,a ,,start ,,in ,,life4 ,a ,journey ,across ,america4 ,,fruit ,,farming ,,in ,,california4 ,,by ,c4,f4 ,,dowsett1 ,author of ,striking ,events in ,irish ,history1 etc41 etc4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,dowsett ,co41 #c1 ,,lincoln',s ,,inn ,,fields4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,price ,,one ,,shilling4 ,a ,,start ,,in ,,life4 99 99 99 99 99 ,plans1 ,maps1 ,views1 ,books1 ,samples of ,fruits1 ,soils1 etc41 etc41 of ,land at ,merced1 in ,california1 may be seen at the ,offices of ,,messrs4 ,,dowsett ,,co41 #c1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,london1 where also further particulars and introductions to the owners at ,merced may be obtained4 ,,contents4 ,a ,suggestion to ,persons ,seeking a ,start in ,life ,special ,advantages ,comparison and ,warning ,across ,america-- ,london to ,chicago ,chicago to ,san ,francisco ,san ,francisco to ,now ,orleans ,new ,orleans to ,london ,information ,about ,california ,currency ,merced ,price of ,land ,american ,surveys ,special ,instruction ,provided ,various ,estimates as to what could be done with ,various ,amounts of ,capital ,price of ,fruit ,trees ,when ,fruit ,trees ,pay ,position of a ,settler ,cost of ,board and ,lodging ,raisin ,culture ,irrigation ,olive ,culture ,special ,openings ,potato ,growing ,cost of ,provisions1 etc41 at ,merced ,cost of ,journey by ,sea and ,land ,analysis of ,merced ,soils ,position of the ,vendors ,illustration3 ,map of ,north ,america with ,atlantic and ,pacific ,oceans4 ,the dotted lines across ,america1 indicate my journey1 the ,northern one going1 the ,southern one returning4 ,c4,f4,d4 ,a ,start in ,life4 ,i have entitled this little book ,a ,start in ,life1 because it conveys information which would enable any person possessing a small capital1 with some industry1 patience1 and steady habits1 to make a start in life which1 humanly speaking1 could not fail of success4 ,the old countries of ,europe contain a superabundant population2 every branch of professional and commercial life is so overcrowded1 that there exists a competition so keen1 as to reduce the incomes of the largest1 and1 in many cases1 to prevent the smallest workers1 in whatever sphere1 from getting a remunerative return for the activities of brain1 muscle1 and money4 ,to inform the public1 therefore1 how a young man may make a first start in life1 or an older man a fresh start in life1 is offering an advantage which1 ,i doubt not1 will be appreciated by many who read these pages4 ,i am prepared to hear the objection that1 in the proposals set forth herein1 ,i am seeking a personal advantage as ,agent for the sale of the lands at ,merced1 in ,california1 that ,i refer to1 and ,i meet it with this statement3 ,let the objector consider his prospects of success in the place where he now is1 and if they are reasonably good1 let him stay there2 if they are not1 then let him intelligently consider what his capabilities are--whether he has any special or technical knowledge1 and1 if so1 in what place he can expect the best return for a full use of his talents4 ,if any opening appears probable in any of the old countries1 he will1 perhaps1 first consider that2 but if he can see no opening at home1 then let him consider1 by careful investigation1 the more distant fields2 let him learn all he can about all the ,british ,colonies1 and other countries1 and especially ,canada and the ,united ,states1 as being nearest to ,great ,britain4 ,having learnt something generally of these distant places1 then1 having regard to his own abilities and capital1 and his personal desires as to distance from the ,old ,country1 climate1 c41 he should make his choice as to which of the places he has read of seems most likely to give him a fair prospect of success2 and then1 having come to this decision1 he should learn all he can about that particular place4 ,i admit that ,i shall receive a personal benefit by persons settling at ,merced1 in ,california2 but--,i say this with great confidence--if1 after an intelligent consideration of other places1 any person1 desiring a start in life1 comes to the conclusion that ,fruit culture in ,california is an occupation1 and a country1 that would suit him1 then let him consider all the places in ,california where openings for this occupation are presented1 and let him choose which of them he considers most suitable2 and1 at the risk of appearing invidious1 ,i would add that he should not believe all he reads1 but should make his examination and inquiries for himself1 on the spot4 ,i do not ask him blindly to believe what is set forth in these pages1 but if he thinks that ,california is a suitable place of settlement for him1 then ,i do say1 with great emphasis1 that he should not settle upon anything in ,california until he has been to ,merced1 and proved for himself that the statements are credible4 ,after he has been to ,merced1 ,i have little doubt that he will be convinced that that place presents an opening which would be worth his decision4 ,if he proceed to ,california by the ,southern ,pacific ,railway1 he could break his journey at the various other places of ,fruit culture settlement1 and inspect them1 reaching ,merced last1 as the nearest to the great centre of ,san ,francisco4 ,a careful comparison of the various fields of ,fruit culture enterprise will1 ,i am assured1 show him that ,merced possesses peculiar advantages4 ,it is well known that the great drawback of ,california is want of water2 and intending settlers must not be satisfied by the statements of agents1 or owners1 that their lands have water advantages1 but they must satisfy themselves that they can have water by irrigation 7not by the expensive1 laborious process of pumping it up from uncertain springs71 and in such a quantity as to be permanent4 ,at some places lands now supplied by irrigation will fall short presently1 when the owners carry the water on to thousands of adjoining acres2 therefore1 a full and permanent supply of water is an essential4 ,,the ,,special ,,advantages my clients offer settlers at ,merced are3-- #a4 ,a permanent supply of ,water1 for a perpetual water right accompanies every lot of land sold4 #b4 ,contiguity to a ,railway ,station on the main line1 and to a ,town1 with commercial1 professional1 educational1 social and religious advantages4 #c4 ,instruction in ,fruit culture gratis by a specialist1 who is paid by my clients to instruct settlers on their lands4 #d4 ,a rich ,soil1 of which1 on another page1 an analysis is given4 #e4 ,a ready ,market for produce4 ,buyers come round the country and purchase the crops as they are on the trees1 taking upon themselves the picking and packing4 ,the ,continent of ,north ,america is a sufficient market in itself for all time especially considering that its population increases nearly a million and a half a year4 #f4 ,the prices range from #ge dollars to #aej dollars per acre4 ,at some other places in ,california1 land is offered at a less price1 but ,i can sell some land at even #aj dollars per acre2 yet that at #ajj dollars per acre is far cheaper1 having regard to its advantages4 ,our land at #aej dollars per acre will favourably compare with lands fetching much higher prices4 #g4 ,free ,conveyances will be given1 with a perfectly clear and satisfactory title4 #h4 ,two-thirds of the purchase-money may remain on mortgage4 #i4 ,merced is only #ad days from ,london4 #aj4 ,a liberal competence may be secured by a reasonably industrious settler4 #aa4 ,merced is a very