The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-02-18
"THE LAND OF CANAAN"
" ,risi' the American horticultural Society
futcrs-s with EntliuSiasm.
Specisl soFr4s ,,osH5letjssl
SAN JOSE, Cal. gan. 8ts!, 1888


CALIFORNIA. they ~bullded better than ,hey
knew. 1hst - the universal testimony OF the
Delegates here who, by coming, have escaped
the terrible bllZZards raging e5ss sf the Becky
10 the spot where Horticulture Is on Its native
heath, and challenges comparison with the
world, without fear Of the result
San jose, where the Association has just
held It's session, is tbs county seat of Santa
Clara County, and the center Of all the Santa
Clara Valley. lis Mexican history dates back
over one hundred years, but Mexican history
was a half-clvIhZed, non-progresslye era,
which does not count for much and no Cali
fornla town has a history worth recording
earlier than 80 1t IL notable that the spot
where San Jose is located attracted attention
at an cary date, both from the Mesieans and
Americans. The MeXlcans were attracted
there IN l717, and the Jesuits located mis-
sion at Santa Clara, three miles distant, the
same year.
When, in lS49 hegeId discoveries attracted
Americans III large numbers TO California,
San Jose was instantly recognized as an ad-
yantageous point Consequently, the first
constitutional convention, which convened at
Monterey, the temporary capital, selected
San Jose as the capital OF the State, and the
first California Legislature met IN this city.
In those early days the capital was great
bone OF contention, and San Jose nnaliy
lost 1t; but the fact remains that the
selection was the unbiased judgment of
10 political and real-estate influences.
The visiting hOrtieulturists heartily IN
dorse the Judgment of the early pioneers
We find here beautiful and home-like city
Of ~, 600 people, the fifth in size in the Stats,
Wide streets, paved and macadamlZed; elec-
trlc-llght towers, street railroads and an
electric street railroad nearing completion;
churches aud schools in abundance; charm
ing drives, and in the city and county COM
bined many more notable points than Is ordl-
cri1t 3, fol ~ H4
NOTABLE POINTS.
The State Normal School, located IN beau
hful tract of land, thirty acres in extent do
mated By the city, averages 546 pupils This
institution was visited by the Horticultural
Association IN body, were many other
points of interest Here, too, Is the Convent
of Notre Dame, with two or three hundred
pupils. Within two miles is the University of
the Pacific, an extensive Methodist institution,
with 800 pupils At Santa Clara, three miles
distant, Is the famous school of the Jes uit
Fathers, with 400 pupils. These, with five
public schools, woull seem to supply both
San Jose and Santa Clara Comfy; but these
do not comprise all Within the county and
twelve miles distant from San Jose is
Palo Alto, where Senator Stanford is
building the Leland Stanford-Junior Uni
versIty, monument to his deceased SON
an only child, who died while travelling in Eu-
rope Senator Stanford has endowed the insti-
ton TO the extent of $50, COS, ooo making it
country. With such an endowment there is
no doubt 1t will also be the strongest intel
lectually when completed, as so magnifcently
planned. In addition 10 the university Sena-
tor Stanford has here his country seat and
world famous stables, where the finest run
hing and trotting stock in this country Is pro-
duced Fifteen hundred acres, over 500
horses, and buildings end employees in pro-
portion, give ia Mt idea Of the extent Of
these stables A night school for the boys and
AL
the grounds.
THE LICK TELESCOPE
Many of the HorticuIturIsts enjoyed
delightful drive-alheit there was a thin coat
Of mud on the road-to Mt Hamilton, twenty
four miles distant This is the site of the
Lick telescope and observatory. San Jose
and vicinity seem TO have been especially
favored by public enterprises James Lick,
Pennsylvania bachelor, was attracted to
California by the gold fever of '49, and, as
the sa;ing goes, he STRUCK it richn His
mining work and investments were especially
fortunate. He lived, personally, IN very
parslmOnlous manner, and his increasing
fortune was never diminished by any luxury
for himself In spite Of such a life,
he provided in his will to turn his
great property over to trustees for
public Institutions; and the greatest of all
was $4,000 which was TO be devoted 10 this
observatory. The lenses for the telescope were
only put in place few weeks ago, though Il
j..
years since the work Of building the observa.
tory was vigorously begun San Jose Is but
ninety feet, VIII le the observatory is over
g. 900 feet above the sea level Ii is literally
a monument TO the founder for his remains
lie under the marble pier, which, thanks to
his hberalIty, supports the most powerful
telescope IN the world The visit to Mt Ham,
ilton was one which every one enjoyed. This
trip will be q pilgrimage for visitors to san
Jose for all time, and fitly so, for the great
,afa ana Of +f1a dor Of
In fact, it is bringing scientific men TO see it
from distant foreign countries, as well ar from
all portions of our own.
