Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-07-11
Yosemite Valley, and the Big
Fields Of California.

Fields Of California.
Leaving San Francisco on the $50 y. m.
train we arrived at the little town of Bercn-
da-17S miles distant-a' out midnight, where
we rested until morning.
From Bcrcnda we went to Raymond over
branch of the Southern Pacific Rail Road.
This is the terminus of the railroad and from
here the remainder of the trip has to be made
by stage A short distance from Wawoua
we passed through the famous Mariposa
grove of big trees. TO lay some of these
giants low we think would puzzle the most
expert woodmcn in the Blue Ridge. There
are 427 trees in this grove. The diameter of
the largest IS 81 feet, and the bark is two feet
thick. There arc several that are said to hc
300 feet high. This is the largest grove
numerically in California. There are other
smaller groves which contain larger trees.
We reached the Yosemite Valley about
O'Clock D m. which enabled us to get the
lights and shadows on the Bridal Veil Fall
with its beautiful rainbows. Yosemite Val
lev Is about eight miles long, from cast to
west and from one-cighth of mile to two
miles in width, from north to south. The
walls of granite surrounding this mighty
chasm are nearly perpendicular and from
1 200 to 4, 100 feet high The various streams
that wrnd their way INTO the Valley flow
over this tremendous wall on cnlciny. AT
the eastern end of the Valley proper, il di
yidcs INTO two canons projecting still cast
ward, but separating rs they mount the
Scrras 1t is through the mouth of one OF
these canons that the main branch OF the
Mcrcrdc river flows, and ON entering the
valley it makes two leaps. The lower one
called Ncrnal Fall, is $50 feet in height, 100
feet WIDE and about four feet deep where il
punges over the rocky barrier Continuing
M the canon for about "A mile, abOYc NCrnal
FALL amidst the widest sccnrry imaginable
ana we reach the great Nevada Falls. Her,
the canon narrows i'll wedge like form, To-
quite point and just at the right of this
ycr,eX is til" fall 1t is 900 fret high ; - fl
wide at the brink, and 49, fee, below. On
the left of this fall is tremendous granite
boulder known rs the soap of Liberty. -
This "Cap' lifts its roundel summit OF
smooth and weather polished granite soc
feet above the falls and 5000 feet above tho
sea. From here the scenery is magnificent
and Undesirable. The deep and yawning
chasm, the beautiful foliage of the trees and
shrubs, the MOSES and ferns always moist
and green from the spray, the roar and rush
of the fast flowing river, the majestic gran
,lcur of The rocky frame work which towers
far above us, make up Il scene of beauty and
mngnifccncc unsurpassed, except, possibly
in chiltlhood's fairy dreams. AS many 81
our readers have no doubt read 50 much
about this wonderful valley, we will moi
weary them with repetition but turn Oul
attention to the other portion of our subject
which should not be cassed rs the least OF
California curiosities.
Farming, Tor ranch;ng) rs the Californian
terms it, is carried on quite differently from
the way it is done in the South or East. y:
rule the soil is extremely fertile and in mos
of the valleys level and clear of stone. Thu
average California farmer looks with con
tempt on u ranch of less than 1000 acres. -
Senators Stanford and FAIR are both large
land owners. Two sons of the latter super
intend the farming on one Of the Senator:
ranches in Yoo county, which contains tive
| Il, - 4, war
thing is done IN Il wholesale way. W.
counted fifteen mowers engaged IN cveins
the grass in one of the smaller fields. Thu
celebrated Glen wheat fields, in Cousa coun
| tv, near the little town of willows, originally
contained $4,000 acres, but since the death
of DR.. Glen, portion of the tract has been
sold but still numbers about 20 600 acres
After we had tired looking over an almost
en- dlcss field of waving grain we drove int
an adjoining field, in which there were
forty seven gang plows leach drawn by eigh
mules) preparing the ground for its regula
CROP This is said to be tho largest gram
ranch in California.
Senator Slanford's 5000 acre flrm, which
cost 81 100000 in an unimproved condition
is situated at Una. 1t now has Il $500 acr'
vineyard, two acres of wine cellar in which
the cooperage alone cost 100000 and a ca
pacity of 100000 6 ,llons. A little further
do vn the Sacramento river wheat field OF
1000 acres forms an adjunct to his Nina
farm. At Palo Alto he has garden, which
contains 5000 acres in residence and univcr
sity grounds, vineyards and stock ranges
Here his most famous horses are stabbed anl
here he is building the grand Stanford Uni
vcrsity to which he gives $50 ,OO0,OoO ell
dowmcnt. Further on down the valley w
passed another wheat field of AZ 900 acre
belonging to another investor, and we Nigh
enumeratc many more but rs the above list
contains some fair samples Of Caniornl'
ranches we will conclude by asking on
readers to excuse any errors or inaccuracies
hat may have crcpt into our letters, tor q!
were hastily written and most OF them whll
travelling on the cars or the unsteady stag
coach. Yours Truly,