healthy locality1 and is nearer to ,san ,francisco than other ,fruit growing centres4 #ab4 ,my clients1 the owners1 are well-known gentlemen of wealth and position in ,california1 and not irresponsible land speculators1 members of a syndicate with an unknown personality4 ,,comparison ,,and ,,warning4 ,i have already said that applicants should verify for themselves the statements made by persons who1 like myself1 would be personally benefited by their settling upon the lands offered for sale4 ,letters sent to this country1 and advertised by agents as a guarantee of advantages1 written by persons soon after arrival in ,california1 and who have not compared the place of their location with other places1 can scarcely be a sufficient recommendation4 ,some parts of ,california advertised in this country for sale have not a permanent water supply2 are too hot2 are swept by winds2 are at a considerable distance from a railway station2 have a poor1 sandy soil1 some even mixed with alkali2 and some are so situated as to be notoriously unhealthy1 and produce chills1 fevers1 and general malaria1 and1 in one case1 ,i have heard of an embarrassed title3 therefore1 ,i say that intending settlers should remember there is a ,california and a ,california--that it is not all gold which glitters1 and that they should1 personally and intelligently1 investigate for themselves1 on the spot1 the statements made by those who1 at a distance1 offer the lands for sale4 ,,capital ,,required4 ,it is recommended that settlers intending to establish ,fruit farms1 should have a capital of from #fjj upwards2 but those who have a smaller capital--say1 #cjj1 or even #ajj--may1 in other ways1 find some opening for employing it1 if accompanied with intelligent1 industrious1 persevering work4 ,a ,start in ,life4 ,to ensure the stability of a building the foundation ought to be substantial1 so in like manner a good start in life goes a great way towards ensuring a successful career4 ,by success ,i do not mean the making of a rapid fortune by leaps and bounds of prosperity1 but ,i do mean an ultimate prosperity1 acquired through patient1 persevering1 and intelligent labour4 ,to make a large fortune quickly it is necessary to have command of the requisite knowledge of the business in hand1 the requisite capital1 untiring energy1 and a trait of genius4 ,beyond these it would be necessary to have the mind absorbed in the one thing1 and therefore1 supposing one possessed the requisites1 would it be worth while to sacrifice all else to the mere accumulation of money8 ,to live for mere money making is a grovelling existence1 and utterly unworthy the aim of any man possessing the finer instincts of human nature and the intelligence with which it is endowed4 ,no1 ,i am not pretending to offer the means of making a rapid fortune--such accidents fall to the lot of but few out of the millions of our species--but ,i do claim to be able to offer to men willing to live a steady industrious life1 the opportunity of acquiring1 on easy terms1 a small freehold estate1 into which they can put the golden seed of their own mental and physical effort with the certainty of reaping a golden harvest proportionate to their area1 their ability1 and their industry2 for when once a ,fruit farm is planted it increases in value every year4 ,to own a freehold estate of #bj1 #dj1 or #ajj acres1 with a comfortable house and buildings1 and the land well stocked with choice ,fruits1 with a ready market1 presents a prospect1 by the use of a small capital1 with the addition of muscle and brains1 of future competence4 ,when such a property is fully matured1 labour can be hired1 and one's own personal energies may be diverted1 if preferred1 into other channels1 or continued in the same with largely accumulating benefits4 ,i ask my readers requiring for themselves1 or others in whom they are interested1 a start in life1 to read these pages carefully1 for ,i do not know any calling1 in the old or new world1 where a small capitalist fond of country life could find an occupation more congenial than the one ,i offer at ,merced1 in ,california1 and which is described herein4 ,residence near to a young town1 which will probably increase rapidly in value1 and which now possesses extensive commercial1 locomotive1 social and religious advantages1 a climate than which the surface of this globe scarcely presents one more desirable1 a fortnight's journey from ,london1 and a soil pregnant with inherent virtue1 are amongst the considerations of importance which will determine thoughtful investors to settle at ,merced4 ,i am prepared to show to applicants samples of the soils and fruits1 and also views1 books1 maps1 c41 and to answer questions1 if they will call personally upon me1 at my offices-- #c1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,london1 so that they may have every assistance in enabling them to come to a decision as to whether the start in life ,i offer them at ,merced1 in ,california1 is one suitable in respect of their inclination1 capital1 abilities1 and energy4 ,,within ,a ,,fortnight ,,of ,,london4 ,to prove the convenient access of this land1 called ,british ,colony from ,london1 ,i may say that on ,november #bbnd1 #ahij1 ,i left ,liverpool in the ,cunard steamer ,etruria1 which reached ,new ,york on the following ,saturday evening1 just too late for the ,custom-house officers to examine the luggage1 so that we could not go on shore till the next morning4 ,i stayed over the ,sunday 7#bf hours7 in ,new ,york1 leaving on ,monday by the first overland train1 and after calling at innumerable stations1 and staying #ad hours at ,chicago and ,council ,bluffs1 to make connections 7i4e41 catch other trains71 and staying #eb hours at ,san ,francisco1 ,i arrived at ,merced at #aj4bc on ,monday night1 ,december #hth1 i4e41 say #af days #f hours after leaving ,liverpool4 ,had ,i have left ,liverpool by the ,wednesday instead of the ,saturday steamer1 ,i should not have needed to have stayed over ,sunday in ,new ,york1 and1 of course1 there would be no necessity for a settler to stay at ,san ,francisco 7,i had to meet my clients there72 therefore1 deducting these two stoppages of #gh hours1 or #c-a_/d days1 it would give #ac days to ,merced in the winter season4 ,in fine weather the journey could be made in less time2 some steamers1 in the summer and autumn months1 have crossed from ,liverpool to ,new ,york in about six days1 so that the journey could be made1 in favourable circumstances1 in say #ab to #ac days1 but we may safely put it at #ad days4 ,i went by the ,northern ,prairies and ,rocky ,mountains1 and returned by the longer route of ,southern ,california1 the ,desert of ,arizona1 the ,plains of ,texas1 through the sugar and cotton districts of the ,southern ,states1 and thence1 vi ,new ,orleans and ,washington1 back to ,new ,york4 ,thus1 after remaining eight days at ,merced1 where ,i was fully engaged each day in inspecting the lands for sale and the country around for many miles1 and after allowing for stoppages on the return journey over ,sundays1 and waiting three days at ,new ,york for the ,cunard steamer ,servia1 ,i reached ,liverpool on ,january #dth1 and was back again in my office on ,monday1 ,january #eth1 being six weeks1 one day and #bb hours from the time ,i rose from my chair in my office to the time ,i was sitting in it again4 ,across ,america4 ,,london ,,to ,,chicago4 ,travelling in generations past was an important event in one's life1 but now a journey across an ocean and a