The Penn's Grove record., 1894-11-16

siness carried me to the business part
of the town hunting up material for
my new enterprise which | shall start
up in a short time in Contra Costa
county.
On the 10Th inst / took passage on
the steamer, Pride of the River, q large
stern wheeler, for my new home, and
after steaming up Frisco Bay soon came
in sight Of Goat Island, rising $40 feet
out of the water. The next Island that
showed up was Angel Island, but /
failed to see any Of the angels. This
is the largest and most valuable island
in the bay and contains W 600 acres
of excellent land watered by natural
springs. Uncle Sam has this island
mounted with heavy guns and garrison
ed by soldiers, so in case oftrouble with
any power, here is a natural Fort for
protection. Soon the steamer passed
the navy yard, Mares Island, where the
gun boat Bennington is being overhaul
ed, prepatory for her trip to see who is
coming out on top, China or Japan.
We are now on San Fable Bay and at.
ter coaling up with soft coal costing
s11 90 per ton at Port Costa, enter
| Cardenquez straits, and are soon tied
| up at the wharf at Martinez. my future
new home. The first glance reminded
me of PENIS Grove as a long Pier Is
constructed from the main land, but
seeing no familiar faces and the
1 Ulrica was not there.
1 walked up into the town 10 hunt
the Post office and to get my mall,
which had accumulated quite consider
able. Yes, the Post Mistress was glad
to see me same as Phebe IL at your Of
flee as she handed sumo thirty odd let
tiers to me, also papers, Penn's Grove
Records among the rest. After per-
suing my mail / took d stroll around
the town and took quarters at the new
Commercial Hotel. After dinner
CHATS what they call supper m this
sectioD) | retired TO be aroused at mid
night by loud knocking at my door ard
the cry of fire. Hastily jumping into
my shoes, minus, socks and clothes, |
got out on the street and found that a
bakery in the rear Of the Hotel was on
Gre. AS the wind vas very light and
blew from the Hotel, The FIRE soon
died down, and at 8 O'Clock a. m, !
went to my room and was soon in the
arms of morpheus.
Early next morning I took u birds
eye view of MARTINEZ, ard found it a
pleasant village Of 1900 inhabitants
composed of Spanish, Italians, Greeks,
Portuguese, Chinese and Americans,
contains one baking Co., one hotel,
IA saloons. 5 general stores, barber
shops and the general line OF small
shops, &c. 1t is situated in a valley
bounded on the left by Cardenquez
straits and Suisun bay, on the right by
the coast range mountains. A pleas
ant village among the hills. Fruit
trees of all kind, and vines of every
description abound. and the inhabitants
of the towns and surrounding country
are mainly engaged in horticulture
Martinez is the countAseat Of Contra
Costa County and Is az ost quiet and
charming place of residence. Citrons
fruit, grapes Of all varieties and decid'
ious fruits flourish and grow without
irrigation, and the climate is SO milt
that semi-tropical plant grow out O
doors without any special protection
Mount Diaheo with its snow crested
top, can be seen plainly from my win
dow. 1t has an elevation Of $500 fee
and from my window I can look gu
upon green lawns all the year around
Indeed this is the finest part fwa
Hunted sratessT mFssH5g~i~aa.
pleasure of being IN the have been il
every state from : o,chusetts /
Georgia. Every day 1sts.1e year yo'
can have strawberrieAlml raspberrie
picked fresh daily and W The apricot
peach, plum, pear. poms ianiN lasclar
ines, almonds, figs, Osrries, apples
oranges, grow all the pear around
, Truly is not this a wonderful country
Green peas, fresh from the vines, il
fact all kind of vegetables Are brough
to your door by MI. John Chinamal
daily. in large grotesque basket swunl
from a large pole. Almonds and nut
of all kinds are grown every where.
, The melons and citrons are not q
I good as in New Jersey and as for SWEET
potatoes, New Jersey out ranks all III
states. Sweets sell here for &c. pc
pound but are Of not much account
a They remind me of the South Carolin
, yams. When you come to The ques
tion of grapes then California comes =
the front and carries off the laurels an
O palms, Tons and tons of grapes ar
e raised here in this section for wine nal;
ing, and as many as fifty thoussn
boxes of 100 pound each, go by m
' boarding house daily to the winerie
, or still house. They net the farmer 0
rancher from S5.00to S. 90 per tot
White or red claret wine sells for 15f
D per gallon, so you may know IL don
0 take much money for to have u prett
good time. l might add that after III
fire l secured boaId in a private famil
/ of Spanish people eiesa to ny propose
8 works, and have for my next door roor
mate Judge Griffith. a very prominen
+. lawyer of this county. We get alon
: very nicely, save on the political ques
tion, the Judge being a strong Dernu
crat while your scribe still adheres I
the best party in the land, the good oil.
Republican party, who athis fall vii
R---a