The record-union., 1892-06-13
WHAT THEY saw.
Fourth Group of Opinions of Eastern
Editors.
Their Observations Neutrality-suspicious.
Surprise Confessed-CaIifornia
Better Understood.

From great number of letters and
editorials in Eastern journals, repre-
sented In the late editorial visitation, the
RECoRD-UNIoN makes extracts. AS a
rule the letters are long and deal largely
IN details, statistics, descriptions Of
scenery, farming, orchards, vineyards,
soils, business, etc. OF necessity, there
fore, we omit those parts treating of facts
familiar to our people, and give para
graphs mainly rejecting the verdict of
the visitors.
[Clinton Qowa) Age.J
lSan Bernardino County described as
larger than four States; its soil, products
ana irrigation referred to. The trip to
San Diego briefly treated with; reference
10 orange groves, fruits and ocean scenes.
California has more climate TO the square
loot than any other country on the globe.
For instance, day before yesterday our
excursion party was at Fresno, and the
thermometer run up to ll5 points in the
shade, while to-day, at Monterey, people
who are not fitted out with oyercoats and
wraps, are staying in doors because of
the cold. But Fresno is not anxious TO
have any climatic changes even to please
visitors and make their stay the more
comfortable, because the people are en-
gagged in growing raisins, and the hotter
the sun the more luscious the grapes and
the more palatable the raisins.
FRESNO PRODUCTS,
We saw several ranches each contain
ing more than a thousand acres of grape
vines, and we visited packing houses that
would cover one of the additions to Clin-
ton and then run over onto The bluffs.
They grow grapes for wine III Fresno,
and their wineries are immense struct-
ures, where they have tanks OF the rich
and delicious liquids from which they
draw carload upon carload of the fine
juice OF the grape.
IRRIGATION.
All through this region wine is as
plenty as water, and yet not a vine grows
without the soil being irrigated. There
is water, water everywhere, and yet
people do not drink it. 1t is the purest of
water, usually brought long distance
from the mountains, and yet visitors are
seldom invited to drink the beverage. 1t
is wine, wine, wine, and it was no unu-
sual thing for our party, after being en-
tertained in right royal manner in some
little fruit valley, to return to the cars 10
find three or four bottles of wine in each
seat. . =
HOSPITALITY.
There is great deal of sameness in the
scenery visible from both cars and car
riages. At every station we are invited
to partake of a banquet, some of which
we accept and some we are compelled to
refuse. Whenever we stop any consid-
erable length of time carriages are in
readiness for free ride through the rich
valleys. These rides are becoming
very interesting feature of our excursion,
and when it is considered that some $50
carriages are required to accommodate
our party, one can realize the interest the
people of California are taking in our
welfare and pleasure.
VACAVILLE.
At Vacaville the ride was through
beautiful fruit groves which called forth
the wonder and admiration of our entire
party. Our ride here will have local
interest when we mention the fact that
the extensive groves are the property of
former Clintonian, the Hon. l.. w.
Buck.
San Jose referred to briefly; the
Sprinkled roadwayS commended; sur
prise expressed that the people in so new
q country can build such fine county
buildings.
A few miles north of San Jose is the
seat of the most richly endowed institu-
tion of learning in the world. Its found
ers, Senator and Mrs. Leland Stanford,
have designed this splendid benehcence
as a monument to their only child, Le-
land Stanford, Jr., who died in 1854 at the
age of l6 years.
Palo Alto and the University de-
scribed.l
COMMENT.
They have no hay in these valleys.
The fodder for farm animals is largely
barley cut green and made into what they
call hay. They have wheat hay which is
becoming as common as barley hay.
The grain is now being cut. Along our
route, but considerably south from here.
we saw corn standing five or six feet
high, and there were last years stalks
exhibited eighteen feet long.
To-day our entire party, with the addi-
ton of some three hundred citizens and
wives, including the Governor and his
staff, enjoyed steamboat ride around
the bay. 1t was grand treat and a reve-
lation to the most of our party. Exten-
sive refreshments were furnished on the
boat by the daily Examiner, and the
banqueting was followed by speech max
ing.