continent is a very commonplace affair4 ,books of travel used to be read with avidity1 but now that so many persons travel1 and the wires keep us in touch with all the world every day1 the history of a journey is a small event1 and one which to those not specially interested would scarcely perhaps be read2 nevertheless1 as some of my readers may have to go over some of the ground ,i have recently traversed1 ,i have no doubt that a reference to my journey to ,california and back would be of interest to them1 and therefore ,i will give up some time and space to the subject4 ,this little record of my journey may perhaps be better received if ,i state that ,i am not a novice in travel1 and that before ,i had turned twenty-one years of age ,i had been to ,australia 7calling en route at ,pernambuco in ,south ,america71 and that while in ,australia ,i visited ,melbourne1 ,sydney1 ,geelong1 ,king ,george's ,sound1 besides various inland towns and gold fields1 including ,bendigo1 ,castlemaine1 ,tarrangower1 ,fryer's ,creek1 ,forest ,creek1 ,campbell's ,creek1 ,tarradale1 ,maryborough1 etc41 and various other places1 and sheep and cattle stations4 ,from ,australia ,i went to ,aden 7the inland town7 and up the ,red ,sea to ,suez1 returning to ,australia1 and thence to ,england4 ,since ,i commenced business in ,england1 in #ahei1 ,i went in #ahfb to ,st4 ,thomas' in the ,west ,indies1 thence to ,aspinwall1 across the ,isthmus to ,panama1 thence to ,acapulco in ,mexico1 on to ,san ,francisco in ,california1 and thence to ,vancouver ,island1 returning by the same route as far as ,aspinwall1 whence ,i went to ,new ,york4 ,in #ahfe ,i went on business to ,russia4 ,arriving at the ancient city of ,pskov1 ,i proceeded across country to the estate of my client1 the ,count ,bogouschefsky1 at one time private ,secretary to the ,emperor ,nicholas 7grandfather of the present ,czar74 ,some of these travels were attended with a good deal of adventure2 but my recent journey from ,england to ,california and back1 #ac1ggd miles1 in six weeks 7including all stoppages71 was all work1 for my time was occupied continuously in reading up the country1 learning from old settlers1 and making notes of what ,i saw1 some of which ,i have found room for in the following pages4 ,on ,november #bbnd1 #ahij1 ,i was at work in my office in ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 whence a cab depositing me at ,euston1 the #aj4aj express train soon ran me down to ,liverpool 7#bja miles71 whence a steam tender took me from the landing-stage to the ,cunard steamship ,etruria1 some two miles off1 where ,i was soon comfortably located in my state room 7,no4 #db74 ,it was nearly #e o'clock before we got away1 and the next day found us at ,queenstown ,harbour1 where we lost considerable time in waiting for the mail4 ,at length the mail1 which was a heavy one1 was safely on board1 and off we went1 head on to the ,atlantic4 ,during that night of the #bcrd we experienced a heavy gale2 big seas broke over the forecastle1 and flooded the decks below1 through the ventilators4 ,the ,a4,b4's declined venturing on the forecastle to unship these great ventilators1 and so the engines had to be slowed down1 and the ship stopped2 the ventilators were then unshipped1 and we proceeded4 ,the night was a bad one1 and the next morning we had not got through it1 and as a consequence the decks were like lagoons2 but presently we had run through it1 or it had run away from us1 or had expended its energy1 and we were in comparatively smooth waters1 and had a comfortable run to ,new ,york4 ,nothing of particular interest occurred during the passage4 ,i sought and found the old ,american settlers amongst the passengers1 and obtained from them all the information ,i could of the country1 and especially the ,state to which ,i was going4 ,i read ,general ,booth's ,darkest ,england1 and wrote a review of it1 which duly appeared in the ,land ,roll4 ,the ,etruria is a fine ship4 ,she has a commodious saloon1 music and reading room1 plenty of deck space for exercise1 comfortable cabins1 bath rooms1 etc4 ,on the #bith we made ,sandy ,hook ,lighthouse1 which is about #bj miles from ,new ,york ,dock1 but we got in too late for the ,custom-house officers to look at our baggage1 so we lay all night in the harbour1 and next morning commenced the tedious process of creeping up1 yard by yard1 into our berth at the dock4 ,the run from ,liverpool was thus3--,liverpool to ,queenstown1 on the #bbnd and #bcrd1 #bdj miles2 #bdth1 at noon1 #ccj miles2 #beth1 #ded2 #bfth1 #dfb2 #bgth1 #dge2 #bhth1 #dhj2 #bith1 #dga2 distance to ,sandy ,hook ,lighthouse1 #acj miles2 so that the run totals up to #c1jdb1 and with the #bj miles added1 #c1jfb miles4 ,i had been recommended by a passenger to go to the ,hotel ,st4 ,stephen1 #df to #eb1 ,east ,eleventh ,street1 ,new ,york1 whence ,i drove in a cab perhaps a mile and a half1 for which the cabman wanted #b dollars 7equal to #hs4 #d;d472 he got #a-a_/b1 which was half-a-dollar too much4 ,passengers should drive to their hotel1 and then ask the proper fare before paying4 ,new ,york has many large hotels--this is comparatively a small one4 ,all the waiters are coloured men1 and this seems pretty general throughout ,america4 ,i stayed over the #cjth 7,sunday7 in ,new ,york1 by which ,i secured a quiet day and an opportunity to attend ,divine service4 ,in my bedroom was a coil of stout ,manilla rope screwed into the floor1 near a window1 so that an escape might be secured in the event of fire4 ,the towels provided are a kind of compromise between a duster and a pocket handkerchief--rather disappointing to one accustomed to his tub4 ,new ,york is great in tram-cars1 worked by horses1 mules1 and electricity1 also elevated railways--that is1 railways running down the streets on huge tressels or scaffolding--so that the vehicles go underneath them1 and the passengers in the train look straight into the first-floor windows of the houses on the other side4 ,there is an immense development of electricity all over ,america1 and in tram-cars1 railway-cars1 hotels1 houses1 everything and everywhere1 is the electric light prominent4 ,many of the streets are unevenly paved4 ,blacking boots is a profession in ,america--in many hotels a special charge is made for it1 or else the visitors are left to their own devices thereon--and boot-blacks have shops and nooks fitted with high1 huge easy chairs1 elevated like thrones1 where their clients can comfortably repose during the operation of polish4 ,the next morning1 ,december #ast1 ,i was up early1 and made enquiries at the various offices representing the railway lines to ,chicago1 with the result that ,i took a ticket by the ,pennsylvania route1 and left ,new ,york at #aj o'clock a4m4 ,the train service between ,new ,york and ,chicago is one of the best1 if not the best1 in ,america4 ,the cars are elegantly fitted2 they are about the length of the ,pullman cars we have in ,england4 ,the best cars are those fitted with sleeping accommodation1 and travellers having tickets for a sleeper have the privilege of using the sleeping car during the day4 ,the sleeping cars are divided into squares capable of seating four persons1 but the space is accorded to two only1 as only two beds or berths can be made up in the space2 the lower berth 7which is always the favourite7 is formed of the two double seats 7the space for four seats71 filled up in the centre by special fittings and mattresses1 hidden during the day inside the seats2 the upper berth is