Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-05-12
q ic Rtpnbiirar.
VATERTowN, WIS.,, MAY II, 1886.
From the Pacific Slope.
SAN FRANCISCO, April "a, 1ss

y
were heading northward at P. NJ, and after
running all night through the mountains OF
which we gave you bur meagre description in
our last, we emerge from the canyon into the
San joaquin Valley at 5 A NJ. California is
noted for every thing being on grand scale,
and we are told that this is the most extensive
valley il the world, and comprises an area of
q, 900 SO miles. The railroad runs some 200
miles almost equi distant from the Sierra Nevada
and the coast ranges either range being ap-
parently not more than ten to fifteen miles from
the railroad, but here again magnificent dis
tances' steps III, rs we are told that this valley
averages 100 miles wide. The coast range of
mountains are free from snow at present, but
the Sierra Nevadas are covered down to the
snow line. Fresnow is the first town of any i'm
portance we came to, and we had about made
up our minds to make the Yosemite Valley trip
from this station, and the train stopped here
thirty minutes for breakfast we had some little
time to talk Yosemite We found that We were
some 100 miles from this wonderful valley, and
the best we could do was $500 each for the
round trip, which would scarcely be one-half
the cost of the entire trip, and would take at
least fifteen days TO get back to Fresnow. We
begged to he excused, and jumping on our
train tried to ''shake the dust from our feet"
MADEIRA is a thriving villge, and is the terminus
of flume 90 miles long, aad is used for trans
porting lumber from the vicinity OF the Fresnow
grove ofsbig ,trees. / am satisfied that in one
hours ride IN this lovely valley, saw more
wild geese than l have ever seen in all my
ife-time before. We arrived at Stockton at
sOon, and as matter of choice we take the
steam boat from here to San Francisco, distant
IL miles Stockton has population of some
$4,000, and so far as we could see in a ramble of
.our hours, is remarkable for nothing except
bad streets.
Dinner is universally the evening meal in
this country. and is usually served from to
O'clock so after dinner on the boat we listen for
some two hours to very fine music in the ladies
parlor, after which We retire to our state-room
where we enjoy good nights sleep and awake
up in the morning at o'clock at San Francisco
We were anxious to see the largest hotel in the
world, and accordingly registered at the Palace.
This is truly a hotel on grand scale, and occu-
pies the entire block. 1t is SIX stories high and
contains OLA numbered guest-rooms besides
parlors and employees rooms. 1t has a court
covered by glass dome, where carriages are
driven into for the convenience of guests, and is
lighted by electricity. This magnificent structure
was built by Mr.. Ralston, who committed sui
eide on account of financial difficulties. Our
first day III the city we spent in Golden Gate
Park and the Cliff House and Park. The Golden
Gate and Cliff House parks are well worth seeing,
although they are yet III their infancy. In
the proper place forgot to mention that the cost
of the Palace Hotel, including the furniture, was
$70oG.0G0. The Golden Gate, proper is about 81 of
mile wide, which will admit the largest ship
to one of the best and safest harbors in the
world. Our curiosity prompted us to see
French Man of War which laid out in the bay
some two miles from the wharf. We accordingly
chartered "a small boat and put to sea-" We
found that the officers could not talk very good
English, but treated US in a very courteous
manner. We next visited Laurel Hill Cemetery.
which is exclusively for Protestants; then the
Catholic cemetery, and lastly the Masonic
cemetery. They are all very nice, but the Ma
sonic cemetery takes the lead. III the Masonic
cemetery about the first inscription that en-
gagged our attention was the following:
All you that chance this grave to see,
If you can read English, may Learn Of me.
Nv travelled, read aud studied mankind to know;
And what most interested them here below,
The present, the future state and love OF power
Envy, fear, love, or hate occupied each wakeful
hour;
All would teach, but few would understand;
The greater part, know little OF either GOD
Love one another, d very good maxim, all agreed;
Learn, labor and wait. ii you would succeed.
In the five divisions Of the world have been,
The cities OF Pekin and ConStantinople L have
seen.
On the first railway I rode before others were
made,
Saw the first telegraph operate so useful to trade
In the first steamship. the Atlantic l eros sed,
Suffered six shipwrecks, where lives were lost.
IL the first steamship to California did sail,
And went to CHINA by the first Pacific mail;
Alter many endeayoIS my affairs TO fix,
In short time will occupy less than two by-six
Hugh WhiHeU, Pioneer.
Your readers must judge of the merits of the
poetry themselves, the author of which 1 am
told is still living in San Francisco. Next we
visited Telegraph Hill, which is reached by
Cable grip cars running up grade of 1000 feet
to the mile. On the top of this eminence
there is U. s. Observatory which we gain ad-
mission to by paying fee of ten cents. From
this we command a fine view of the entire
harbor and surrounding country. Here is six
foot telescope which we tried hard to see
WATERFOWL with, as calico has been transformed
into silk with US, but we slgnally failed We
ACAt fIoIlSO NOOQMOItao Wu1Cu Is ny
far the best in the city. San Francisco has
population of some 25O.000. of which IS, 900 are
Heather Chinee." The city has some very fine
residences and business blocks, which would
be no discredit to the Garden City" but the
streets are poorly laid ont We were told by all
means to visit China Town, which after pro-
curing guide we started at o'clock in the
evening, and saw Chinese life in all its phases
from afdueuce to abiect poverty, and for more
minute description of China Town we refer you
to the Sleeper brothers, who I presume saw
about what we did. We next took a ferry-boat
and crossed the bay to Oakland, distance of
nine miles. Oakland has population of some
10000, and it seems to be quite a busy place.
Before leaving the city we took run down the
Santa Clara Valley to San Jose, which we pro-
nounce the loyeliest city and valley we have
ever seen. We now take the Union Pacific
train for Denver via. Che, enne More anon
J.G.F.
Mr.. Editor-Many of your readers
may be benefited By the knowledge of
such an excellent remedy as DR.. Jones'
Red Clover Tonic. which produces the