QUICKSILVER MINES.
Twelve miles from San Jose We find the
New Amaden quicksilver mines, which have
no equal in the world save the Almaden mines
in Spain. The existence of this rich ere was
known to the Spaniards in fS24 but II was
not until 1864 that work was Systematically
begun. No gold mines in the State have
proved 80 uniformly productive, and the net
earnings Of these mines are between three and
four million dollars per year. The mines
have penetrated =, 500 feet below the surface
of the earth, and are still going. The plant
or machinery for carrying on the great work,
is something tremendous, and well worthy
long journey TO inspect
Deposits of asphalt found IN the county af-
ford San Jose cheap sidewalks and fine street
paving. It will in time vie with Washington
in asphalt pavement, and this, too, without
the case at the National Capital
The parks and pleasant drives properly
come under the head Of notable points but
in reality they are too numerous TO notice il
detail You simply cannot 60 in any direction
from San Jose without finding attractive
drives, and some of them are positively en-
chanting.
TIE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
Il was really difficult to secure full at
tendance upon the Horticultural Association,
so many were engaged IN outdoor roamlngs
and sightseeing. 1t was such a marked con-
trast to lowering over huge fires or wading IN
snow encased in buffalo overcoats, that the
delegates seemed to want to make the most OF
their time by enjoying the open air or visiting
the horticultural fair, which was IN progress.
Still there was much interest IN the proceed
ings, and an interchange Of information and
experience which cannot fail to be valuable
to all in attendance
I he sessions were presided over by Parker
Earle, of Cobien, H., and con tinued for
three days. President Esrle's annual address
contained the following explanation OF WhY
they were here:
II was nearly fifty years ago that I had nv
first dream Of horticultural paradise as !
read, in the good old Bible story, the report OF
that exploring committee which Moses sent out
TO search the land OF Canaan, and Spy out It's
resources and to bring back the fruit O. the
land. Now, Noses being the wfsest OF ms roce,
and the great tsst leader Of men, did not ask Lls
committees TO bring back samples OF the gram
the mer1nO wool. the snort staple COTTON, OF tnS
best breeds of live stock, Short Horns or Jer-
seys, bHt simply to bring back the fruit Of the
land. For Moses seemed to know that the
country which could grow the best fruits Was
the very best country for the chosen people of
the LORD 70 emigrate 70. And when this nrst
horticultural depUtetion returned laden Win
the hgs, the p0Inegrsnates, and the great Gus.
ter OF grapes from the banks Of the brook OF
Eschol, that the two bore on stan De.
tween them-snd i know that that cluster OF
grapes reached from the stat on the men :
shoulders nearly to the ground, Tor my IDoth-
ers great Bible pictured II that way-then Mo
5e5 and Aaron and Caleb and the Few wise men
Of Israel wanted 70 60 up and possess the land,
notwithstanding the sons Of Anak dwclt there,
and the other tribes Of ike great stature But
the mass Of the people Of Israel were ignorant,
and cid not appreciate this horticultural exnl-
DItIon and the promise OF the better lie tnat
wss possi Ole II afrGit-CrUwing cCuntry, but they
grurn bled and rebel,ed ani they all suffered the
righteous penalty for their neglect Of such
noble opportunity. But / well remember the
longing with which l considered tnat enormous
bunch Of grapes and the impulse 1 mad 70 ~
and find country where they grow graHo n
big clusters.
THE LAND OF CANAAN.
And so few Of Us horticultural dreanefs
have come over the great fertile plains and
across the th.r7Cy deserts, and have clIAoel
the gigantic walls which fJrJIfy you against IL