The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-05-06

Of liberty, peak 1000 feet high, it's
top APPARENTLY kissing the clouds, ie
also very interesting to behold. In
imagination, the reader will now ac-
company me back again to Ureka,
from whence we started to make
this interesting trip through tho ro-
nowped valley OF all valleys, the
Yosemite.
At Ureka I remained about week
and on about July %, 1885 I left
aud travelled by stage to Iaqua, a
place 80 miles east OF Uroka 10
Humboldt county, to visit the fam-
lily Of Isaac Gift, cousin Of my faith
er. Isaac had died o few years
previous, his widow is still living
and residing with tho family. They
we're very glad to see me, though
my coming wassnot unexpected to
them, as they had previous notice
While remaining with them was
treated very kiudly-they did not
know how to do enough for me- I
was tho only relative from Pennsyl>
vania that ever visited them in their
remote home, the Pacific Slope"
Mrs. Gift is of kind aud social dis
position. While sojourpipg with
them l was quite at home one of
the sons is an officer in one Of the
Pacific Coasting Vessels The fam-
lily owues and ocupios large Ranch
aud are in comfortable circumstau-
ces. The country around Iaqna ia
somewhat broken and uneven, there
is not much grain raised. Grazing
is carried on extensively. Mr.. Isaac
Gift was a son OF Jacob Gift, who
WAS born aud raised on the farm
now occupied by Adam B. Walter, 3
miles West from Middleburgh.
Where he was n young man, he and
three Of his botEers and one sister,
to wit 4: John, Michael, Henry and
Polly with their families emigrated
to Stephenson county, III. Isaac
married aud fiually moved to Hum
boldt county, California, where he
died as already stated After spend
ing about week with them, left
with much reluctance, but circum~
stances would not permit me to re-
main any longer. From Iaqua
came back to Ureka, and from thence
in steamer down to San Francisco
"a distance of about 500 miles.
This city / have already noted in u
former letter. 1t is the great Mes
tropolis OF California it has good
harbor, aud its shipping facilities
are very great. The approaches in
a steamer to the city from the bay
are magnificent. The city is built
on sloping grourd, leaning toward
the bay aud is spread out before
you like panorama when once
seen it makes lasting impression.
From San Francisco l made trips
to different points Of the state,
among the most importont points
we're Merced in Merced Co. This
place is noted for its big ranches
there is one here containing $4,000
acres belonging to one company
this is farming on u large scale. !
also visited Sam -Mateo, Santa Cruz,
Chsco, Stockton, Los-Augeles, and
many other cities and large towns
on tho pacific slope.
On Feb Goth 1886, l left San
Francisco aud came to Fort Worth,
Texas ; it was ride Of 4 days and
several nights, over the Southern
Paci nc II. Il. The distance was
fully 1000 miles. At the time ]
made this trip the fare was very low
as there was, much opposition be-
tween several competing lines. This
Road passes through Arizona, New
Mexico and Western Texas. The
two former, at least where the road
passes through, found to be al
most desert, especially as to in
and the latter was not
much better. Fort Worth is q real
nice city of 10000. From Fort
Worth | came to Dallas, city about
so miles east of Fort Worth. Dallas
is a fine city with its 7 or 8 railroad
connections it is located in O fine
and level scope Of country. Land
here brings good price, but in
Western Texas there is great deal
of wild land at cheap rates. There
10 a regular stagnation Of business
here now on account OF the strike
it is very dull save the excitement
caused by the strike. Some OF your