The record-union., 1896-05-21
IN AND AROUND CHICO.
Incidents Of the Valley Press League
Meeting.
The State Normal School and Gen.
eral Bidwelps Magnificent
Rancho Chico

There were many very pleasant incl
dents connected with the late meeting
OF the Sacramento Valley Press League
at Chico, which were not mentioned in
DETAIL in the telegraphic reports sent to
the different papers. The attendance
OF members of the league was not nearly
as large as it should have been. but
those who were present were deeply in
terested in the work Of the organization
and believe sincerely that it may be
made of great value, not only to Them
selves, but to all Of the people of the
Sacramento Valley. Plans were adopted
which will go far toward bringing about
at least some of the desired results.
On Monday morning a number of the
members of the League paid a visit to
the State Normal School and were es
corted through the Institution by the
Principal, Professor Robert F. Pennell,
whose able management has brought
this school up to very high rank. The
building is a handsome one, and is sit
uated in q beautiful park, laid out in
walks and driveways by a skilled land
scape gardener, and filed with choice
trees and flowers. Chico has long been
designated THE City of Roses and a
glance ait this park shows that She is
entitled to that appellation. The build
ing ITSELF while not so large as those at
San Jose and Los Angeles, is much bet
ter adapted to Normal School purposes
than either of them. The assembly and
classroorns are so situated that the Prin-
cipal, by standing at the head of the
stairway on the second floor, can see
every class pass in review as it goes to
its own room, being thus enabled to note
both the appearance and conduct of all
the pupils
When the visitors reached the school
the Normal scholars were all assembled
IN the spacious assembly room, and were
engaged in chorus singing. The visit
crs were given seats on the platform
and listened with pleasure to some
really excellent music, the very capable
and earnest instructress having evident
ly given special attention to time and
sharpness and precision Of attack After
the singing exercises closed the various
classes marched out of the assembly
room to their various classrooms
The school is in very prosperous
condition, there being 227 pupils in at
tendance, and each department is well
conducted. The general tone of the
school is excellent, earnesmess and thor
oughness being marked features of the
work. The showing made reflects much
credit upon Professor Pennell and his
able assistants. One Of the most inter-
esting features of the work at this school
is the ungraded training school The
marching of the little tots as they
left their classrooms was watched and
enjoyed by the visitors.
After leaving the Normal School the
visiting editors We're taken in carriages
Tor drive over portions Of General
Bidwells great Rancho Chico Major T.
H. Barnard leading the procession with
his elegant four-in-hand, Colonel c. c.
Royce, manager Of the Rancho Chico.
and Major A. L. Nichols acting as
guides. The sky was overcast, and the
weather threatening, but no party ever
had more enjoyable and interesting
ride. This vast rancho contains 250OO
acres Of the most productive land on the
face of the earth. On 1t are raised all
kinds of fruits, vegetables, agricultural
products and stock. 1t is only short
distance from the foothills on one side,
and in places it is covered with giant
oak trees, while streams Of pure, crystal
water, filed with trout meander through
ii for miles. AT one SPOT Major Barnard
drove his four-in- hand around under the
spreading branches of the largest oak
tree on the Pacific Coast. It's branches
measure 126 feet across. At another
place there were found growing 300 diff
ferent varieties Of trees.
The route lay for miles between great
fruit orchards-cherries, peaches, april
cots, plums, nectarines, oranges, lem
ons, prunes, olives, apples, pears and
almost every kind of fruit that could
be named. Then there were long rows
of walnut and chestnut trees. Here
field would be passed filled with horses
and mules and then a great dairy, with
hundreds Of cattle in the adjoining
fields. Through such scenes as these
the party rode for three hours at
good, lively gait, and yet saw only
portion Of this great estate. Every Wis
itor felt that he had passed through
verltable paradise and each expressed
the keenest sympathy with it's big
hearted owner because of the fact that
this year the unusual frost, something
unknown in the past, destroyed almost
all Of the early fruit and injured some
of the later varieties It was ride
which will never be forgotten by those
who participated in 1t.
At the afternoon session Of the league
the members were entertained in an
unexpected manner. General Bidwell
was present and was called upon by the
President for an address. There was
also present the Commissioner who is
engaged in making arrangements for
the California jubilee which is to take
place at Monterey in July. He had
been talking to General Bidwell on the
subject. with the result that the latter
was in a reminiscent mood when he
arose to address the meeting. After
briefly extending a welcome to the
members on behalf of the citizens of
Chico. he launched out into a detailed
account Of the career of General John
c. Fremont on this coast from 1874 to
1S4S. The recital was most interest
ing one and the editors learned many
things about the early history of Cali
fornia which have never been pub
llshed. The speaker paid high trib-
ute to the character of General Sutter