled upon little paradise
nestled in the mountains where Los An
geleS, San Bernardino and San Diego
counties meet. 1t is valley of some
10000 acres, with the most beautiful
mountain scenery surrounding it. But
the gem of the valley is the lake, the
only one in this southern region, which
lies in the center throwing back the in
verted image of the many-colored
mountains in the background. First is
a long train of cars with curling smoke
on the California Southern Railroad
which runs along the shore for dist
ance of two or three miles. Then como
the low foothills which are near enough
to show the color of rocks, earth and
mountains Chen come mountains. The
distance o. each range must be judged
by its tint of blue or pink, and towering
far above all, the grand old snow
capped peaks at which you will look
second and a third time to realize that
they are a tumble of ice and snow in
stead of white, leecy clouds Inverted
and faithfully mrrored in this beautiful
lake, are San Antonio (Old Baldy), San
Bernardino (Greyback) and San Jacinto
mountains, capped with eternal snow
surrounded by semi-tropics. Around
the lake are groups of timber, mostly
china and sycamore. Further back is the
usual amount of white sage, NORWOOD
and grease-bush. until the foot of the
mountains is reached, where commence
the moss-covered live oaks, and further
up their sides the pines and redwood,
native to this coast.
On the west side are sharp, rugged
mountains, towering almost over the
lake, with table lands on top, almost
to the ocean. From them flow
beautiful canon streams of crystal
water to the lake. Some of them
are steeps and rocky to their very
mouths while others are open and full
,of sunshine. In one steep granite canon
there are three forks. All have streams
of about the same size, and pour over
bedrock i'll separate streams, falling
into the same pool $50 feet below. The
main feeder of the lake, however, is the
San Jacinto river, which has its origin
in the crown of the San JacintO noun
tains, eighty or one hundred miles
away, and empties into the lake on the
east side, within a mile of the outlet,
which doubles back and empties into
the Santa Ana river.
Near the shore of the lake, and in the
little valley through which the outlet
passes, is a wonderful group of hot and
cold mineral springs, about two hundred
jim number. Of those which / tested
were sui phur, soda, magnesia, tin. iron,
salt, alum. arsenic, borax, and white
sulphur. One large hot sulphur spring
has for a neighbOr a fresh-water spring
almost ice cold. Such groups are not
uncommon on this coast, but they are
uncommon on the shore of beautiful
lake in such delightful Indian sum
mer" climate, surrounded by thousands
of acres of California's best fruit land,
beds of coal, mines of precious metals,
protected from the rawness of the sea-
breeze, yet within sound of its angry
pillows; protected from the hot wind of
death Valley" yet within sight of its
fiery heat
Such springs, such lake, with such
grand surroundings, old Indian mortars
and painted rocks in its canons and
around its shores, | say are very I'M
common; and doubt if such another of
natures garden spots exists in the
world. Here in San Diego County
amongst its millions of wild flowers, its
mountains, its mines, and canOns, | will
always remain. Here | will fish, hunt
deer, mountain sheep, bear and wild
honey; here | will rear my boys and
girls; my oranges. pomegranatcS, olives,
my fine stock. Here [ will collect my
cabinets of animals, minerals. different
variety of water fowl which frequent
the lake. pressed flowers and plants in
this, natures laboratory. Sitting in the
shadow of my own vine and fig tree, |
will watch with my field-glass the cold
Billiards of the mountains, the hot,
suffocating sand storms of the desert,
or listen to the angry Pacific in its
winter storms. Here | will invite my
friends to spend their winters in this
little paradise, enchanted by its mirror
lake, golden oranges, flowers, humming
birds, butterflies and sunshine. -EtSj-
moro (C0l. Cor sI'O{edO Blade