The record-union., 1892-09-10

so large as mans hand are the present
time tables from San Francisco to Port
land, San Francisco to Ogden, Sacra-
mento TO Los Angeles and New Orleans,
San francisco to Santa Margarlta, San
Francisco TO Santa Cruz, San Francisco
to points up and down both sides OF the
sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers
and along numerous branch or feeder
lines. 1t is a wonderful contrast and
shows at glance the marvellous growth
OF the transportation industry and how
it has eliminated distance and time in
the development of the production and
industries OF the State and the coast.
Among the curious exhibits are views
OF the first railway train in the United
States In 1881, picture of the first build
ing of the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany, mere clapboard shed that stood
at Front and | streets in this city; a
humorous sheet with Biblical quotations
about passes; picture of the old loco
motive A. A. Sargent: of Main street,
upper Cisco, with freight teams; view
OF the process of curving iron rails; an
emigrant train in Bonner Pass; the
poetry and the prose of transportation, an
emigrant OK train and a railroad train
side by side on the plains; an invita-
ton to a reception of the railroad di-
rectors by citizens of Sacramento, Sep
TENDER rs, 1869; picture Of the guests at
the G. P. Huntington reception, San
Francisco. May, 1888; 'The Dutch Flat
Swindle," broadly comic cartoon; view
OF Gold Run; Of the trestle at Clipper
Gap; of Bloomer Cut; of Heather Ravine
Bank; of the snow covering beyond
Cisco; Prospect Mill Cut, etc.
Over this railroad annex Captain
Knight, the well-known and genial rail-
road man, presides, and is ready at any
moment To explain to visitors and to re-
spond to any reasonable inquiries.
SANTA CLARA IN THE HISTORY SECTION.
AS an object lesson of the progress and
history of California, the exhibit from
Santa Clara County isa success. 1t COW
erS the various periods Of the Missionary,
spanish and Mexican rule, American
possession, pioneer days, and the present,
with objects of historical value.
In the case devoted to relics of Mission
Santa Clara. are found autographs letters
from FIR. Junipero Sierra, and from his
friend and biographer, Father Palou; the
baptismal records of the Mission Begin
ming with III, and other old books and
documents, beside numerous gorgeous
vestments brought by the founders of the
Mission.
1t is matter of authentic history that
when the Christianization of Alta Cali
fornia was determined, the King of Spain
and his Mexican NicerOy were deeply in
each of the contemplated Missions vest
ments and church furnishings Of the
most costly sort. 1t is with no surprise
then, that onG understanding this, is
shown priestly robes of the heaviest bro
caded silk, heavily trimmed with gold
and silver gallooh, such as could be sup
piled only from royal purse.
In the Santa Clara collection are two
sets of vestments, one Of green and gold,
the other white brocade and gold, which
were worn by FIR. Junipero Sierra upon
the occasions of his frequent visits to
Santa Clara. These bear their century
and quarter of age most gracefully,
being in a remarkable state of preserva-
ton.
A pretty memento of the Spanish era is
bridal handkerchief of white linen,
daintily embroidered in shades of blue,
by daughter of Don Luis Maria Peralta,
one Of the founders of the pueblo of San
Jose. This garment was wrought hun
dred years ago, and it tells-as no written
description can-of those Olden days,
when the bride and groom rode in eques-
TRAN procession from the old pueblo
along the newly-planted Alameda avenue
to the Mission church at Santa Clara. In
lieu of veil or other head covering the bride
Wore this pretty handkerchief" wrought
often by the loving hand of some near re-
lation or friend for the occasion.
In this era came also the soft, silken
"rebOSaS," which was the only Out-ot-
doors head-covering Of the Spanish lady,
and which, arranged with her inimitable
grace. was the cause of a vast amount of
damage among the masculine hearts OF
the period.
The Mexican era is illustrated by many
documents and pueblo archives, as well
as garments and other relics. These
archives make plain to the individual OF
modern times some remarkable features
of the old Alcalde system OF town gov
eminent. The Alcalde of those days was
a sort Of supreme patriarch, and decided
all questions, from that of (aS one petit
toner prays) compelling mans wife to
return to his arms at her own EXPENSE
she having gone with a handsomer
man." evidently-to that of the various
Indian questions Of the day.
Autographs letters from General SUIT
ter, General Halleck then Lieutenant
of Engineers at Monterrey, Commander
Hull, and others, besides documents bear
ing many famous signatures, form part
of the case of historic papers.
In this case are also copies of old news
papers, in which are published marked
events, such as the blowing up of the
steamer Jenny Lind between San Fran
cisco and Al4iso; the execution of the
notorious villain jim Stuart by the Wig
lance Committee of San Francisco, and
the prisoners full confession; the first
two years. files of the San Jose VISitor.
beginning June, 1851, and afterward
merged into the San Jose Mercury; a
copy of the California Star of October,
1916, containing the latest Mexican War
news, besides many others.
Among the early pioneer relics are
three old-fashioned hickory chairs, the
first of which was brought to California
in 1874 in the Murphy Party'-the first
emigrant train to cross the Sierra Ne
vadas; the second was brought in the
family of Isaac Branham in 1916, and the
third in the party of DR.. Louis Bascom
in 1849. The ladies of these families are
all well-known pioneer women.
An old piano, which attracts much
attention, is marked as Grandma
Bascom's," and is among the
very first pianos of California.
1t was shipped from Louisville.
KY, in lS49, around Cape Horn, to San
Francisco, whence it was shipped to San
Jose. The freight bill from San Francisco
to San lose was only $50! But that was
when people measured their gold dust by
the barrel, as was the case with many OF
the early pioneers, who too often use a
very much smaller measure for their to-
days possessions.
Among the relics of the Branham fam
lily may be mentioned: The first Ameri-
can churn brought into Santa Clara Val
ley: complete hunting outfit of leather
brought from Kentucky and worn by
Isaac Branham il hunting until his death;
decanter and brandy glass that did duty
in the first California Legislature-thato OF
"a thousand drinks'-and tea canister
that came directly from the Boston tea
party of 1873.
These are hanked by pair of old-fash-
Toned saddle-bags that were owned by
Colonel Younger of San Jose and kept
him company in trips by land and water
innumerable to California, Mexico and
various other places.
This exhibit occupies four large show
cases and over sixty feet of wall space.
A magnificent display from Lick Oh