The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-01-06
California Letter.

From letter received from County
Clerk F. E. WEIGH, dated at San Jose,
California, Dec. IL, we take the fol-
owing extract:
Well Ed, should not at this late
day attempt to give you a description
of the places visited or OF the things
seen, that served to interest and in
struct me, but may say little about
San Jose where we are now sojourn
ing. We left San Francisco last
Wednesday, after stay of over four
weeks, with many regrets. In cross
ing the bay for Oakland a wondrous
sight greets the view. The bay is
very large, almost an inland sea, and
while going overwe can see San Fran
cisco, with its many fine buildings,
including the palatial residence of
Flood, Croker, Stanford, Hopkins
and other millionaires located on
Nobb Hill, and the bay on the right
and left nearly as far as the eye can
reach, covered with boats of all dis
criptions, and from nearly every ma
ton on the globe, islands rising
abruptly out of the water to grea,
attitudes, flock of ducks moving idly
on the placid waters, numerous sea
gulls following close in the wake of
the boat, and now and then a porpoise
leaping nearly half of his length out
of the water. Oakland, the city OF
churches, in front, Notifications on
the banks. suburban towns on either
shore, as far as the vision reaches,
and the rays of the bright sun on all,
form real picture, grand, beyond
comparison, and utterly impossible for
me to describe. We reach Oakland
take the cars, and after pleasant ride
Of fifty miles through rich and fertile
valley arrive at San Jose, which we
find to be pretty town of 10000
inhabitants, including China town.
whichis necessary adjunct to all
western cities. The streets are wide,
regularly laid out, the buildings sub
stantial and more like our eastern
style-lighted by gas and electric
lights The State Normal school is
located here, well provided with sui
table buildings and large and beauti
full grounds. There is also a Uni
versity here, Nortre Dame and plenty
of other schools. Churches of every
denomination are represented by
large societies and beautiful edifices,
the Catholics taking the lead.
They have fine court house and
we paid our respects to the County
Clerk, who like all others that it has
been our good fortune to meet. re
ceived US very cordially. Every
court house out this way has
an exceedingly high tower, and this |
was no exception, it being the pride |
Of the town. The Clerk conducted
US to its dizzy summit, where splen
did view is obtained, and well paid
US for the leg WEAKNESS it imposed |
while making the ascent. San Fran
sisco, Oakland and the Bay could be |
plainly seen fifty miles away, as well
as all of the suburban villages, of the
valley. The city Of San Jose beneath
our feet, that is Brother Shattuck's
feet, as you are aware are very large,
fruit and stock ranches extending 10,
and on the foot hills, the whole sur
rounded by mountains, among whose
highest peaks is Mount Hamilton
twenty five miles away, on which is
located the Lick observatory, the
finest and best equipped of any in the
world, whose dome could be distinct
ly seen rejecting the bright rays of
the Monday sun, and under which lie
the remains of its now ilustrious
founder.
We are told that Mr.. Lick was a
very eccentric man, and this is the
way he came to leave his native State,
Penn. He was working for German
miller, fell in love with his employers
daughter, but the old man finding it
out, was very wroth, discharged him,
and forbade his daughter to have
to do with him, on account
Of his poverty. The lad Lick was also
very angry and told the old man that
he would vet be richer than he, and1
that he would build a grist mill tha
like of which he had never dreamed
Of, and so came west, became several
lines millionaire, and true to his
promise, built mill finishing it with
rosewood and mahogany and had
each part photographed and forwarded
TO his former employer. He new
and diving left his vast ss
tate to benevolent and scientific IN
3titutions, the foremost Of which, Is