The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-09-21

which are forty miles in length. are
passed and we are surrounded by great
banks of snow, which were seen here at
the summit, on the 18th day of July. Just
over the summit the road passes near the
famous gold mines of 40. The placer
mines are still visible. with huge masses
of debris which have been torn from the
hillsides in the washing processes.
We are on the Western slope now with
its orchards and vineyards. The beauti-
full and wonderfully productive Sacra-
mento valley soon comes to meet us, and
after a few hours ride, and the crossing
of the ferry, with its ample accommoda-
lions for the longest train, we pass into
the city of Oakland. All along the eye
is entranced with the most beautiful
views of water and land. Here at last the
vision of the Golden Gate bursts upon
the view, and the long but delightful
trip across the continent is ended.
Truly California is the golden State,
and today her soil is yielding far more
gold than her mines ever did. Rich in
resources she is wonderful State.
California! Rare California Yonder
she rests Her head of gold pillowed on
the Sierras. her feet in the grain fields,
vineyards and orange groves.
Her great city, San Francisco. is a cos
mopolitan city Here is the dweller from
every Nation under heaven. The Dago
frov, Jtolx, ord tho baathop fro,p aorocc
the Chinese seas. Her busy streets and
her healthful parks, and her beaches
with the seal rocks, covered with seals,
and cliff-locked harbor make the city an
object of peculiar interest to every trav-
eler. The people-ar very kind and hos
pitable, reminding one much of the Vir
ginians Many of them haYe come from
Virginia, in fact.
The most interesting portions of the
city is district called mob Hip and
the Chinese Quarter. In the first are the
residences of Croker. Leland Stanford,
Flood and Mills, none of which cost less
than one million dollars. In the other
dwells the Monaghan resident from Asia
whose deportation to his own land Mr..
Geary and the Governor of California
seem so much interested at present.
The State has every variety of soil and
climate. In the morning you may be in
the tropics, at night in the region Of eter-
nal snow. The grain and fruit belts,
with the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Valleys are the best known. The South
ern section has, in winter, a delightful
climate, well suited for those afflicted
with lung troubles. The Yosemite Val
ley, with the big trees of course, is the
attraction for tourists. The most casual
observer cannot fail to be impressed
with the miles and miles of grain fields,
and fruit lands; every kind of fruit,
covering thousands or acres. The wheat
is harvested by machine drawn by "a
horses. which heads, threshes and sacks
the grain, depositing four or five sacks
in place.
The Northern part OF the State is filled
with sparkling streams aud spleudid for
ests, and above them all towers the glo-
rious Mount Shasta covered with the
SHOWS of a thousand yearf. These great
and quiet woods are very interesting
Through these, and picturesque valleys
with superb landscapes, as well as over
high mountains, always with the snow
capped peaks in the distance, you press
on to Portland, Oregon. The morning
we arrived there, the new Battleship
Monterey entered the city, and was
given an enthusiastic reception by the
citizens.
Portland, Tacoma and Seattle are the
great new towns of the Northwest. The
lumber and shipping business is the
basis of the prosperity of these and many
others. Tacoma and Seattle are especial>
ly thrifty.
At Tacoma, Washington, one evening
about + o'clock, we turned our faces to-
wards the East, and started through the
vast and silent forests on the long jour
ney to the Alleghanies. The scenery
and some towns on the Northern Pacific
R'y are worth seeing. But the great OBJ
ject of interest on this line is the Yellow
stone Park. Stops should be made at
places like Spokane Falls and Helena,
Montana, the richest city in the world in
proportion to its population. The CLUB
House in Helena cost $4,000. The
Broadwater Hotel and Nalatorium are
just in the edge of Helena. The bathing
pool is the largest hot water pool in the
world, being $50 feet wide by 800 feet
in length. The temperature OF the water
is about 500 Fahrenheit.
At Livingtone, Montana, the Branch
Line conveys the people to Cinnabar,
where they take Concord Stages, drawn
by splendid teams and over good roads,
for six days journey through the Park,
The Park is so miles wide by so miles in
length. 1t has four well kept hotels be-
sides lunch stations; and great variety
of wild animala, as bear, deer, antelope,
elk and buffalo, besides innumerable
curiosities in the shape of hot springs,
geysers, petritied forests, &c. The Park
Is kept for a pleasure ground by the
Government and is under the control OF
the Secretary of the Interior, who sees
that it is well policed by troop OF cav
airy. No game is allowed to be killed
Fish can be taken with iInpunity. The
bear and deer are comparatively tame
and are often seen. The hot water gey'
sers attract great attention. These throw
the hot water for 80, go and 100 feet into
the air. The most famous Of these Il
the .Old Faithful which plays every
65 minutes with great regularity. Tht
Canon and Great Falls of the Yellow
stone gave the writer more pleasure thar
any other part of the Park. The Fall
are magnificent and the Canon has to b