The morning call., 1891-05-27
FROM NILES.
Pleasant Drives-Shipping Frnit.
Social Notes.

Ed1t0T morning eau : Taxing Niles Is
a center, one can find new drive for every
day in the week, the favorite one being of
course through the canyon, down which
flows the Alameda Creek, with its clear
water tossed from side to side as it wends
its way through, now grumbling and scod-
ing over its bed of boulders, merrily speed
ing through narrow gorge, placidly resting
and summing itself at the lakes. or dancing
a welcome to the tiny rills that find their
way from time to time into its embrace,
sturdily sweeping onward around project
ing hillside, under bridges, by slOping banks
of gravel and sand, languidly spreading it's
pleasant waters again at the many fords,
and at last being checked by a dam and
hurried into its narrow quarters on its long
road to the city, after it has made glad the
heart of the traveller and filled with delight
the hundreds of campers who idle the long
summer days on its banks, lulled to sleep
each night by its gentle murmurs. With
out doubt this eight-mile canyon is one of
the most lovely to be found. The
towns, too - Sunol and P,easanton-
which lie in the valley beyond, are
points of attraction, the drive through
the canyon into Sunel, south through the
valley to Mission Pass, thence home. is
the peak, while much Of 1t is tresome and
hard. is we'll worth the trouble, for the
the first four miles to the Mission is Just
gentle rise, but beyond the peak rises
STEADILY one needs a pair of field glasses, and
at every turn should use them; if the day
be clear the valley IS seen for miles; Tam
alpais can be seen to the northwest the
haze over the city, and even the smoke of
the Oakland boats, San Jose, Mount IL am
lt0n, Diablo, the foothills, like masses of
stuccO work lying in Irregular ridges be-
tween the valleys, the whole southern part
Of the bay, with dozens of sails upon it, the
Santa Cruz mountains to the west and the
miles upon miles of fertile valley lands.
Teams can go within about 200 feet OF the
top, yet the ascent Is rarely made. Yet
another drive Is through the Mission Pass
into the Sunol Valley, and thence south TO
the forks, narrow gorge III the spurs of
Mount Hamilton, where tile sources of the
Alameda rise. The stream must be crossed
a dozen times, and careful driver should
handle the lines. The eagle circles over
head, the quaPs loud call mingles inces-
sanity with the song and chatter of other
birds, the, slender crane stands guard in
shady pools, the deer, the lynx, the wildcat,
and il is even whispered the bear, make
their home on the tbickly wooded hills
which close in so closely almost to the
waters edge. A few campers find their
way each season into this wild nook.
The other drives out of town are Of neces-
sity into the valley; no less than nine
towns lie within easy driving distance. and
the bay but i've miles away, so it is bat a
pleasant spin TO take In three or four towns
in the afternoon. varying the route each
day; taking peep at the sugar factory in
AlvaradO, the Car shops in Newark, the
aTtesian wells in Union City, the wine Gel
lars and vineyards i'll Warm Springs, or
lrvingtOn or the Mission, or driving through
tie Mission, to look once more at the many
old ruins about and slowly riding home.
ward in the sunset, down a gentle slope,
with perhaps the sunlight fiecking the val
lev, the creeks and lagoons, or lingering
long on the dear old peak, until its rosy top
is bright long after the sun has set. No
wonder the old Padres chose this valley as
their abode, it is indeed favored spot
All the hay has been cut in the neighbour
hood, there are but few acres, so the
amount cuts no figure In the markets., but
six or eight miles away in the Warm Springs
section, thousands of acres are sowed TO
hay or grain every year, and the cloudy
weather has caused the farmer to keep his
weather-eye" open, so to speak; each
morning for two weeks it has been cloudy
and chilly, even slight sprinkle has oc-
casiOnally startled them into extra activity,
as cherries are nearly ready to pick, aud as
rain. when cherries are ripe, means spoiled
crop, much anxiety is felt concerning the
weather.
Two enterprisng young men, comprising
the firm OF Ellsworth " Co., who began the
Eastern shipping business last year, have
this year made arrangements to continue
the business, and having met with good sue.
cess last year, feel assured of even more sue
cess this season. Their first shipment of
cherries was made last Thursday to New
Orleans.
Thinning is nearly done. Aprcots are all
done and peaches are being finished rapidly,
AIilanPp
Ing at j. +. Thames. The most interesting
topic just now Is the fruit ton, that be-
ing the nearest at home. Members are
watching with interest the Gamers and can
merry syndicates that have been formed and
will endeavOr 10 remedy many of the evils
resulting from the formation of these syn
dicates.
The public school closed last Friday for
couple OF months vacation. The exercises
were very good.
Three families have been in town within
the past two weeks looking for houses to
rent, but there being none, they moved on
elsewhere.
Mrs. g. II. Hudson and Mrs. ]. E. Thane
gave joint luncheon last Saturday after
noon. Seventy-fve invitations had been
Issued. aud about fifty guests were present.
The affair might well have been called
musicale. Miss JaEe Smith recited, Mrs.
Haley, Mrs. Hatch, Miss Chisholm, Miss
Snyder and Mrs. Ford gave several piano
solos and duets, and Miss Gombertz aud
Mesdames Tyson, Thane, Barb and Cuts
holm gave choice vocal solos and duets The
ladies were aStOnished when the hours
slipped away so quickly. and were most
appreclatiye listeners to the many fine seIec-
lions which the several ladies gave so will
ingly.
Miss Cary Ellsworth gave luncheon to
her little friends and Schoomates last Sat-
urdaY afternoon, twenty-five or more little
folks being present. Several new games
were played, and a dainty luncheon was
served, to which they did ample Justice.
donning the bon bon caps and playing more
games until o'clock.
The young orchards are looking unusually
well this year, the percentage of loss being
very small
There will be a good crop of Moorpark
apricots this year, the first in four years.
GoOseberries are being shipped. Currants
and raspberrieS will be ripe in few days.
The foundation for the new Catholic
church at Niles has been laid THIS week. 1t
Is to be handsome and substantial struc-
ture.
Over thirty Nilesites attended the china
anniversary of the establishment of the
Episcopal Sewing Society in Centreyle
last Friday evening. A dinner was served,
musical programme given and dancing in
dulged in until II o'clock.
Our Farwel quarry will furnish stone
for the two handsome residences which are
to be built on Van Ness avenue, San Fran
cisco, by Louis SlosS and son.
Mics, Nay &C. 1891 Mas. L. E THANE.
T0VAT, TECJON TT ErnInO