Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-11-20

Clara, another old Spanish Indian town
is situated in Santa Clara county, about
three miles from San Jose. The country
between the two towns is thickly set
tied and highly improved. Some beau
tiful residences and ornamented places
skirt the wide and delightful Alameda,
an old Spanish highway, one hundred
feet wide with row of old willows on
either side, and third row along the
middle thereof. This highway connects
the two towns, and is most beautiful
way made famous by age andits antiqui-
ty. Many of these old willows. like the
ancient people that planted them, and
walked over the way between them,
have died and passed away. Occasion
ally another tree has taken the place,
but the beauty and symmetry are want
ing. Santa Clara is the seat of Santa
Clara College, one of the oldest and
best equipped educational institutions
of the state. 1t is under the supervis-
ion of the Jesuit Fathers. Near this
institution saw an old cross that was
set up and worshipped by the early
settlers. 1t is still venerated and held
sacred by many who frequent the place
now. Near Santa Clara is the Univer-
sity of the Pacific, college under the
supervision of the Methodist church 1t
too is provided with fine buildings and
grounds, and is winning reputation
by the work it is accomplishing. There
is also a home for the old and helpless
situated near San Jose, where those
unable to care for themselves are
gathered together and provided for by
the public. California has great regard
for the young and the old, and has
made ample provision for all. The
young she will educate and prepare for
the duties of life, and the old she feeds
and clothes and prepares for death.
Beside these two towns there are sew
eral other towns i'll Santa Clara coun-
ty, viz: Gilroy, Lexington, Los Gatos,
Alviso and Saratoga, and divers places
OF resort. There is delightful resort
owned by San Jose, and situated
among the foot hills of the Contra
Casta mountains seven miles east of the
city, called "Alum Rock" There are
several mineral springs here, such as
the Sulphur and Alum springs, and
here picnic parties and 4th of July Gel
ebrations are held. The drive from the
city to "Alum Rock" is along delight
ful road that gradually ascends from
the city until all altitude of some fifteen
hundred feet is reached in going the
distance OF seven miles. This with all
the public roads in the county are kept
in the best repair at the public expense;
many OF them near the towns are
sprinkled and have watering places for
the tired traveller and his more tired
beast. West of San Jose and about ten
miles distant is another pleasure resort
called "COngress Hail." This is among
the foot hills of the Coast mountains.
There are large and comfortable build
ings and grounds here, and many peo-
PiO II ioAn Coil mere ull-
ring the summer months in seal ch of
rest and recreation. There is a spring
here of most delightful water, and it is
said that in the month of Nav the
grounds are one vast flower garden.
Here l saw the most beautiful and the
largest tuschias and geraniums, and
here too | saw the largest rose tree that
l ever beheld. | measured its circum-
ference ut one foot above the ground.
aud it was % inches. Just above where
L measured the tree, not bush, branch
ed, and ! measured the largest of these
branches three feet above ground, and
it measured thirteen inches. 1t had
been trained along the sides and roof of
house that was at least twenty feet
high and it had branches tftv terl iour.
and when | saw it there we're u;ure
than 200 full blown roses on il, white
and beautiful. The owner said to me.
''ln May, there must have been more
than 2, 200 roses in tull bloom Oh that
tree" 1t was the white "Jaquimenot.
10 the southeast of San jose, but in
Santa Clara county, and distanced
twenty-five miles Mount Hamilton lifts
its lofty head above the surrounding
mountains and hills. 1t is plainly visi-
BILE from the valley below. / he couu-
ty at all expense of $4,000 has built a
broad highway from San Jose to
Mount Hamilton, where the trustees of
the Lick estate in pursuance of the
terms OF the will of an old oddity
named James Lick who lived and died
i'll Santa Clara county have erected an
observatory known as the Click Obser-
vatory. This observatory is to be
furnished with the largest and best tel
escope i'll the world. The lenses for
this telescope are being made in PARIS,
and after very many trials they have