The morning call., 1890-10-19
THROUGH
VINELAND.
Napa Valley as Viewed From the
Car Windows.
San Franciscans Who Have Country Homes
There Some "Reminiscences of
Long Ago.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

AknSN cheerily as l sat down beside an
MY elderly, rustic-appearing gentleman
in one of the cars Of the Napa Valley train
before it started from the landing at South
Vallejo. the other morning Acquainted
with this section of the country and its
people, l presume?"
mo, 1 ain't" he replied, testify; "and
right here let me tell you that you can't
work me into no confidence snap, neither.
Now g'long and mind yer business" and
then, as If satisfied with his alertneSS in
spotting a swndler, he gazed out of the Will
dow at the placid countenance of the vener-
able Captain Gedge, the father of the talent
ed California actor, George Osbourne, while
the scribe, wondering where his rural high
ness learned his English, left the car in
search of some one familiar with the valley
through which he was about to journey who
would enlighten him about the people who
inhabited it and their possessions. Through
the courtesy of the conductor this was soon
accomplished, and in pleasant company the
ride began.
Three years ago ! began making excur-
sions to various parts of the State whenever
an opportunity presented itself, and my
notebook is always part OF my baggage,
and from it in leisure hours much pleasure
has been derived, while during my trips tile
work of jotting down what | see serves to
make the time pass quickly and renders each
excursion more enjoyable. More than once
have felt that a gude-b0ok would be an
acceptable companion. but when one gets off
the overland route such publication is not
obtanable; in fact, guide-bOok could
hardly be expected to give the local inform
alton and answer the great number of QUes-
tions an interested Traveller will ask. In the
following lines L shall endeavor to anticipate
some OF these.
When the train pulled out of the Oakland
Mole OH the arrival OF the o'clock boat it
took ten coaches to accommodate the great
crowd of travellers and the majority left the
train at Vallejo and crossed the Cacquinez
Straits to Vallejo, where some stop. while
others go out over the Santa Rosa route to
Sonoma Valley, but the bulk of travel is in
the direction of Silverado, as Mount st.
Helena is known by old settlers.
Just after passing North Vallejo through
the rght-hand window the mansard Roof of
the main building Of the Good Templars'
Orphan Home looms above the grove of
eucalyptus, aud soon after on the lett we
run alongside Napa River, in which the tides
are noticeable for two or three miles above
Napa and which is navigable to that little
city The landscape is not attractive, and
our little group listens to a yarn or two as
we go rafting along, but soon change oc-
ours.
NAPA JUNCTION
Is passed, then TO the east of the track sew
eral thrifty orchards come into view, and
then some newly whitewashed fences and
other evidences of careful management
mark the home of Mr.. Middleton. whose
faith in the fruit industry is evidenced Ia
the labor expended On the cultivation Of
his 100 acres of orchards. The trainman
announces "ThompsOn's," and brief stop
is made at J. w. Ihompson's place, whose
grounds lie cas-: of the track. But we are
off in jitfy, there is only time for glimpse,
and then attention is directed to thickly
wooded section TO the west of Suscol, the
property of Judge John A. Stanly. The
lie hntten with statplv nakg and
as the train progresses the view becomes
more and more picturesque. Soon TO the
east the slightly buildings of the Napa In
sane Asylum attract attention with its
towers and cupolas, and presently Napa is
passed through.
Up in the canyon, on the side of the noun
tains to the east, Is Il cluster of buildings
not plainly seen but sufficiently so to at
tract attention. 1t is the Napa Soda
Springs Resort.
Oak Knoll comes next, and off half mile
from the train one sees magnificent or
chard, the home of Drury Melone. Peter
Cain, who purchased the entire crop of this
and a number of other places in the vicinity
is authority. was one OF our group. He de-
scribed two cherry trees in Mr.. Mel0ne's
orchard, which he challenges any other
grower 10 duplicate. They are 10 feet high
and the limbs spread out forming circle 100
feet in diameter. These trees the past year
produced 800 ten-pound boxes OF fruit
from 50 to 40 cents Der box, and were sold
TO the consumer at 80 cents box. lmproba-
bic as this may seem, Mr.. Cain declares this
to be an absolute fact
The high ranges of mountains on either
side of the valley begin to come closer to-
gether. Just beyond the Melone orchard,
high up on the mountain which separates
Sonoma and Napa valleys, large white
house among the trees is pointed out. The
late II. b. Woodward Mrs. Melone's father,
a1n % tha ,tr
which bear his name, was a sufferer with
asthma, and imagined that he could breathe
easier at higher elevation; so he built a
house there and occupied it for some time.
But since his death it has been untenanted,
Notwithstanding which 1t Is kept in repair
by his children.
The nextnoticeable place is on the right of
the blacksmith Browns "Eschol' estate
and on the left comes Irvingwood, which
Observation-Disclosures johnson bought
couple of years ago from W. Ii. Mills. One
wants to see
ALL THE FINE HOMES
Within the line of view, but the train moves
rapidly and 1t is just about as much
as q person can attend to to catch it
all. Alter passing Truebody fag-station a
two-stury white house, with red roof, stand
ing among the trees at the foot of the west
ern hills, is the residence of Judge Suffold,
formerly of San Francisco, candidate ON the
Democratic ticket for Superior Judge.
Following along III the same direction, the
eye soon rests upon TIE group of buildings
of the State Home for Veteran Soldiers the
main structure very much resembling q
church editice. A new house is just nearing
completion which will be used Tor hos
pital.
Yountville is the next station. where, on
the right, the mother of Willard Gibbs has a
pretty place. while on the opposite side of
the track are the extensive grounds, wine
cellar and residence, the latter handsome,
one-stOry, square cottage, with broad
porches, of G. Groezinger. with his vineyard
adjoining.
After passing Yountville an observant
traveller will notice an elevated mound to
the right, which caused the railroad to make
a sharp curve. 1t is known as ''the
island" 1t rises above the valley to an ele-
walton of some 500 or 400 feet with a strip
Of low-lying country cutting it off from
end of "the island sign over the en-
trance-way announces LA Lomita." Here
in 1860 Rev. John l.. yer Mehr. the
first pastor of Grace Episcopal Church of
San Francisco, retired for the benefit of his
soil, which he did with satisfactory results
SO far as securing beautiful home, but not
to his profit financially, and in 1873 it was
taken from him to satisfy mortgage and
subsequently passed into other hands, Now
it is point of interest to all old Califor-
well-knOwn and respected man as was DR..
yer Mehr. 1t is always pleasant to recall the
memory of good man. In 1919 few Epis-
copalians had been worshiping each Sabbath
in private house, until the congregation
reached such number that q chapel was
erected at the corner of Powell and st. John
streets and was completed and dedicated on
the It'll of January, 1850. DIR. yer Mehr con-
tinued as pastor until ill-health compelled
him to resign, when Bishop Kip took charge
of the parish.
Then On the left some distance from the
road is situated the fine vineyard and stone
cellar of John Benson, the San Francisco
capitalist.
''To Kalon" comes next, at Oakvile Sta
ton. where 81. w. Crabb has 500 acres in
vines. A noticeable feature of ITO Kalon"
is the clearing off of vines to make room
through the vineyard for race-track, the
owner having fondness for fast horses, of
which he possesses number.
Then the sight-seer is panied at the sad ap.
pearance of Judge Hastings place, with its
big brown warehouses, surrounded by an
uncultivated vineyard. Not a clod has been
turned the past year. and the place presents