Amador ledger., 1900-04-13
DR.. Gibbons Writes the Led
ger Of the Trip.
AAADORGlTY, GRAND VIEW, CANYON, PLYMOUTH
Son Of M. Butler of Plymouth, Takes
a Pistol to School and Receives
Bullet In His Hand.
LETTER FROM DIR. GIBBONS.

SEATTLE, WASH, April 3, 1900.
Dear Ledger:
Since bidding goodby to Jackson
and the friends it holds, we have seen a
panorama both varied and interesting.
The ride to Latrobe Thursday morning
was pleasant beginning, and the race
OF a mile that Mr.. Avise made to catch
the 8 8o'clock train was a sensation and
success. Reaching Sacramento at
9;20 and Woodland at IL, gave time to
attend to some business affairs and
have a pleasant visit with old friends
until the 4u'clock train came along,
and at s we were in San Francisco.
Not having slept any for forty-two
hours and very little for four days, |
had no inclination for anything but rest,
so | went to the Turkish baths, spent
nearly. two hours in the hot room and
steam tank where the temperature is
from 1902 to 1700, then, after the scrub
bing and massage and a plunge in the
swimming tank, wrapped the Turkish
robe about me and enjoyed delicious,
dreamless twelve hours sleep, and
awoke feeling like an entirely new man.
Friday was spent in making prepar.
ations, and Saturday morning at
o'clock we started for the far north via
the Shasta Route of the Southern Pa.
- L.0a Of
rical friends were at the ferry to see
him off. With the company he had
engaged to play with him the coming
season, we nearly filled Pullman coach.
This is the most pleasant season oi
the year to make the trip. The wheat
fields orchards and vineyards of Sol.
ano, Yolo and Colusa give promise Of
coming abundance. At noon we
reached Arbuckle, our old home, where
Maud joined us, and hearty hand.
shake was given by a crowd of old
friends. The region looked familiar,
but it was saddeniug to see an entire
absence of progress or improvement.
No new paint or even whitewash. The
population of this region is less than il
was fifteen years ago. The whole
country is a wheat field, except few
orchards and vineyards, and constant
planting of the same crop has reduced
the yield fully one half. At Willows We
crossed the unfinished, weed filled irri.
CATION ditch, monument to the folly
of the "kickers - who spent more
money to prevent the completion of the
ditch than it would have cost to finish
it. Now they see their mistake, when
it is too late.
AT Corning we saw the thriftiest part
of northern California. Large tracts
of land have been subdivided and
sold in small pieces to settlers. Hun.
dreds of little cottages show where new
homes have been made and the land is
being planted with fruit trees and vines.
Red Bluff and Redding show improve
ment and prosperity. AT Redding the
tillable land OF the Valley stops, and
only ravine remains along which fol
about 100 miles the train climbs, cross.
ing the river sixteen times and thread
ing dozen tunnels, showing beautiful
bits of scenery atevery turn. Darkness
shut off the best of the views, but we
remained up to see the ghostly outlines
of Castle Crag and enjoy the magni6-
cent, though indistinct, view Of Shasta,
standing like the Queen of Night with
her robe of starchy whiteness reaching
to her very feet. When we awoke Sun
day morning we had crossed the Siski-
you and the train was climbing up and
rafting down the rugged hills of south
ern Oregon. Running down the Villa
mette Valley, filled with rich fields and
well kept homes, we reached Portland
at dark and remained in the metropolis
of Oregon until Monday noon. The
Northern Pacific Railroad brought us
across the State of Washington and
landed us in Seattle in time for supper
Monday night.
With due credit to California, it is
but fair to say that California is far be-
hind the North West in "hustle. "
The train from Portland yesterday had
twelve cars all filed and runs two trains
each way daily. The day coaches
carry sixty people each. 1 counted in
the paper seventeen ads of ships going
to Alaska. Everybody seems to be on
the. jump here. Seattle has four rail
roads instead of one. Everybody is wild
about Alaska and from one to four
steamers or sailing vessels leave for the
north every day.
But fear of tiring your patience.
We leave for Juneau at o'clock to-
night. Yours as ever,
G. II. G.
AMADOR CITY.