Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-09-03
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 3, 1908.
SACRAMENTO TO SAN FRANCISCO

Besides being the capitol of the State,
Sacramento ranks thirdi in population and
commercial Importance. tits handsome
ly built and it's shaded streets and flower
Ornamented yards present an exceedingly
attractive appearance. 1t has com
plete system of street electric railway
and more trains arrive and depart each
day than in any other town or city in the
State. Sacramento being the geograph-
ical center, it is the distributing point
for California. Three-fourths of all the
fruits shipped Ifrom the state each year
are sent from this point. 1t is this place
all the principal buyers and shippers To-
cate for the purchase of fruits and veg
etables
The Southern Pacific Railroad shops
employing about 5000 men and are locat-
ed here, also the largest cannery and
packing houses in the state. Here are
many substantial business blocks, elegant
residences and good hotels. The capitol
was permanently located here in 1854,
and the present capitol building is said to
have cost three millions of dollars, and is
the finest building in California.
The State Agricultural Society has al
so an extensive park for the exhibition
of stock and one of the finest race tracks
vi Which, SoIIlC VI llt DSoI IOl III IliS
world try their speed.
A large free public library maintained
by the city is here. The Croker Art
Gallery, donated to the city of Sacrament
to by the philanthropic millionaire whose
name it bears, contains some of the fin
est paintings and statuary together with
an extensive cabinet of minerals, etc.
They are displayed in splendid brick
and iron building three stories high.
Sacramento is 80 miles from San Fran
cisco and is connected with the latter by
railroad and river steamers. Leaving
Sacramento by rail we cross the Sacra
mento river by long bridge and then
pass through sWampy country known
locally as the "Tules'. The track is ell
elated above the danger of floods by
means of entertainments and trestle
bridge. At Benicia we come to the Car
quineZ straits and in order to reach Porta
Costa the journey is continued on the
Solano, said to be the largest ferry boat
in the world. This boat can transport at
one time large freight train and conse
quently finds no difficulty in bearing our
entire train including the big locomotive
safely across the straits, distance of
over a mile with an expenditure of about
twenty minutes time. To many of the
passengers this experience is novel one
and the cars are quickly emptied by their
occupants to enjoy tramp on the deck
of the big ferry boat and get a good
view of the nearby waters. The cars
are run directly on to the boat and when
Porto Costa is reached the journey by
rail is resumed Sea going ships can be
seen lying close to the wharves and we
begin to appreciate the fact that our long
journey to the Pacific coast is nearly
completed.
Reaching Oakland we pass from the
cars through small station to the ferry
boat. The bay of San Francisco lies to
our right and beyond can be seen the
spires of the great city of the same name.
Owing to the disaster that lately befel
San Francisco, the newspapers and mag
azines have been giving out all kinds Of
information, so we will not attempt any
details we might feel inclined to give,
but will now conclude the description of
our trip. F. A. r.
Descriptive matter of trip to Nigga