pulled down from the sloping roof of the car1 and in the receptacle between the slope and the square are contained the bedding and the fittings4 ,a curtain falls down over both the upper and lower berths1 and1 so far as one can1 the dressing has to be done with the curtain hanging round one as one stands within it2 and if on both sides of the car passengers happen to stand behind their respective curtains at the same time1 they would touch one another and so block the passage-way4 ,the dressing accommodation is so inconvenient that only partial undressing is adopted4 ,the outside of the slope is polished mahogany1 and in the daytime bears no indication whatever of what it really is1 but looks like a handsome sloping polished mahogany roof4 ,these cars are luxuriously fitted4 ,another car on the train is a handsome dining saloon1 with kitchen attached1 where you can order as good a dinner as you could obtain at an hotel4 ,the cars are also fitted liberally with lavatories and water-closets1 separate ones for ladies and for gentlemen4 ,on this train is also a bath-room and a barber's shop4 ,there are also one or two small private rooms1 which can be hired separately4 ,this train has also a recent addition1 being what is called a drawing-room or observation car2 this is the last on the train1 and the end is fitted with glass1 so that in riding along passengers in this car enjoy an uninterrupted view of the country they are leaving behind4 ,on this special train a ladies' maid is provided for the convenience of ladies1 and a stenographer1 with his type-writing machine1 occupies a seat in the vestibule of the drawing-room car to take down any urgent letters which business men may desire to post en route4 ,the observation car is supplied with a library for the use of passengers1 and is fitted with plate-glass windows and easy chairs4 ,it has a platform where one can breathe the fresh air outside if desired4 ,there is also a smoking-room car4 ,on this special train the ,stock ,exchange reports of the ,new ,york and ,philadelphia ,exchanges are received and posted on the bulletin boards three times a day1 and the weather reports are also posted4 ,the whole of the train is thoroughly well heated by steam pipes1 and lighted by electricity4 ,the person in charge of a sleeper car is called the porter2 he occupies a position1 not like a porter on an ,english railway1 but analagous to a steward on board ship4 ,on leaving ,new ,york ,i noticed that the suburbs contained many very small wooden houses1 and the country had the appearance of many ,colonial scenes ,i have witnessed--the land looked like reclaimed prairie1 which it probably is2 and after passing many homesteads and villages we ran into ,philadelphia at #ab4bj4 ,philadelphia is the largest city1 as to area1 in the ,united ,states4 ,it is situate on the west bank of the ,delaware ,river4 ,it is #bb miles long1 and from #e to #h broad1 comprising an area of #a1bid square miles4 ,it has over #ijj miles of paved streets4 ,philadelphia was founded by the celebrated ,william ,penn1 who went from ,england to ,america in #afhb ,a4,d41 and purchased the site of this great city from the ,indians4 ,william ,penn's character was remarkable for his high sense of honour1 and if the same principle had obtained throughout the history of the ,united ,states with the ,indians1 we should never have heard of any ,indian ,difficulty4 ,penn presented the city with a charter in #agja4 ,the city1 built upon lands honestly and liberally bought from the ,indians1 prospered greatly1 and its population continued to increase until it now reaches something approaching #ijj1jjj4 ,its chief source of wealth is from its manufactures1 which embrace locomotives1 and all kinds of ironware1 ships1 carpets1 woollen and cotton goods1 shoes1 umbrellas1 and books4 ,it has more buildings than any other city in that country1 and1 in point of commerce1 ranks fourth among the cities of the ,united ,states4 ,i noticed that the suburbs of ,philadelphia contained many handsome stone and brick residences4 ,i felt much interested in the connection with ,william ,penn1 because he is one of the ancestors of the ,penn-,gaskells of ,england1 who for many years have been valuable and much-respected clients of mine1 and in numerous transactions ,i have noticed in them that beautiful trait of strict honour which gave ,william ,penn a world-wide character1 and has descended from him to them4 ,passing by many farm homesteads1 villages1 and towns1 all having a prosperous kind of appearance1 and described as one of the richest agricultural districts in ,america1 we ran into ,harrisburg1 which is the capital of ,pennsylvania1 and situate on the east bank of the ,susquehanna ,river4 ,about five miles above ,harrisburg we crossed the ,susquehanna ,river on a bridge #c1fgj feet long1 from the centre of which ,i am told there is a fine view1 but ,i lost it1 as a snowstorm was raging while ,i was crossing4 ,we stopped at ,altoona1 a large city lying at the foot of the ,alleghanies1 and in ascending the ,alleghanies fine scenery and great engineering feats are discernible4 ,from this we ran on to ,pittsburg1 which claims to be the best lighted city in ,america1 the streets being brilliantly illuminated by arc and incandescent electric lights4 ,nine bridges cross the ,allegheny1 and five the ,monongahela rivers4 ,pittsburg has been called the iron city1 and smoky city2 it has immense glass1 steel and iron manufactures1 and in these three interests alone employs over #ej1jjj persons4 ,then we proceed till1 presently1 we catch sight of ,lake ,michigan1 and know that ,chicago is not far off4 ,we skirt the shore of this busy water1 with its wharves1 etc4 ,on arrival 7,december #bnd7 we drive through the city from the ,pennsylvania to the ,north-,western terminus4 ,chicago is #iab miles from ,new ,york3 it is the greatest city in ,illinois1 and during the past #ej years has grown from a small ,indian trading station into a metropolis4 ,chicago extends some #bj miles along the shores of ,lake ,michigan1 and goes back from the lake to a depth of about four miles1 thus embracing about #hj square miles2 beyond these confines of the city proper the suburbs extend to some #f to #aj miles in every direction4 ,it will be remembered that in #ahga ,chicago had a great fire1 which burned an area of #c-a_/h square miles1 destroyed #ag1dej buildings1 made #ih1ejj persons homeless1 and killed outright about #bjj more4 ,the loss of property was estimated at #aij1jjj1jjj dollars1 of which only #cj1jjj1jjj dollars were recovered from insurances1 and this bankrupted some of the insurance companies4 ,in #ahgd another fire consumed #e1jjj1jjj dollars' worth of property4 ,chicago is the great central dept for grain1 lumber and live stock4 ,in #ahhh there were packed at ,chicago #d1ejj1jjj hogs1 and about #a1fjj1jjj cattle4 ,chicago has also extensive iron1 steel1 wheel1 car1 flour1 furniture1 boot and shoe and tannery manufactures4 ,in driving through ,i noticed one long street1 to the right and left of the street ,i was traversing1 thickly occupied with tradesmen's carts1 backed on the kerb in the usual fashion1 being loaded from the stores 7or shops73 there must have been a few hundred of them2 ,i never saw so many in one street at one time anywhere in any part of the world4 ,chicago was cased in frozen snow1 and thus was not very attractive2 but ,i noticed many very fine buildings1 and was much struck with the cosmopolitan character of the inhabitants4 ,during the interval