The record-union., 1891-05-09
BARTLETT SPRINGS.
The Southern Pacific Opens a New
Line of Travel.
Delightful Drive From Ca1istoga Over
the Mountains to Lake County, 'the
American Switzerland


Bartlett Springs by the Southern Pacific
Company, William Spiers and McMahon
d Co., is SO important a contribution to
the comfort and pleasure of travellers that
its value is bound to find instant appre-
citation. The line was put into operation
on the 4tn instant, and among the nine
teen passengers who made the initial
trip was representative of this journal.
1t is rare enough pleasure alone to visit
Lake County, with its beautiful lake. its
great variety of hot and cold medicinal
springs, its charming mountain scenery,
its famous mines and its delightful
streams threading the mountain gorges;
but this pleasure is increased many times
by the remarkable variety of the new
route and the opportunity it presents to
the residents of the central part of the
State to make the whole trip in one day.
This includes the country contiguous to
San Francisco. Sacramento, MarysYille,
Knights Landing and Woodland.
The train leaves San Francisco at 7:30
A. NJ. The train from Sacramento, leav-
ing at 6:l5 A. NJ, connects at Davis with
trains from Marysville, Knights Landing
and Woodland, arriving at Suisun at
7:4O A. NJ, and connecting there with local
train, and at Napa Junction with the train
Tor CallStOga at $3.50 A. NJ.
The Southern Pacific Company takes
the passengers by rail to Calistoga; thence
William Spiers takes them in his fine
stages to Lower Lake Landing; thence
Mcmahon & Co. take them over Clear
Lake TO Bartlett Springs Landing, and
thence over the stage road to Bartlett
Springs.
The new route is one of remarkable di-
VerSity and interest, Passengers from
San Francisco, for instance, cross by the
ferry to Oakland, take train for Vallejo
junction and CaliStoga, take the stage for
Lower Lake Landing, take the steamer
for Bartlett Springs Landing, and wind
up with a stage ride to the springs.
Each Of the different sections of the
route is short, interesting and reStful, and
each has charms peculiar to itself. To
accomplish all this in one pleasant days
ride, with no annoyance or Inconvenience
of any kind, and with every possible
wish anticipated, is to enjoy the most de-
Hghtful days picnic imaginable. There
is nothing comparable to it in days
ride anywhere else in the State.
The tirms cooperating in this enter
prise with the Southern Pacific Company
have entered heartily into the spirit of it,
and have provided the finest travelling
accommodations to be had. A single
ticket bought at the starting point takes
the traveller through.
All are familiar with the ride as far as
Vallejo Junction. The boat-ride thence
across the straits to Vallejo brings one
past Mare Island and the Navy-yard, full
of interest. Then the traveller enters the
Napa Valley, famous for its vineyards
and orchards and beautiful towns.
Everybody has heard of the wines of
Napa, but few have seen the great vine
yards carpeting the valley and sweeping
over the hills III waves Of green and vel
low and crimson, surrounding massive
stone wineries, in which are stored mill
ions of gallons of precious wine ripenin :.
for fastldiOus palates. Here one finds
wealth and refinement, manifested in
handsome rural homes and such beauti-
ful towns as Napa, st. Helena, Calistoga
and others.
Near Napa are the famous Napa Soda
Springs and the imposing buildings of
the insane asylum, all in full view from
the train. Popular medicinal springs
are along the route. The whole Napa
Valley, though narrow, is beauti-
ful. On either hand are mountains. The
valley closes in at Calistoga, where the
railroad comes to an end
The train arrives at l0:45 A. NJ. and the
passengers at once take Mr.. Spiers'
stages-handsome affairs drawn by six
horses each. Mr.. SpierS himself took the
ribbons for the initial trip. His team
dashed through the principal streets of
Calistoga and headed at once for Mt. ST.
IACItlldf d bON GIIllS gray ClIlClef cone with
Its head IN the clouds. Later the clouds
dritted away and the symmetrical peak.
Surmounted by the geodetic monu-
ment, and standing $500 feet above the
sea and 3, 700 feet above Calistoga lowered
far above the surrounding mountains
DO we have to cross that mountain ?''
i asked passenger.
Yes, sir" answered Mr. Spiers, s'and
we'll be on the other side in thirty
minuteS.'
And 80 we were; but the road. instead
OF climbing to the summit, passes along
the side at an elevation of 3, 900 feet This
Is done with many curious turn as the
fine road winds upward into the noun
talns; and at every turn a new view of
Napa Valley is secured. 1t is a wonder
ful panorama, and the great hight from
which 1t is seen makes birds nests of the
towns and carpet patterns of the vine
yards.
The summit was reached. fresh horses
were taken, and then began the rapid
drive down the canyon on the other side.
Napa County was left and Lake County
entered. The massive coach swung
gracefully on its hinges as the six horses,
so sklllfully handled, rounded the most
bewIIderlng curves, headed shady can
yons, dashed over bridges spanning noisy
streams eagerly working their way to the
sea, and passed under the shadow ofpines
and madronas and massive oaks up
which climbed wild grapevines. The
perfume of wildflowers was delicious.
Honeysuckles lined the road and mill
ions of white dOgwood blossoms grinned
boldly at the passengers. Ferns and
lilies abounded everywhere. CANYONS
and gorges all filled with rich verdure.
alternated with broad open stretches of
barren hills, blue in the distance.
Before reaching the summit after leav-
ing Callstoga one may see a long mass of
bcId, perpendicular rocks to the right and
among these may be noticed a curious
natural formation, the "Petrified Bear"
perfect image of an enormous crouching
grizzly on an isolated rock.
On this road also one sees the mouth OF
the tunnel Of the old Calistoga gold and
silver mine and also the great Bradford
quicksilver mine. Most interesting to
All who haNeread Robert Louis Steven
sons powerful story, 1.-The Silyerado
Squatters,n is the old Silverado mine.
around which the strange romance was
woven.
Middletown, situated in the Covote Val
ley, IS the stopping place for luncheon,
served IN appetizing form by Hank
Moore, popular caterer thereabout
Near Middletown is the Guinoc Ranch.
known otherwise as the Langtry-Geb-
hardt stock farm, where the famous
actress indulgcS her taste for blooded
horses.
At Middletown fresh horses again were
taken and Mr.. Spiers surrendered the
lines to Fred Higgins, driver of re-
narkable skill. The pretty town and its
great oaks were left behind, the broad
Putah Greek crossed, and the stage
headed for Lower Lake. Horses were
changed again at Green's, a wayside
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