The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-04-27
California to Oregon Overland.
Correspondence of The Journal. I

Correspondence of The Journal
STOCKTON, CALF, April 9, 1890 We
have driven only about 1870 miles this
week. We arrived at Stockton Friday
afternoon at O clock and stopped to give
the horses a rest We are now about 49,
miles on our journey, and have given the
teams but day and a half rest. 1t has
been rather hard on our team as two of
them are colts; one is years old in May
and the other is 4. In Maine we would
not think of working colts of that age
They weigh over /, POO pounds each
The country over which we have passed
is grain producing section and is nearly
! ali level plain, except about the rivers,
where there is rolling land. There is
hardly anything produced between Fresno
and Stockton but wheat and barley This
is the heart of the great San Joaquin val
| ley, which is from = to $50 miles wide.
/ We have come through thousands of acres
OF rich green grain, and the fields are a
sight which thousands of eastern people
would 90 miles to see. There has been a
heavy rain and the grain looks exceeding
ly well. 7 he deep golden California
poppy, a little white flower like butter
cup, little sulphur yellow flower like
| the same, blue sun dals, pink and purple
flowers, all wild, extend as far as eye
can see in any direction. This is the car
pet, with the grain as background. 1t is
a sight that am unable to picture on pa
per; it is simply gorgeous
We have followed along the Southern
Pacific r. r. all the way thus far, except
in the mountains, and we pass through
many places which appear as towns on
the map, but which in reality are only
shipping sidings for grain. We have
| crossed the Kings San Joaquin, MERGED
and Tuolamne rivers and they are all very
nice bodies of water; but as a rule in
Southern California the rivers are usually
dry rivers-nothing but sand for about 9
months in the year. The soil along tie
rivers is the best in the country, and the
scenery is beautiful at this season of the
year They are lined with large oak trees
for some distance along the banks, and il
makes such "A contrast with so much sur
rounding territory with trees of no kind.
The only important towns we have pas
sed through this week are MADEIRA, MERGED
and Oakdale, the principal industry of
which is grain and grapes. Through this
region is where you SEE the big farm
mules, with span of mul~s to a plow
tuning over the soil; los head of mules
blowing in one field is not often seen in
the East. They drive with a jerk line, and
the teams understand their business to
perfection and make the turns as nicely as
horse team. They are blowing for
fall sowing and will have better crops this
year than for the past five years.
Stockton is busy city from now until
long after harvest season. Here they are
putting up the havesting machines with
all the force of men that can be worked,
as the demand for them is the greatest
known. These machines have cut of
from Is to 20 feet, and it takes from 80 to
40 horses TO push them over the grain
field. They are horse killers, indeed; for
it is impossible to make SO many hosres
all do their part. 1t only takes 5 men to
run these machines. Stockton has splen-
did railway connections, with two roads,
do bac FOO WI, !, ~;
to San Francisco. 1t makes it q great
grain centre. There are four flour and
rolling mills, machine shops and foundries
here, which give employment to large
number of men. The demand for horses
and men for the harvest season will be
the largest for years. Here is located
one of the States Insane Asylums which is
well managed and kept up in nice shape.
We leave here MONDAY for Sacramento,
and will visit the State Capitol. All are
well and enjoying our trip. We are learn
ing the Gypsy and Arab styles all the time
and improving as we journey on. We have
had no accidents or losses, except losing
our little dog "Midget," which was miss
ing last Monday afternoon, since which
time no tidings have been received of her
whereabouts. We got chung up'' once in
land slide where it came down across the
road, and we had to dig out some and put
six horses on each wagon to get through.
The land came down gulch mixed with
water and rock and filled the road from 2
to 2 12 feet deep. All is we'll with us
thus far, and all are able to take their full
rations three times daily. The last two
days were scorchers and we are glad to
camp by the wayside. In summer this is
the hottest part of California.
| CLARENCE H. LUTHER
| ALT