of waiting for the train on the ,north-,western to start ,i was able to see a little of the place1 and found that some persons ,i spoke to could not speak ,english4 ,they came apparently from all parts of the continent of ,europe4 ,,chicago ,,to ,,san ,,francisco4 ,the train was due at ,chicago 7,december #bnd7 at #i4de a4m41 being exactly a #bc hours and #de minutes' run from ,new ,york4 ,having crossed ,chicago from one terminus to another1 ,i found that three trains left ,chicago by which ,i could travel to ,san ,francisco--two were slow trains1 and one a fast train2 but1 by whichever train ,i went1 it would make no difference as to the time ,i left ,omaha1 and consequently no difference to the time ,i should arrive at ,san ,francisco1 so ,i went on by one of the slow trains1 as ,i wanted to see ,council ,bluffs4 ,this train was similarly fitted to the other1 except that it had no drawing-room car1 nor stenographer1 etc41 nor were the platforms connecting the carriages enclosed2 so that1 in passing to the dining car1 or any other car1 the sudden change from a hot car to a shower of snow was not pleasant4 ,the distance from ,chicago to ,omaha is #dib miles1 and the country between the two places formed a part of the great prairie region1 which1 #ej years ago1 had no other inhabitant than the ,indian and the trapper1 but now is a succession of homesteads1 villages1 and towns1 bearing evidence of prosperity4 ,at ,creston1 and many other stations1 ,i noticed that there is no protection whatever from the railway2 the line is unfenced1 and the train runs through the town as openly as a coach would2 there is generally a rough board put up here and there with the words1 crudely painted on them1 ,look out for the cars6 ,we were due at ,council ,bluffs the next morning 7,december #crd7 at #g4bc1 but we arrived some half-hour late4 ,council ,bluffs ,station is four miles from ,omaha ,station1 but the towns adjoin4 ,the former has a population of over #ce1jjj1 and the latter of over #aaj1jjj4 ,they are divided by the great ,missouri ,river1 which is crossed by two bridges1 one being #b1gej feet long1 and the other #b1ibj feet long4 ,having had breakfast at the station1 ,i went up to the town by the motor1 that is1 the electrical tram-car4 ,the motor cars1 like the railway cars1 are heated4 ,i noticed a large number of detached wooden cottages1 standing in their own grounds1 of about one-eighth of an acre1 and ,i learned that these are owned by labourers4 ,mr4 ,day1 an agent there1 told me that the cottage would cost #ejj dollars1 and the land #djj dollars1 i4e41 #ajj for the house1 and #hj for the land4 ,an eighth of an acre for #hj would be #fdj per acre1 and this quite out in the suburbs2 and ,i was told that good business blocks in the town itself would fetch #cb1jjj 7not dollars1 but pounds7 per acre4 ,in the large cities1 such as ,new ,york1 ,chicago1 etc41 prices in the principal streets would compare with prices in the ,city of ,london4 ,returning to the station1 ,i joined the express train1 and crossing the ,missouri ,river to ,omaha1 we proceeded west4 ,the river was frozen at its sides1 and presented no attractions worth notice4 ,on we go through hundreds of fields of maize1 always called corn in ,america2 other grain crops1 such as wheat1 etc41 are called by their own names1 but the crop known only as corn in ,america is maize4 ,the rich clusters of corn are gathered1 and the stalks1 something in appearance between a wheat stalk and a sugar cane1 are left standing for the cattle to pick over4 ,forty years ago this part was uninhabited by white men1 and was the home of countless buffaloes2 now these animals are extirpated1 and everywhere we see nothing1 for mile upon mile1 but corn1 corn1 corn4 ,one of my fellow travellers was ,mr4 ,h4,c4 ,jacobs1 of ,chicago1 whose father-in-law was one of the pioneers1 and who gave me much information4 ,the next day 7,december #dth71 we traverse the great rolling prairies of ,nebraska1 and see many herds of horses and cattle1 and here and there ranch homes and cowboys4 ,having run through ,illinois1 ,iowa1 and ,nebraska1 we commence the ,state of ,wyoming as we pull up at the ,city of ,cheyenne1 where1 in the far distance1 we see1 with its peaks well clothed in snow1 the grand range of the ,rocky ,mountains4 ,soon after leaving ,cheyenne1 we commence the ascent of the ,rockies--not1 of course1 the actual summit range itself1 but the foot hills and high lands stretching away from1 and forming part of it--and as we climb the ascent terminating at ,sherman1 where we have gained an elevation of #h1bdg feet1 we pass through very wild1 grand scenery4 ,at this altitude we look down upon floating clouds1 and see in the distance ,long's ,peak1 #ad1jjj feet high1 towering above them4 ,all along1 at intervals1 are portable fences1 placed to catch the snow as it drifts1 to prevent it blocking the line2 and also what are called snow sheds1 which are rough timber tunnels built up to protect the rails from the great drifts arising out of heavy snowstorms4 ,at the highest point is a pyramid1 commemorating a certain ,mr4 ,oakes ,ames1 which looked #bj feet high and very near the line2 it is however1 #ge feet high and half-a-mile off4 ,the air is so rarefied that distances are most deceiving4 ,as our descent proceeds1 we catch sight1 in the distance1 of a herd of wild elk1 and where these rolling prairies have better herbage1 we see herds of horses with ranch buildings here and there4 ,we pass the ranch of ,william ,cody1 who1 by virtue of his being a ,senator of the ,state of ,nebraska1 is called ,honourable1 but who was known in ,london1 a short time ago1 at ,mr4 ,whitley's ,wild ,west show as ,buffalo ,bill4 ,as we pass ,fort ,laraime1 one of the forts erected by the ,united ,states ,government as a protection against the ,indians1 ,i was told some stories of ,cody's exploits against the ,indians4 ,in former days1 emigrants traversing these great prairies to found a home in this ,wild ,west1 were often harassed by ,indians1 and the soldiers at the fort had to protect them4 ,buffalo ,bill has been in many a skirmish1 and1 if rumour is true1 many redskins have succumbed to him2 the ,government took counsel with him in all ,indian difficulties in that part of the country1 and the day before ,i passed his ranch he had been sent for by the authorities that they might confer with him as to the outbreak which then existed1 and which cost ,sitting ,bull his life4 ,we passed a house cut clean in two by the wind1 great herds of horses and cattle1 beautiful specimens of the bald and other eagles and vultures1 some deer1 and a very fine grey wolf about the size of a ,newfoundland dog4 ,the distant mountain scenery at times is very grand1 and everywhere snow-capped4 ,the air is very pure and keen4 ,i much enjoyed the society of two fellow travellers over this part of my journey1 ,mr4 ,lee1 of ,general ,lee's family1 of ,virginia1 and ,mr4 ,hurley1 ,solicitor to the ,directors of the line we were traversing4 ,we passed the ,divide of the ,continent at an altitude of #g1ajj feet1 which is the dividing line of the running of water2 that running east empties into the ,north ,platte ,river1 thence into the ,missouri1 thence into the ,gulf of ,mexico and the ,atlantic ,ocean2 that running west empties into the ,green ,river1 thence into the ,colorado1 thence into the ,pacific ,ocean4 ,in the early morning of ,december #eth we ran into ,ogden1 which is near ,salt ,lake1 at the base of the ,wasatch ,mountains1 which are