The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-09-17
THE CALIFORNIA TRIP.
From my Diary)
by MRS. W. ". PHELPS,


August nth was excursion day for Sacra-
mcnto We went by boat up the bay severaI
miles To Vallejo, where we took the train and
passed on through the Napa valley where
grain fields ana cvergrecns, orchards and vine
yards greet us on either side. AT Napa u ban
quet had been prepared in the grove of the
court yard, Just II short distance from the de
pot We stopped here AN hour or more and
| then proceeded on our way la 81. Helena,
hich has II population of s.ioo The town is
growing rapidly they say, and it's grape and
wine interests constitute its leading source of
| business. There are more than one hundred
wine cellars in the Napa valley, ana during the
season of 1885 these made up nearly 301,0O0
gallons of wine,
Tn the way we passed by extensive vineyards
and by the Soldiers Home. Reaching St
Helena at O'Clock, the band led the way To n
grove oi live oaks where we heard speeches
from Logan, GOV. Alger, of Mich, and then
all proceeded to the boun,ful dinner and
fruit. la II short time we went ON our way
again, had To go back to Napa, then north to-
ward Sacramento. our tram had two engines
AMI Is ears and there was another train fol.
lowing Us, We reached Sacramento at $50 p
IN. and the town was out en- masse To receive
they were packed with people and teams. Car
riagrs were waiting To take the ladies ami the
gentlemen marched in The procession. The
streets were finely decorated, ana rs we passed
the Capitol building il was brilliantly lighted
up AMI il showed oil beautifully The grounds
surrounding the capitol are lovely. When we
reached the Horticultural Hall we saw II royal
feast awaiting us. Tables were MI provided
WI hai nd pu pf m
the center was II raised platform on which was
the table for Gen. Logan ana party. After
supper several speeches were made.
Places of lodging nj hotels and private resi-
dcnccs wore provided free by the city and af-
ter the fireworks carriages took us To our diff
fcrcnt places at about IL o'clock. The next
morning we went through the Capitol and
stayed some time in both Senate and Assembly
which were I'm session, then we climbed the
stairs nearly to the dome and had good view
of the city. Sacramento ID beautifully situat-
ed and the surrounding country is so level
that we can see many miles. The drives are
beautiful and many of the streets are shaded
nearly across them by the long rows of trees
on both sides. At Up. IN. we started for San
Francisco, reaching there before night
Aug. IL several of the party who accom-
panied us west started for home, sailing on
the boat Mexico for Portland ana thence on
the N. r. X. Il. While in San Francisco we
did not fail to visit Chinatown, which now oc-
cupics what was formerly the most fashion
able part of the city. Fully ten blocks are now
occupied by Chinese, and we were told that
they number about 10000 i'm the city. The
Globe Hotel building, which was II irst-class
hotel i'm 1860 and accommodated 800 guests, is
now occupied by 1900 Chinese. They live in
cellars as well as over roofs and still make
more room by constructing rude balconies
which ovcrhang the narrow streets. We visit
cd their stores, joss-houses, thcatcr, restau-
rants markets, and workshops IN the day
time, and one evening following guide we
passed down through dark, narrow hall ways,
turning corners here ami there, passing their
opium dcns, and finally coming up stairs and
out onto the street In many of tho places
which open on to the street we could see them
gambling Sunday, Aug. 18th We attended
church both morning and evening
We haye now four days before we start for
home. We visited again the Woodward Gar
dens, for a person cannot do them justice in
one day. Also the Golden Gate Park where
we went through the conservatory among the
various tropical plants and trees. From here
we went 10y motor car To tho Cliff House. where
from the western porch we watched the sea-
lions on the rocks for some time. It'salOw
able now to kill some occasionally. They
weigh from aOO to Zoo pounds, and il has been
estimated that around those rocks they eat
1870 pounds OF fish daily We wandered along
the beach and saw n part of the hull Of ship
that was wrecked on the shore four years ago
Then going northward from the Clif House
along the rocky coast, we descended nearly to
the ocean and watched the waves as they
dashed against the rocks. There is something
very fascinating In the ocean, and one can
watch il for hours. We were only II short dist
ancc from the Golden Gate and saw ships pas
sing In. Next day we visited the Mint, which
is II very imposing building, built Of granite
and sandstone. In the reception room at the
right of the entrance, wa were shown very
rare collection al old coins. some many hun
drcds of years old. There we saw two gold
spoons taken from SOlomons Temple, tho
Sheklc, Farthing, Irish Dollar, etc, We were
shown through the entire process Of refining
and making the gold and silver coins. Tho
coinage of gold and silver last year was over
s23, OO0OOO. We went tn the Mission Dolores, |
which Is the most ancient and historical monu- |
ment in the city. This was founded by Father
Junipro Sierra In l7T0. The new Mission church
stands by the side Of the old one, and we went
through both and the cemetery connected
with them, which is the oldest in the State. |
One day, taking Suffer street car, we went
the length of that route and visited the ceme- |
teries, which contain some very beautiful and
expensive monuments and vaults. Coming |
back by California street we passed the most
arristocratic residence part of the city, among |
which are tho mansions of the railroad and
miniag kings commonly called Mob Hill.
Aug. Goth We started for homo on board OF
the Queen of the Pacific, which has crew Of
40 men and dS0 passengers and carries large |
amount of freight for different places on Puget
Sound At 1920 we bid good bye to our Cali |
fornia friends and soon pass out of the Golden
Gate and upon the grand old Pacific We were |
three days in reaching Victoria The first day |
the ocean was smooth and we saw land part |
of the time But the next day the sea grew
quite rough and by night was angry. few
got sca-sick the first day, but more the second
On our way we passed i'm sight Of Cape Blancc |
and saw several whales and dolphins. Sunday |
afternoon we passed into the straits, and In
tho evening reached Victoria, VancOuvers Is |
land.