The morning call., 1891-03-08
NOTES FROM NILES.
How the Valley Should Be Seen.
Society Events-GO0d Crops.

Almonds are in blossom everywhere;
aprcots, peaches and nectarines are coming
slowly out and in another three weeks the
valley from any one of the knobs about
town Will be one great dOwny, Swaying
mass of pink and white. Indeed, one should,
to see things, get up above them. One gen.
tleman, an Eastern visitor, remarked when
taken up on the hillside, "Ah, now. see
California. l have ridden by lovely places,
walked through the orchards and orange
groves, but now l see them, indeed" The
Alameda Creek spread out and fills num-
berless slOughS as it nears the bay beyond
the glttering waters Of which the outlining
Santa Cruz mountains may be seen, but the
valley nearer. stretching away to the north
west and south, is vast checker-board of
unequal squares and oblongs, pink, gray,
red, brown and green, with roadway lined
with stately gums or branching peppers,
clusters of brighter green about the farm
houses, the slender streams and the spread
ing lagoon. an occasional sail upon 1t, each
season lends its colorlng and each with
befutes decidedly its own.
The pedestrian clubs of San Francisco
or Oakland would find near Niles most sat
Isfactory trips if they desired; a day could
| be well spent exploring the canyon, eXamin-
ing the old mill, the ndobes, the Spring Val
ley Water COmpany'S reservoirs, etc, the
orange groves and quarry; or, going fur
ther to lrvlngton, walking mile through
the Gallegus olive avenue. peering at the
many things of interest in the old Mission
San Jose, and ascending Mission Peak be-
hind the town, from whose bald and rocky
point perhaps the fathers have looked en-
chanted, or the Indians have lighted their
signal fires, TO be answered from Diablo,
! HamitOn, Tamalpals, the Twin Peaks or
the ranges of the Santa Cruz 10 the south,
with the Sierras, snow-tipped, to the east,
and to-day the orchards OF Livermore, Sunol
Santa Clara and Alameda valleys lying beau
tlful below it.
The prices for dried fruits still ruling in
the Eastern and San Francisco markets, and
the talk this early in the season of prices to
be, incline the farmer 10 believe that the
prices for fresh fruit will be as high this
season as last, with the prospect of a much
larger crop than last year. 1t is pretty well
known that the stock OF 1880 has been closely
cleared up, both on this Coast and in the
East, and farmers are feeling quite cheerful
at the prospect
The interests in any fruit section are so
varied that it is almost impossible for
farmers to combine 10 command the same
prices. An orchard may have peaches and
plums. Peaches being in demand and no sale
for plums. to make Il sale for all he is willing
TO let his peaches 90 for 0ne-half or three
fOurths OF cent less, while his neghbOr,
with only peaches, commands the better
prices, and his other neghbOr, with only
plums, must do the best he can and trust to
luck that plums shall be in demand the fol-
lowing year. Again, prices tiuc,uate con-
stantly during the season, and the condition
OF farmers purse cOmpels him many times
to sell, no matter what the prices be; and
just here rests the Farmers Alliance great
est argument for Government warehouses,
wherein he may store nom periShable goods,
being advanced a certain part of their value
upon payment of per cent interest.
The rainfall has been sufficient to insure
of artrthi hirc mot i
here hay, grain, vegetables and fruits. The
fall has been little over eleven inches,
against a little over thirty last season at this
date. The creek is full, being impossible
for wagons at any of The crossings. Last
Saturday it was the highest this'year the
two or three warm days having melted
what little snow was upon the ranges near
its source. Several times in the last forty
years ii has flooded portion of town, but
now it would be impossible for it to do so,
for its channel has been deepened much by
the removal of gravel from the pit Just be-
low the bridges, and because of the en-
bankments for the railroad, which have cut
off a few of the sloughs that formerly ran
through town. Last year the water only
lacked three or four inches of running over
the bank back of the blacksmith-sh but
it would have found its way back to the
creek a little farther down, and could not
have done any damage.
The first wooden house was built in Niles
in about 1855. and was brought in sections
from Germany. The owner, who had been in
Niles during the previous year, when the
whole place had been flooded. had the house
built upon stits, much to the amusement of
the few people about. There has never been
but one flood since, in about 1880, and the
house had long been gone.
a most enjoyable lunch was given last
Saturday night by Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
Clarke. About thirty invitations had been
sent out, but on account of the high water in
the creek, a very few only, who drove cross
lots, were present After the luncheol the
afternoon was spent in music, songs and
re- itations, tine host giving in 4 mastery
style, "Tam o'Shanter" and Adiison's
flynn to the Creator"
The Ladies' Guild met Wednesday last at
Mrs G. Z. Crttenden's. about forty ladies'
upon clothing to fill box for charitable
purposes. The subject for discussion,
Associated Charities" was psstnoned
until next time us the leader, Mrs. Ford,
was not present
Rev. +. H. Maar and James Shinn at
tended the Congregational Church Conyen-
tiOn, held in Haywards on Thursday last.
The next meeting OF the kind will be held in
about three months from now in Niles.
The Spare Minute Circle met last Satur-
day evening at Miss Laura Thames. Although
a stormy night about thirty members were
present. Several questions OF importance
were discussed in very animated manner.
The young people have become quite con-
yersant with parliamentary rules, all bust
ness being conducted quietly aud quickly.
After short programme and few mo-
ments spent in conversation they departed
early on account OF the rain.
Asparagus and rhubarb are ready for the
table.
New potatoes are being shipped.