Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-11
FROM SAN DIEGO.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AS SEEN
By A SACRAMENTAN.
A Trip to Mission Valley-Railroad
Matters-Fine Sport at Ocean
Fishing.

Fishing.
Correspondence Of the REooRD-CNIoE.l
II was a beautiful morning that my
friend had chosen for a drive to Mission
valley, and we were soon speeding along
at a two-forty gait. II really seemed no
time ere We were at old Sati Diego, dis
lance of four Idiias. The place seems
gone to the bad y entirely. The old
adobes are crumbling with age, few being
occupied The population does not exceed
$50 souls. Some of the walls OF the first
county Jail built in this section are still
standing. The Jail was built many years
ago. and when completed its first occupant
was the individual who was Sheriff of the
county at the time of its being erected. He
was defaulter to the tune of $4,000. and
was arrested and sentenced to imprisOn-
ment After serving two years, some OF
his friends procured his pardon. He still
lives at old San Diego and has become
well-to-do and respectable citizen.
A mile farther on and we enter Mission
valley. which can be reached by two ways,
one route being by Old San Diego, and the
other across the mesa. This latter route is
much the shortest, and my visit to the val
lev was by Old San Diego, returning by
wav of the mesa. The valley is lovely
spot. It's length perhaps twenty miles, its
width varying from one TO three miles.
throughout its center flows in d serpentine
manner the San Diego river, a miserable,
| dwarfish stream, with the treacherous
ouicksand for a bottom. When heavy
storms occur in the mountains this river
gets to an immense depth and width, but
its present appearance makes it hard TO re-
aliZe that fact. The valley is completely
hemmed in by high hills, the land sloping
toward the river.
MANY OLIVE GROVES
Are 10 be seen, and some few fruit trees
while here and there is a barley field. The
feed remains green the entire year. and q
great portion of the valley is therefore used
more for grazing than for other purposes
The land is excellent, and prices range from
| $50 to $500 per acre.
Since my last letter disappointment, misery
| and all else unpleasant, has tainted me,
| for then being 50 premature in my eXult-
atoms over the climate of San Diego.
represented it as being liken unto "perpet-
ual spring time" and so it was at that par
| ticular time. The air was soft and mild
while the nights were cool and clear; but
since the 18th | have found it just as
| changeable as could be found anywhere
! with thunder and lightning, wind and rain
| OF course it is the month of March, and all
| allowance should be made, therefore | cease
| my complaints for the time being. dc
not know what | would have done had |
| by accident or otherwise, have met during
| that spell OF bad weather any friends from
! Sacramento who might have been in
| huenced by my letters to come hither fol
! health. | would certainly have felt much
mortified. Yet, perhaps, | could smOotl
! things over by repeating that oft-toid story
! that these changes were something quite
unusual-entirely beyond the comprehen
sion of We oldest settler Still, am afraid
notwithstanding my excuses, would be
| considered as one who handled the trutl
carelessly, no matter how often or how hare
| might strike my breast for repentance
| The weather has again settled the rain ha.
| come and gone, and we are once more il
the enjoyment the Italian-lil,e climate
for which San Diego is so much n01rd
! The coming of the rain was a God-send
| and was the cause OF much rejoicing OF
every side. All seem happy now, and lively
| times arc anticipated from ROW on. hope
so, for times here have been very quiet.
RAILROAD MATTERS, ETC.
Many strangers are visiting US; som,
have come 10 stay, while others just take ;
look and go. Everybody is talking rail
road The san Diegoans think they So
their fOndest hope about being realized, il
! the shape OF a through railroad line to thi!
! place. The California Southern is rushing
things with vengeance. 1t has between
500 and 500 Chinese employed in th'
/ Caion Pass at grading. The average grad,
! of this road will hardly exceed 100 feet Il
the mile. Track-laying will commence
some time in July, and the company ex
poets to be running through trains by Jan
| uarv /, 1886 General Manager \. \. Rob
| inson, of the \. & p, accompanied by hi:
| Chief Engineer and one or two others
arrived here in a private car quite mcX
pectedly recently. Mr.. Robinson has beei
On tour of inspection over the severa
| roads of which his company has control
! His stay was short, departing as quietly a.
! he came. J. \. Victor, the genial SGperin
tendent of the California Southern, accom-
! panied Mr.. Robinson from Daggett, takins
him across the sandy district, by private
conveyance, as far as San Bernardino. anC
| thence hither by rail
| | was one of a party who went on thu
! yacht Restless by invitation Of Captain
| Niles a few days since with the object t.
fish for barracuda. We lett our mooring>
about $50 \. NJ. For 4 while. our progress:
! up the bay was very slow, the wind being
80 inconstant, at times leaving us in per
| feet calm. BY 10 clock, however. we were
| lying over the water in gallant style, an(
thus We sped along until we were some
miles out on the grand old ocean. never
saw so many geese and ducks. The geese
were OF the brant variety, and the finest
| eating in the market. One of our party had
! with him a very line shotgun, and for {
long time | tried to capture brant but
10 approach within shooting distance wa,
! impossible. kept my patience maniully
| until finally, patience ceaSin9 TO be vlr-
! tue, ! said that there was nothing nicer
| than goose stuffed with sage and onions
when you once get the goose At 11;45
A. V. we were well out in deep water and
sailing with great force. Lines were now
| got ready-eight in all. Our bait consisted
| of piece of white rag securely fastened
| round the hook. When all was in readi-
| ness the Captain gave the command to
| heave our lines, and they We're out in an
| instant and we were
TROLLING FOR BARRACUDA.
| Each one was watching closely, and hop
| ing for the honor of catching the first fish.
y fish was seen to Jump from the water
some distance from our hooks, and the
| Captain remarked that we would soon have
our fun. All We're anxious and trembling
with excitement. when suddenly one deaf
ching yell. like the cry of a war-whoop
from a hundred indians. broke from the
party. They bite, Pull quick, Look
out for your line there, " Whew, Ain I
We catching them ," and many other ex-
CARNATIONS Of excitement were heard min
gled together. After few minutes, all settled
down TO Solid work, and III one hours time
We had hauled in lS5 barracuda, and some
mackerel. One of the party caught fine
saltwater salmon. 1t weighed l9l pounds.
aud he thought it was young whale. We
now changed our course, and were soon
homeward bound. At ] P. NJ. We were on
shore, each with fine barracuda, dressed