snow-capped1 and have some very fine peaks4 ,salt ,lake is #abf by #de miles1 and on it is situate the great ,city of the ,mormons4 ,on the more fertile parts of the prairies ,i gathered1 at ,humboldt ,wells1 some of the sage grass which used to be the food of the buffaloes when they existed2 at other places ,i gathered samples of herbage on less favoured soils4 ,as we proceed1 we see an encampment of ,indians with red paint on their faces1 which was put on to show sympathy with1 and1 if necessary1 take part with other tribes of ,indians1 then commencing a war with the ,united ,states soldiers4 ,this district was not far1 as distances go in ,america from the scene of action4 ,presently we commence our run through the great barren alkali plains1 emerging from which we get into a more fertile country1 and1 at ,cedar ,pass1 notice the great ranch of ,messrs4 ,sparks and ,tinnin1 who are reputed to have #ajj1jjj head of cattle4 ,mr4 ,byrne1 of ,elko1 ,nevada1 also the owner of a large ranch1 was on board the cars1 and gave me some useful information4 ,he said that cattle raising is very profitable1 as they double in number every four years1 i4e41 a profit of #be per cent42 thus1 if a man start with a #a1jjj head of stock cattle1 he will have #d1jjj head in four years4 ,if a thousand head of stock cattle were purchased off a ranch1 they would be sold just as they run1 without any selection whatever--steers1 heifers1 cows1 calves1 bulls1 yearlings1 both sexes and all ages1 but calves which still suck their mothers are not counted1 and go for nothing4 ,many head of cattle perish in the winter1 when the land is covered with snow1 as on many large ranches no food is given them4 ,i urged that it would pay to have stock-yards and give food during the snow time1 and ,mr4 ,byrne said that he always did so himself1 and that the great ranch men were having their eyes opened to this necessity4 ,we passed various other encampments of ,indians1 and far from any encampment or habitation saw an ,indian on the track carrying a small light bundle1 and following him a long way behind was his squaw1 labouring under a very heavy burden4 ,during this day we ran through ranges of uneven mountains1 rising one above another in broken undulations and with ever-varying tops1 such as table lands1 sharp conical peaks1 rounded heads1 and broken indentations4 ,the distant mountains are enveloped in snow1 upon which gleams a resplendent setting sun1 presenting a prospect which only such a region could produce4 ,from the dazzling whiteness of one range we look upon the dense darkness of another1 as being out of the sun's influence4 ,the lights and shades1 the gorges1 the fissures1 the striations in the range upon range1 with their intervals of plains and valleys1 here and there opening up peeps of great tracts of country1 and then again shutting all in to the circumference of their gigantic heads1 interspersed with the brilliance of rich gold1 tingeing some tops and revealing dark recesses1 some ruby tints and fantastic shadows1--all combine to reflect a glory which lifts the mind beyond the great heights of hills to a height1 greater still1 whence originated all natural grandeur4 ,we had run through ,utah and ,nevada1 and were now approaching the northern part of ,california4 ,in the very early morning of ,december #fth ,i awoke and found that the train was at a standstill4 ,thinking that we were at a station ,i tried to sleep again1 but1 finding that we continued motionless1 ,i went out on to the platform connecting our car with the next and found all around was deep snow1 and that another train on the other metals had broken down1 and that our men were apparently helping to get it off4 ,we were then two miles from ,truckee1 and at an elevation of nearly #f1jjj feet4 ,after a long delay we got away and ran into ,truckee4 ,the scenery on this day was also of a truly grand character3 precipices1 declivities1 chasms2 and in one very romantic spot1 of weird and wild mountain sides1 graduating to narrow gullies1 with pine and other trees1 some perfect1 others broken by the wind was one great wreck of a forest monster--a tree rudely snapped asunder by wind or lightning1 about #dj feet from the ground1 and stripped of every branch1 so that it looked like a broken column2 on its top sat a great vulture in the well-known attitude of its kind1 as motionless as rock1 and apparently meditating on the incongruity of a noisy1 vulgar bit of machinery1 with its train of cars1 invading such a nook of ,nature's solitudes4 ,as we proceeded we came upon the succession of ,placer gold diggings1 known as the hydraulic mines1 which were then for the most part abandoned1 and these brought to my remembrance many similar spots ,i had seen in ,australia4 ,the dbris of the mines had stopped up1 or diverted1 or otherwise interfered with the ,sacramento ,river1 the ,bear ,river1 and other rivers1 to the great detriment of agriculture1 horticulture1 stock rearing1 etc41 whereupon the ,state ,legislature of ,california passed an ,act to prohibit all interference with the water1 for without water the miners could not wash their dirt1 and so had to abandon the diggings4 ,all around this part1 ravine followed ravine1 with beautiful vistas between1 affording a continuous luxury of scenic gratification4 ,presently we reached what is called by many the grandest scenery on the ,american ,continent1 known as ,cape ,horn2 it is where the train winds round a mountain side1 on a narrow ledge1 and at such a height1 that to hold one's hand out of the window would be to hold it over a sheer precipice of #b1ejj feet4 ,the train runs along the ledge or narrow roadway cut in the face of the mountain rock1 and all around is presented a spectacle of the majesty of ,nature1 which only such a range of mountains as the ,sierra ,nevada could produce4 ,about #ad miles from ,truckee1 we reach a station called ,summit1 which lies at an elevation of #g1jag feet1 and is the highest point on the ,sierra ,nevada ,mountains reached by railroads1 but the granite peaks rise up to an altitude of over #aj1jjj feet4 ,grizzly bears1 and other wild creatures1 find their homes in the recesses of these fastnesses4 ,on leaving these mountains we make a rapid descent1 and in an hour feel that we are in another country4 ,at ,colfax ,i bought fruit2 at ,arlington the temperature was like summer4 ,at ,rockling ,station ,i saw some very fine orange trees1 full of splendid fruit4 ,now we have entered the fertile plains of ,north ,california1 and run through cultivated lands1 till we reach ,sacramento1 the capital of the ,state4 ,it is a great change3 from desert1 alkaline plains1 miles of snow sheds1 snow-covered mountains1 a semi-civilization1 and a freezing atmosphere1 we find ourselves in a warm1 genial climate1 cultivated farms1 vineyards1 gardens1 and orchards of nectarines1 pears1 apples1 and the rest4 ,arriving at ,oakland1 we crossed the ,bay in the great ferry-ship1 or floating wharf1 ,piedmont4 ,the weather was charming--the bay dotted about with islands and surrounded by hills4 ,the temperature was the more enjoyable from the fact that only a few hours before we were surrounded by deep snow4 ,on arriving at ,san ,francisco 7on ,saturday1 ,december #fth71 ,i went straight to the ,palace ,hotel1 and my first effort was to get a bath1 for a continuous day and night run from ,new ,york of #c1cfg miles1 makes one who is accustomed to the use of plenty of water to look for a good ablution as the first refresher4 ,the ,palace ,hotel