Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-13
From Sacramento TO Los
Angeles.

The time which we had allotted for sight
seeing in this part of California having ex-
PRED, we boarded the train en- route for Los
Angeles. We cross the Sacramento river
over draw bridge and pass through por.
ton of the Sacramento valley. Orchards,
Vineyards and beautiful green fields meet our
gaze in every direction.
We arrive at Lothrop, small town in the
San Joaquin valley where we stopped twenty
minutes for dinner This valley embraces
portions of nine counties. 1t is 200 miles
in length and 30 miles in width comprising
nearly 100000 acres of the richest land in
the State, besides the tuilcs and Salt marsh
lands and these when thoroughly drained are
reckoned among the best The products of
this valley comprise nearly everything rails.
ed in tropical and semi-tropical zones. &c.
reals and vegetables of all kind grow to per-
fiction, but irrigation is always necessary to
insure success. Canals and bitches Of i'm
mense proportions stretch out in every di-
rccton. The largest, the San Joaquin canal
is 100 miles long GS feet wide and and feet
deep
Leaving Lothrop we pass through enor-
nous wheat fields and every little station if
nothing else, has big warehouses, and ships
large quantities of wheat From here the
Sierras appear close and very rugged. Mt.
Whitney with an altitude of Is 900 feet is the
highest peak. When it is understood that
the altitude ofthe little town, MADEIRA, weare
passing is only 25 feet, some little idea of the
immense height of this peak can be had. AT
MADEIRA we SAW a large V hume 81 miles long
used for floating lumber down from the saw
mills in the mountains. laundering and
mining are the chief occupations here. We
of a grazing country. Soon we reach Fresno
the next entcrprising and thriving town we
ha' seen since leaving Sacramento. Here
they are having a big "land sale" the town
is crowded with eXcursionists from all parts
of the state and many from other states all
bent on buying corner lot. Leaving Fresno
we run through strip of alkali land and by
several small lakes on which hundred of wild
ducks were enjoying swim,
We now approach nearer the mountains
and will soon be in the midst of some of the
finest scenery on the trip. Calieute, small
town is situated at the mouth OF the gorge or
canyon. From here we wind around the
side of the mountain and the grade increases
for 25 miles on an average 100 feet to the
mule. We pass through seventeen tunnels
in rapid succession and then over the loop
Tor where the railroad crosses itsclf) one of
the greatest engineering feats in the world.
Beneath us yawns a fearful chasm 900
feet deep while on the right, towering far
above us in the sunlight are the white hood
Ell peaks of the Sierras. The climate consid-
ering the altitude, (nearly 1000 fect is re-
markably mild and agreeable. Leaving the
summit we run along plateau for few
miles and then commence gradual decent
towards the Mojaya Desert and past a small
lake where salt can be shoveled up by the
cart load.
AT Rovena we noticed some sod houses
and were told that "moss agates and grizzly
bears abound but we didn't stay long enough
to find either. After passing the little town
of Alpine, we enter Soledod conyon at which
entrance is notorious place called "Robbers
roost." 1t is wild gloomy kind Of place
covered with dense growth of shrubs, pines
and cedars that make it almost impenctrable
and all that the most vary villain could de-
sire. The week previous, this same train
was stopped short distance from here and
the express messenger forced to hand over
yaluabes consequently some of the more
timid passengers felt little nervous and
looked as though ready to throw up their
hands at moments notice. Before leaving
the mountains we pass through the great
San Fernando tunnel and then down the val
ley through vineyards and orange groves TO
Los Angeles.
Our letter is growing rather long and we
have little space for description of this re-
markable city hence we shall contne our
selves to few main points. Los Angeles
is situated on a river of the same name. In
1880 the population was II 600 in 1886 it was
10000 in 1887, rs, 600 and real estate increased
with equal rapidity. Besides its rapid in
crease in wealth and population, Los Ange-
les is famous for its regular and delightful
climate. Ola fine afternoon scores ofpalld
faces whose owners hail from every state in
the Union can be seen enjoying drive or
strolling through the vineyards and orange
groves that surround the city. 1t is really Il
city of gardens aud groves, and may proper