The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-02-06
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California Letter.

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Editor Of the ENTERPRIsE:-
DEAR SIR:-YOur favor inviting me 10
furnish my old home paper with few
ideas OF the west, is received upon my re.
turn from u trip TO the extreme northern
part Of the state. Insofar as II affords an
opportunity OF speaking of state | like
so well Ms California, IL gives me pleasure
to comply with your request Every per-
sons judgment OF country like this is
(, influenced by so many circumstances en-
tlrely personal to himself, such as success
or the reverse In his own undertakings,
that his individual views may be of little
value in determining the true character
of the land he describes. There are, how
ever, certain facts touching this great state
that exist, and that require only to be
stated to render the magnificent results
which II must achieve in the future mani
fest No state can match ii in the variety
and value ol its mineral deposits; it
excels all States in the range and value of
the products of the soil it has quarries OF
the finest nj 'rble in the world; within its
borders are found The largest trees that
lit branches IN the sun; 1t possesses in
parts the finest climate on earth; it has
scenery that, in the judgment Of those who
have seen both, makes the boasted beau
ties Of Switzerland seem fiat and unprofit-
able; and its Golden Gate forms natural
opening into the best and most commo-
dious harbor on the globe, harbor in
which the fleets of the entire earth could
together ride in perect ease and safety.
Here stands San Francisco, the youngest
OF the important cities Of the country, and
a city that is certain ultimately to be out.
numbered only by the metropolis upon
the Atlantic sesboard. California IS young,
and Notwithstanding mania for specula-
tion that has always prevailed 10 greater
or less extent, originally here in mining
stocks and properties, and latterly in the
southern part Of the State In town lots, the
development Of the substantial resource of
the State has been wonderful. Southern
California is at present suffering from a
case ct over booming" 1t will recover,
however, as the elements Of permanent
prosperity exist, and there is SURF TO he a
constantly enlarging market for the semi.
tropical productions Of its soil. Central
and northern California is unquestionably
the better part Of the State, its business is
Of healthier nature and the material
basis Of its future prosperity OF more
substantial character than at the south
In two or three of the northern counties
Of the State Is belt Of probably the finest
sugar pine OF white pine timber on the
continent, the lands belonL ing originally
to the government. In 1878 by Act of
Congress these lands were upon certain
conditions offered for sale, but until the
building of the California & Oregon r. r.,
a couple Of years since, they were so inac-
cessible that few locations we're made ;
recently, however, their great prospective
value has begun 10 be realized, and rush
has been made 10 acquire them. The trip
referred to 10 the first part OF my letter
was made with the purpose Of securing a
quarter section Of this land. California
abounds in beautiful scenery, and the
scenery upon the last half Of this trip was
the grandest and most magnificent ever
beheld. Nothing In the overland trip
across the Rockies aud Sierra Nevada
mountains Is 10 be compared with the
grandeur Of the Cascade Mountain scenery.
10 the base OF Mount Shasta, where we
lett the cars, the railroads follows the
course Of the Sacramento River from It's
mouth where il expands into San Fran
cisco Bay six 10 ten miles across, up the
rich Sacramento valley, through the noun.
tain passes and canons till the stream Is
lost In the eternal SHOWS of Shasta.
Mt Shasta is one Of the sights Of Cali
fornia, II lifts its crown Of snow nearly
fifteen thousand feet above the sea level,
and can be seen for distance of hun.
dred miles or more. In the building Of
the railroad through this country the
maximum Of engineering was achieved,
and the ascent Of the road up the sides OF
the prrilous mountain canons, across the
rugged heights, and through long dark
tunnels is simply marvellous.
Space will not permit description Of
the beautiful drive through the great pine
woods, across sparkling mountain streams,
and over vast stretches Of level country
where the woodman's axe has as yet un-
marred the grandeur Of the forest
primeval" II was trip worth cross
Ing the continent TO make, and was a
lesson Of the sublimity Of nature and the
magnidcence Of our great republic.
We often think Of our old friends at
Wellington, and personally I think II is
one Of the best towns ever knew, and
II contains more good people than any
other town In the universe.
m Very truly,
K. Il. HART.