The Republican., 1888-05-19
California Letter.

lowing letter. which 1 wish to have
published in fulfiIlment of promise
/ made my friends in Garrett county,
In this letter / wish to give them
description of our journey, and OF
this land of sunshine. I would have
written sooner, but ] wanted to
know something about the country
more than l could gather in a few
days, and, even now, after spending
one month here, | am not prepared
to say whether people in Maryland
ought to come here or not but am
going to tell the plain truths as far as
l know, and then my friends can
form some better idea of California.
/ dc not desire to do this country any
injustice, nor to mislead any one by
any statement make,
After our parting at the depot at
Oakland, a parting l shall never for
get, we started feeling sad to leave so
many warm and dear friends. Next
morning we reached Cincinnati, O.,
and we all felt quite well and bright,
The evening of the same day we
arrived in st. Louis, where we got s
good warm supper. On Wednesday
morning we were in Kansas City,
where we had splendid breakfast
and felt quite we'll. Here we spent
three hours, which gave us time to
see much Of this great city, / took
my family, and boarding the cable
cars, we saw some of the best streets,
went UP some of the great inclines,
and had grand view of the city.
On returning to our train / found
our friend Mr.. E. Boyer writing a
letter, which he went away to mail,
but before he returned, our train
pulled out, and left Mr.. Boyer be-
hind. | suppose she was very glad
to receive the letter, but we were
very sorry to loose our companion.
and il cast gloom over our party to
think that he was left behind. On
telegraphing we were informed that
he would be one day behind US for
the remainder of the way. Our friend
Cheap John (Jno. O. Michae) became
cripple at this pi3ce, and had to buy
cane to assist him in his moving
ah)ut. On Thursday morning we
reached Denver, Colorado, and hay.
ing some time to stay there we start
ed out to find our old Oakland friend
HHIr. VIM. Arnold, but found that he
had gone to Colorado Springs. This
is beautiful city, and if any one
wishes to locate in the mid-weather
states, they should look at Denver.
Kansas is the state for farming, and
the ground is rich and productive.
After leaving Denver we crossed
the Rocky Mountains, then the great
desert which no man can understand.
1t is different from any other land
ever saw. We next passed through
portion of Utah, and then over the
Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is one
of the most magnificent views in the
world, and we crossed the mountains
about nine O'Clock on Sunday morn
ing. Here we found plenty of snow,
and we snow. balled each other and
had lots of fun with our bald-headed
fried. "Cheap john" and his bald
head became the grand attraction as
a mark to throw at. We then COM
menced going down the mountain,
and in sixty minutes we had gone
from the eternal SHOWS into wilder
ness of flowers, grass, and trees, in
full summer garb, with bright sun.
shine all around, and l felt as though
l could live there forever. Another
hours ride Drought us to where the
grass was being cut and hay making
going on.
We arrived in San Francisco Sun
day evening about six O'Clock, feel.
ing very well even the little ones
were as lively as could be, and did
not seem to mind the trip one bit.
But on Monday my little daughter
was very sick, and for a week there
was no change for the better and we
feared she would never recover, but
change for the better came at last,
and now she is well,
The country along the Sacramento
river is love'y, and if L had one Of
the farms along its banks and all my
Maryland friends around me, L think
l would be the happiest man in
America. The fruit trees are one
size having been planted about the
same time, and they stand in rows as
straight as a line can be drawn.
Large vineyards meet the eye in
every direction and everything is
bright and green. Sacramento City
is very fine and is a large place. Oak
land is another beautiful place. and
the name sounded very dear TO US, as
l,f % Il l.