The record-union., 1891-05-09

ranch, and soon the town of Lower Lake
was reached. There are some vineyards
here, but the stage did not tarry. The
quiet and delightful town was left be-
hind.
Just beyond it the stage crossed Cache
Creek, bold stream that constitutes the
only outlet for Clear Lake. The stage
mounted slight eminence and the lower
end of Clear Lake came into view. In a
few minutes more, the stage, passing
through an open forest of oaks, arrived
at Lower Lake landing at $3.50 P. NJ,
where the pretty screw steamer, 'The
City OF Lakeport," awaited the passen-
Mahons, is the largest, switteSt and most
| comfortable craft on the lake. Her grace
| ful lines were modelled after those of the
| five modern ocean racers, and she makes
fourteen miles an hour. Her Captain is
Cal. G. Mcmahon.
Nothing more delightful than this trip
OF twenty-one miles on the lake can be
imagined. A sense of delicious rest and
comfort takes the place of the exhilara-
ton of the stage ride. Clear Lake is a
long body Of water surrounded by mount
aims. Lower Lake, it's southern extern
sion, is narrow, but beyond the passage
called the "Narrows'' it broadens out to
width of eight miles. Along the shore are
many beautiful coves and little valleys,
singularly inviting retreats where people
OF means and taste may erect country
villas. The slopes and valleys are COW
cred with oaks and the shore configura-
ton is graceful.
| length of the lake is the only way of see
ing the matchless beauties of this pearl of
the Coast Range, and this part of the new
route to Bartlett Springs will no doubt be
/ considered the most delightful by many.
The most prominent figure of the land
scape is Mount KanOcti (unhappily often
| called "Uncle Sam Mountain',), a bold,
| twin-topped mountain 4, 700 feet high and
| rising abruptly out of the western shore
| Of the lake. From whatever point the
lake is viewed. Kanocti rears his head
above all things else, dominating the
| scene. A good deal of sentiment may
! find exercise in conjuring up the mys-
| terious relation of this majestic mountain
| to the peaceful sweetness and beauty of
| the lake.
The southern end of the lake is split by
long mountain spur dividing it into
Lower Lake and East Lake. AS we
| emerged from Lower Lake we found East
Lake swinging into view and at the lower
! end of it the great smelling works of the
Sulphur Bank Quicksilver Mine came
into view. On the left, near Mt. Kanocti,
was seen buckingham Park, charming
| spot owned by the San Francisco shoe
manufacturer. On the right, further up,
is Paradise Valley, owned by Captain
| Alters, and next to it the fine villa of the
| late Captain Floyd, President of the Lick
Trustees. Beyond came the Narrows,
and then the lake opens out behind the
| headlands. Soda Bay, with it's wonder
ful spring boiling up in it's center, is on
the left, and its hotel and bath-house are
! visible. Big Valley stretches out just
! beyond and further to the north is Lake
| port.
| Our steamer headed straight for Bart
lett Springs Landing, arriving at $50 P.
| NJ. One of McMahon & Co.'S fine new
| stages, skillfully driven by Ed. Walker
| Whose intimate friends call him
''Shorty''), took eleven of our party, the
others going in another stage.
| The ascent of the mountain range sep
arating the lake from Bartlett Springs
was begun at once-and what an ascent
| 1t was. The road crawls with serpentine
ingenuity, heading for every point of
the compass IN every mile. Hundreds
| of turns are made and as each one is at
| greater elevation than the other, and
all give an open view Of the lake, the
panorama is indescribably beautiful.
Lower and lower sinks the lake, and
wider and wider becomes the view. The
deep blue becomes an indigo, and in
places the surrounding wall of mountains
retreats, making room for valleys which
open themselves to view.
The highest point on the grade is 2,40O
feet above the lake, and from this eleva-
ton, looking almost straight down upon
the splendid sheet of water and its beauti-
fui environment, the panorama is match
less. The shifting cOlors on the water as
the sun reddening in the west, shines
through the cloud riffs: the purple
mountains in the distance; the white
| towns and shining green valleys far be-
| low; grim old kanocti, his eastern flank
soft violet hue, and his western blazing
red in the full light Of the setting sun
these are the dominating elements of a
picture that has no rival in all the region
west of the Sierras.
The summit is passed, the curtain is
dropped, the pine forest of sweet odors
/ and modest flowers is entered, and the
road swings steadily down the mount
aims to Bartlett Springs, every yard
picture and delight. 1t was $50 P. NJ,
and with it an eager appetite.
The springs are now under the man
agement of II. S. Greeley, the we'll
known hotel manager of San Francisco,
who, assisted by his wife, will increase
! the already wide fame of this resort.
Many side trips Of great interest may
be taken from this new route. At Calls
tOga close connection is made with the
stage line to the petrified forest and the
Geysers, and the main line passes close
| to the popular springs of Lake County
Seigler's, Adams, Howard's, Harbin's s
and others.