The Newtown bee., 1888-11-30

lars with them as starter, say most emphatically, Don't come. The won ders of the State are many and great and, to be appreciated. need to be seen.
 While on visit to my former boarc- ing place, last week, met MT Johnson from Camp Badger, lumber region in the Sierra Nevada mountains. I will give the readers of the BEE q faint idea of some of the mammoth trees cut in that region. MT Johnson kindly gave me two views of the big Red Woods. also a block of bark taken from tree which meas ured 2l feet through, 2S0 feet in length and 112 feet to the first limb. This tree turned out %, 600 feet finished lumber. A relic hunter from Cleveland, Ohio, gave two men s20 to saw of butt cut from this tree; when removed, it made quite wheel; 2l feet across and six inches thick. He had it split into four parts,. then shipped 1t to Cleveland, where he will put it together and place it on exhibition. Trees have been cut in this region over 30 feet through, but the government has now put stop to the cutting of these large trees, reserving them for curiosities. The lumber camp, during the Summer season, is overrun with tourists and blocks of bark are eag- erly bought up by them to take back East as relics, to convince, in a measure, the skeptics back there who will not be- lieve the stories told in regard to these immense Red Woods. The boss cutter sold block of bark measuring } feet inch in thickness for Sl50. This was cut from one of the mammoth trees.
 One peculiarity of these big Red Woods is that they grow perfectly straight and are never soft or decayed at the stump; no matter how large the tree, it is al- ways solid. After these trees are feIled, they are sawed into l6-foot lengths. Just imagine the proportions of a saw log lc feet long and 90 feet through. There are no two saws in the country that could cut through these logs, consequently they are first blasted into four pieces be fore being drawn into the mill. MT John son told me that he had handled many a board l6 feet long, one inch thick and six feet wide; these boards are ripped into proper width before being shipped. This lumber is all carted on wagons. Three wagons are fastened together and loaded with 10000 feet of lumber. Then eight mules haul this load to visalia, the near est railway point, which is 60 miles away. The contract at the camp, last Summer, was for 1000, 900 feet.
 am now located for the Winter at Crystal Springs health retreat, one of the finest institutions of its kind on this coast, situated on the side of Howell moun- tain. two and one half miles from St Hell ena. in Napa county. I came here Octo-
 Der and. up to this date. November l4, there has not been day but that have
 spent the greater part of the time lying in a hammock out in the grove. There is no perceptible variation in the temper ature, every day is warm and sunny. With the exception of light shower in September, it has not rained here since last April, but the wild ducks and geese are getting quite numerous and the na- tives say that rain will come soon. There are guests at the retreat who have trav- eled the world over and claim that there is no place like California One in par ticular, who has spent two Winters in
 Florida. one in South America, one in
 France and Italy and has travelled in
 Asia and Africa, comes back to this
 State and claims that it's climate beats
 the world and that. for scenery. Califor-
 mia has no equal. There are about a at this institution.
 California has many attractions and
 those who can afford it will find no bet
 ter place to spend a Winter. I cannot
 say too much in praise of the climate,
 for it is as nearly perfect as you can im-
 agine and the scenery is grand beyond
 description but as to farming in Cali
 fornia don't like it and I advise every
 young man who may think there are bet ter chances for him on the farm here than at home to consider the matter we'll before he starts and to reckon the odds as strongly against him. for it will take a long time, even if success awaits him here, before he can attain that posltiou where he can enjoy the pleasures and
 comforts of his former New England . home. Very truly yours.-lw. H. Fair. child.
 Crystal Springs, St. Helena. Csl., No. l vember IA, lsss-