Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-04-06
From Southern California 20 salt
Lake cay.
Written for the HERALD.

my last letter, | was about leaving
Southern California for San Fran
cisco. The trip was devoid of much
interest save the mountain ranges
that are visible from all points in
California, and the lovely valleys,
which are fertile and easily cultiva-
ted, but cover but a very small por-
ton OF the great State. AS much
as three fourths Of the entire State
is covered by mountains or desert
land OH which no vegetation grows.
San Francisco is one of the very
best cities on the continent, and in
many ways is only second to New
York, and her push and enterprise
continually reminds one of Chicago.
No city or town of any size offers as
good hotel and restaurant accomlno-
dations for the same money as are
found here, and all first class. The
directory, school census, and other
reliable evidences Of population
make it a city of $4,000 people, and
no city have found that shows one
half the permanent improvements
| find going on here, and it is fair
to predict that she will have a mil
lion souls Gncluding her Chlnamen)
in 1900, and will come close to BoS-
ton in 1890. Her greatness is charge
able largely to the rush to her gold
fields. 1t is said that every family
raises an adventurous boy, and all
these boys throughout New Eng
land and the Middle States hazarded
everything to reach the gold fields.
Many of them made large fortunes
easily and quickly, and others with
their true native pluck were bound
to make it, and seeing the advan-
tages of a big city springing up on
the Pacific coast joined their pluck
and fortune till to-day no city has
the elements of progress and great
ness that is found here. These
same men and their sons give her
the conservativeness of Boston, the
push of Chicago, and the venture,
which these elements com bined pro.
duce. The climate is far preferable
to Southern California, the season as
far advanced, and after paying big
p rices for the worst kind of accom-
mediation in Southern California 1t is
refreshing to find everything first
class, and for half the money.
can see no excuse for party going
south of San Francisco and her
nice towns and fine fruit valleys
that lay within radius of so miles
next winter, for certainly no better
place can be found to escape our
cold winters.
Our next trip was to Portland,
Ore, over the mountains, and BY
the new road completed last Decem,
Der. The route to Sacramento, the
capital of the State, is delightful
along the Sacramento river, and
there are some fine small valleys
much further up among the noun.
tains. The mountain scenery is
grand for 200 miles including the
summit of Mount Shasta, which
seemed but few miles away, with
her pure white top rising up thous
ands of feet above the Climber
line" which means too high for any
timber to grow. | have oftel
thought that my nerves were fairly
quiet, but when | could see the two
engines pulling our seven loaded
cars up grade of 22OO feet in fv,
miles, and much of the time OF
trestles 800 fit. high, and on SHARP
curves, | could feel my hat lifting
several times. We went through
tunnels, and within five minute,
were facing the same hole we came
out of, only several hundred fee
above us. Lovers of fine scenery
can here enjoy their full supply, blu
give me maple sugar on snow foI
mine.
Portland is nice city of 10000
inhabitants, and has natural advan
tages, and wealth to ensure her ;
| good solid city. The wheat cro[
of the State was fifteen million
bushels last year, and but a small
part Of her good land improved
Her mining interests are extensiv,
and the market of the south half O.
Washington Territory is natural,
Portland, Property is held firm a
$1,000 a front foot for much of he
best business quarters, which is rel
atively twice as high as Minneapoli
or ST paul 1Nho fret ona bupJro,