Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-28

Maine, written by Mr. John n. Stevens
General Agent for the Ktna Life Insurance
Company in the Pacific States, is so interest
ing that we, by permission. lay it before our
readers.
SAN Francisco, CAL. Mar. 10th, 1885.
got back from my trip 70 the southern
part OF the State last Tue-day | had auire a
pleasant trip and.of course. as it was all new
found 1t quite interesting. | will nv and
give you little description of it, Ieft San
FRANCISCO the 18th of Feb. at o'clock p. NJ.
crossed the bay To Oakland aud took the
train on the South Pacific k. R., for Modes,
to, which was my FIRST stopping place When
we got into the country noticed the farmer.
were plouehing and sowing grain, and the
nelds and pastures were as green as those of
Maine in June. The pastures were covered
with yellow flower in bloom, which look.
in the distance like our buttereup. but il is
different variety OF flower.
got to Modesto, which is about ia miles
from San Francisco, at about $50 p. NJ.
Modesto Is in the midst Of about the best
wheat producing country in the United
States. 1t is in the San Joaquin Valley, and
very level. There are no stones and the soil
Is black loan. very light and porous.
spent the next day there, and at $50 T. NJ.
took the train for Fresno. where / arrived at
1870, midnight. This is another lively lit
tie town Of about 300 inhabitants, in thi.
same valley. The valley is 100 miles or 80
wide here. On the east are the Sierra Neya-
da Range OF mountains, in full sight, and
their submits snow crowned. On the west
between US and the Pacific Ocean lies the
Coast Range, while the valley is as level as
barn floor. A great deal of fruit is raised
here, peaches, apricots, prunes and grapes
Great quantities of wine and raisins are also
made. Maine colony a located there
but did not think to inquire about them
| took the train at 1890 A. NJ. for Los
Angeles | had berth in the sleeper and
went to bed and slept quite soundly awoke
about A. NJ. and knew by the putting If the
locomotives that we were going up the noun
tains. dressed as quickly as possible aud
went out on the platform of the cars. There
were two engines on the train and il was all
they could do to haul US up the steep grades
1t was a beautiful morning, and the scenery
was very fine. The road wound iround aud
round the mountain sides, some times almost
doubling upon itself. In one place il makes
a complete loop IN going few miles going
completely round a mountain, and eros sing
itself several hundred feet higher up
cars one can almost the whole loop be-
hind. saw the sun rise three or four times
that morning. Il would be seen over the top
of one mountain, and the train moving along
would bring another higher one between, and
so hide it About so A. NJ. we got to the
summit, and then il was q down graie to
Moiave-pron ounced as though spelled Mo.
have. accent on second syllable. and broad
sound of "a. where we arrived about 8 A.
NJ. and stopped tor breakfast This is q
station on the edge of the great Mojsve des-
ert II is where the Atlantic & Pacific
Railroad branches off across the continent,
connecting with the Atchinson, Santa Fe &
Topeka. After leaving Mojave, we run
through desert country until nearly noon.
Nothing growing but Yucca trees, kind of
cactus, from which, it has been recently dis
covered, very good quality Of paper can be
made. About noon We pass through tunnel
in the San Fernando mountains. | do not
know how long II Is, but we were five min
utes in passing through. When we get on
the other side the country begins to look n
little more habitable, and at l.30 p. NJ. we
arrive in Los Angeles, 4SS miles from San
Francisco. II is hot and dusty. As go up
to the hotel see orange trees loaded with
yellow fruit, andHowers of all kinds in bloom.
of late, and has now from 10000 to 10000
inhabitants 1t is in the midst of a great
fruit producing country, especially oranges,
lemons and grapes.
got here Friday Sunday morning | go
OUT TO walk on the hill back of the city. II
is Wsshingtons Birthday. | cannot realize it,
il is so warm, and the air is filled with the
perfume OF flowers. Presently, | hear some
bells ringing; they sound like large COW bells,
and know at once that they belong to the
old mission church here, about which have
so often read. Ga different points along the
coast south of San Francisco, the Spaniards,
more than hundred years ago, established
Jesuit missions, and many of the adobe
buildings are still standing. There is one
here in very good repair. In the tower still
hang the three bells. one large, and the other
two smaller, which were probably brought
from Spain more than a century ago. 1t is
still occupied as Catholic church, and |
followed the crowd in. The worshippers
are mostly Spaniards or Mexicans Swarthy
men with broad-brimmed hats. were kneeing
devouty, while the priests were chanting
the services in Latin. Chinese woman
with her baby on her back, had strayed in and
was looking curiously on. Take it all togeth-
err it was novel experience to me. stayed
few minutes and then went out and took a
walk through the old part of the town. which
is like taking trip into the heart of Mexico.
Old adobe buildings, occupied wholly by
Mexicans and Spaniards, abound, and one
could very easily imagine himself in Mexico.
But it is most church time, so | go up into
town and go to the Congregational church by
invitation of gentleman with whom have
become acquainted. There is a Baptist church
here, but as had no acquaintance with any
one. went with my friend. They have a
very pretty little church with nice yard.
There was row of Gala lilies planted clear
round the church, and all in bloom. 1t
looked very pretty After dinner | took the
cars and went down to San Gabriel, nine miles,
by invitation from Mr.. and Mrs, Sewall.
found them waiting for me at
the station with their team and
thew seemed very glad to see me.
Their house is in the midst of an orange
grove. The next day being observed as q
sort of holiday. they persuaded me to stay
over. They took me all about the country !;
| rode through miles and miles of orange
groves loaded with fruit, which is very plenty
this wear In the afternoon we went up to a
ranch owned by a man BY the name OF Rose ;
II is very large. They were picking and
shipping . carload of oranges day. and had
been for three weeks. 1t seemed as though
they had hardly made hole in the fruit so
abundant was il He has also one of the
largest wineries in the world. He has 5000