claims to be the model hotel of the world4 ,its architect visited the leading hotels of ,europe so as to produce a hotel superior to any4 ,as to size1 it occupies a complete block--that is1 it has a street traversing each side of it4 ,it rises to a height of #abj feet1 and covers an area #cej feet by #bge feet--that is1 #if1bej square feet1 or nearly #b-c_/d acres1 and1 with sub-sidewalk extensions1 exceeds three acres4 ,the lower story is #bg feet high1 the uppermost one #af feet high4 ,the foundation wall is #ab feet thick1 and the principal materials are stone1 iron1 brick1 and marble4 ,every partition wall throughout is stone and brick4 ,it is fire and earthquake proof1 the walls being additionally tied by iron bands4 ,it has four artesian wells1 yielding #bh1jjj gallons of water an hour1 a #fcj1jjj gallon reservoir1 and tanks holding #acj1jjj gallons more4 ,the water is served by three large steam fire pumps1 which throw the water above the roof4 ,there are five patent safety-catch hydraulic elevators 7or lifts74 ,immense precautions have been taken against fire4 ,the dining-rooms are #aej feet by #ee feet1 and #ajj feet by #ej feet4 ,the public rooms are very numerous1 and are of immense size4 ,the rooms for guests are principally #bj feet by #bj feet2 none are less than #af feet by #af feet2 all are well furnished4 ,the corridors are like streets--space1 elegance1 solidity1 and comfort are apparent everywhere2 the whole being lighted by gas and electricity4 ,each bedroom has a bath-room1 with hot and cold water services2 w4c41 coat-closet1 and lavatory closet1 with hot and cold water services to itself1 and which can only be used by the occupant of the bed-room4 ,the hotel1 of course1 has a barber's shop1 and as ,i expected my client to call ,i was anxious to get through my toilet quickly2 so ,i rang for one of the barber's assistants to come to my bed-room to cut my hair preparatory to the bath4 ,this did not take long1 and ,i asked the price1 when1 to my surprise1 a dollar and a-half1 i4e41 #fs4 #c;d41 was required4 ,i thought it was barbarism indeed6 ,i left ,san ,francisco on ,monday1 ,december #hth1 and during my short stay ,i saw something of the town2 but it was not the same place as ,i remembered it from my two visits to it in #ahfb4 ,it is full of life and activity1 has many wealthy men1 #ej of whom1 it is said1 are millionaires4 ,it has a large number of grand buildings1 fine shops1 extensive markets1 beautiful private residences1 and an immense development of electricity for motion1 light1 sound1 etc4 ,the tram-cars run in constant succession everywhere2 but the most remarkable cars are those worked by an endless cable4 ,in the city are works with immense steam power1 and from these works endless cables revolve throughout the city1 under the roads1 in various directions4 ,in the bed of the tramway is a groove1 under which is the cable1 revolving at a great speed4 ,the driver of the car lets down his grip1 which tightly holds the cable1 and1 of course1 the car starts at full speed1 and is carried along by the cable4 ,when the driver wants to stop1 he lets go his grip on the cable and applies his brake4 ,some of the hills in ,san ,francisco are very steep1 and the first sensation in riding on the outside front seat1 while going full speed down a sharp declivity1 is certainly novel1 with no apparent motive power1 and no apparent means of stopping4 ,the speed1 of course1 is always the same1 whether up or down hill1 or on level ground4 ,telegraph ,hill is #cid feet high1 ,clay ,street ,hill #cgf feet1 and ,russian ,hill #cfj feet4 ,a ,san ,francisco ,sunday is painful to one accustomed to our ,english ways2 travelling in every form1 and buying and selling are very prevalent4 ,the ,y4,m4,c4,a4 have a large building there1 and get large meetings4 ,i attended one gathering1 which ,i addressed shortly4 ,san ,francisco is described as having the mildest and most equable climate known to any large city in the world4 ,january is the coldest month1 and the mean temperature then is stated to be #ej4 ,september is the hottest month1 and the mean temperature then is stated to be #eh4 ,thus only #h difference between the coldest and warmest months1 and the average for the whole year is #ed4 ,san ,francisco has a population of about #cjj1jjj 7including some #dj1jjj ,chinese71 is the principal city of the ,state of ,california1 and the principal commercial centre on the ,pacific coast4 ,i must not1 however1 dwell longer on this part of my journey4 ,on ,monday1 ,december #hth1 ,i left ,san ,francisco with one of my clients1 ,mr4 ,c4,h4 ,huffman1 for ,merced1 by the #d p4m train4 ,the sun was shining gloriously1 producing a charming effect upon the placid waters of the ,bay and its beautiful surrounding hills4 ,,san ,,francisco ,,to ,,new ,,orleans4 ,the train reached ,merced at #aj4bc on ,monday night1 ,december #hth1 #ahij1 where ,i was met1 and in a spacious family buggy1 drawn by a pair of good horses1 ,i was very soon at the residence of my client1 ,mr4 ,c4,h4 ,huffman4 ,the continuous day and night travelling by rail1 and the taking of voluminous notes all along1 had caused a constant excitement which told upon the nerves1 and for two days ,i felt as though ,i needed absolute rest1 but1 remembering that ,i had already been long absent from my office1 ,i commenced my work at ,merced the next morning4 ,the town of ,merced is the capital of the county of that name2 it is not many years old1 but it has a striking difference to many new small towns ,i have seen in the ,colonies1 in that it has several very good buildings and residences4 ,it has seven churches and chapels of various denominations1 some good shops1 medical men1 society1 schools1 gas1 water1 electricity1 and a station on the main ,great ,southern ,pacific ,railway4 ,it is undoubtedly a town which must rapidly increase in value1 for this reason3 ,my clients1 ,messrs4 ,crocker and ,huffman1 at a cost of some two million dollars1 have tapped the ,great ,merced ,river #be miles off1 and brought water down to the town and irrigated the country round4 ,they have formed a reservoir #fdj acres in extent4 ,hitherto the rich lands around the town of ,merced have not been irrigated1 and consequently were not suitable for growing the ,fruits for which ,california is so famous2 but1 now that a system of canals1 formed by my clients1 has irrigated their estate1 extending over some #ej1jjj or #fj1jjj acres1 the whole of this great area is changed in value1 and is available1 and will eventually be used1 for the production of choice ,fruits4 ,thus1 ,merced will become a centre1 like other parts of ,california1 and1 being so much nearer than those other parts to ,san ,francisco1 will benefit additionally by that advantage alone4 ,merced is only #aeb miles from ,san ,francisco1 while ,fresno is #bjg1 ,bakersfield #cad1 and ,los ,angeles1 #dhc miles4 ,it is rumoured that another line of railway will also be formed in connection with the present main line1 and ,merced would then be an important railway junction4 ,i drove out every day with ,mr4 ,huffman1 and inspected the country for some miles around the town1 including the ,merced ,river1 #be miles off4 ,the land designated ,british ,colony1 is1 at its commencement1 only two miles from the ,merced ,railway ,station1 hotel1 and shops4 ,mr4 ,huffman has a most comfortable residence1 and has excellent stables1 well filled with first-class buggy horses1 so that travelling was always an easy matter4 ,being a lay preacher in ,england1 ,i took advantage of offers made me1 and preached on the ,sunday ,i was at ,merced in two of the churches at the morning and evening services4 ,i left ,merced on ,tuesday night1 ,december #afth1 by the #aj4bc train1 having stayed there eight days4 ,i immediately turned in1 and next morning 7,december #agth7 was up as usual at #f4cj1 and much enjoyed the splendid scenery through which we were passing--in a mountainous country1 grandly diversified with all the alternations of heights and depths1 lights and darks1 rich and barren1 including many evidences of engineering skill--as we coursed along1 now looking high up1 now looking low down1 and presently winding along the celebrated loop1 described as the greatest engineering feat in the world1 by which the train goes through mountain passes1 creeping along the tops of eminences1 then returning1 crosses under itself at a low level1 then1 ascending1 crosses over itself at a higher level1 so that in its meandering course you now look down at your side on the line you have just traversed1 and anon look up at your side at the line you are about to traverse4 ,we passed through the ,mojava 7pronounced ,moharvie7 desert1 where the yucca palm is plentiful4 ,a fellow passenger1 and old settler1 enlivened the time by some relations of his experiences thus3 ,he once shot a grizzly bear which weighed #a1ejj lbs4 ,some are much larger than this4 ,everything of weight in ,america is generally reckoned by pounds1 not cwts4 or tons4 ,on another occasion he slew a ,californian lion4 ,he had killed a bullock1 and the carcase was hanging in his house at the back1 where was an aperture like a small window without glass1 and under this opening outside stood an empty case4 ,the lion scenting the carcase1 and hearing no sound from within1 approached the house1 and was endeavouring to creep through the aperture when1 in its efforts to do so1 it kicked the case away1 and the poor animal was stuck fast1 having its head and shoulders inside4 ,my fellow traveller1 on returning home1 was surprised to find his visitor1 and so despatched him with an axe1 and has for years used the skin1 which is #i feet #h inches long4 ,the temperature was charming1 although in the distance we could see the snow-capped mountains4 ,we run through the antelope valley1 gather some juniper plant1 see a skunk1 see natural oil wells at ,saugus1 pass the head of the ,santa ,clara ,valley1 see the ,san ,fernando mountains1 go through the greatest tunnel in ,america--the ,san ,fernando tunnel1 #f1ifg feet long1 go by ,burbank1 where there is a land boom1 and arrive at ,los ,angeles1 where during the two hours of waiting ,i have a look at the town and a pleasant chat with ,mr4 ,white ,mortimer1 the ,british ,consul1 whom ,i called upon4 ,the next day 7,december #ahth7 we were on the desert of ,arizona1 where we saw ,indian camps at places which were somewhat oases as to plant life4 ,speaking generally1 nothing grows on a great part of this desert but cactus1 of which ,i am told there are some #bjj varieties1 from the dwarf kind to trees #dj feet high4 ,this plant has a strange if not a weird appearance4 ,here and there1 like solitary sentinels1 stands out a tall cactus1 with perhaps two or three heads or branches1 growing perpendicularly with itself4 ,the mountains on either side look as if they had their origin in volcanic eruptions4 ,some parts of the desert are covered with a dwarf kind of evergreen shrub4 ,we see large numbers of prairie dogs1 which are of a size between a rat and a rabbit2 they live in holes like rabbits4 ,there are also gophers1 skunks1 prairie rats1 rattlesnakes1 and hawks1 which feed on snakes and rats4 ,we pass tribes of ,yuma ,indians1 ,aztec ,indians and ,gila 7pronounced ,heela7 ,indians4 ,on reaching a part where is some grass we see some cattle1 which are straying on the line2 the engine whistle shrieks1 the cattle run1 and some coyote wolves are startled from their lairs and run1 too2 large numbers are here1 and the preceding night their yells aroused some passengers from sleep4 ,as we proceed1 quail are seen1 and wild cats something like a lynx4 ,arriving at ,tucson 7pronounced ,tewsohn71 ,i enquired for a gentleman to whom ,i had an introduction1 but learned that he was up at his gold mine4 ,this ,tucson is an ancient city1 having been founded by the ,jesuits in #aefj ,a4,d4 ,it does a large business in exporting gold dust1 wool1 and hides4 ,i expect that these mountains of ,arizona contain much value in minerals4 ,the ,indians in this part of the country are the ,apaches1 and were described to me as the most treacherous of all the ,american ,indians1 that they are cowardly and will never fight in the open4 ,a gentleman who entered the train at ,tucson gave me many instances of this4 ,in the evening we saw cow-boys round their fire camping out in the open1 and also a camp of freighters resting on their journey across the desert4 ,the next morning early 7,december #aith7 we arrived at ,el ,paso1 a most interesting ,mexican town situate on the borders of ,old ,mexico1 ,new ,mexico and ,texas1 where ,i bought the skin of a ,mexican tiger1 and other things4 ,in travelling for some days in a train continuously one feels the need of exercise1 and this ,i obtained by getting in and out of many of the railway stations and walking up and down4 ,between ,san ,francisco and ,new ,orleans there are #cbb stations1 and ,i should suppose the number of stations on both the ,northern and ,southern routes ,i traversed would probably amount to nearly #gjj4 ,we are now commencing to cross the great plains of ,texas4 ,at first the plains are desert1 with mountains skirting our view2 the scenery is less interesting than the ,arizona desert1 because there are no cacti4 ,this desert has probably been under salt water at some time4 ,the rocky hills appear to have a volcanic origin4 ,as we go on1 we reach a poor kind of pasture1 growing out of a scrubby kind of shrub1 with some occasional cacti1 many hills and mountains like barren rocks1 with not a bird or an animal to be seen4 ,the weather has been warm since leaving ,merced1 but now1 so far south as we are1 it is hot on this ,december day4 ,i had read in the short telegrams given by ,american papers1 that the winter was very severe in ,england1 and ,i pictured often to myself1 friends and clients in ,england muffled up amidst frost and snow1 whilst ,i was revelling in glorious sunshine1 so warm that no greatcoat could be worn4 ,had ,i returned by the route ,i went 7the ,northern ,prairies71 ,i might have been delayed by snow drifts1 but by this1 the ,southern route1 there was no snow1 but a continuous1 cheerful1 delightful sunshine1 not too hot anywhere1 but simply delightful4 ,i should certainly recommend anyone going from ,england to ,california in the winter season1 to go by the ,southern route4 ,amongst the objects of interest1 we notice in the distance a small herd of #ad wild antelope trotting along2 cattle1 coyote wolves1 and1 at many places1 the well-picked bones of animals which had dropped dead1 or1 when weak1 had been killed or eaten by carnivora or reptiles4 ,we saw large numbers of prairie dogs2 they sit outside their holes like a squirrel1 on their haunches1 with their fore paws up2 they are very quick1 and most difficult even to shoot4 ,more antelopes and coyotes4 ,at a station called ,alpine were several cowboys1 all armed with revolvers and cartridge belts1 and some with dagger knives too2 their mustangs were hitched up close by4 ,these cowboys are some old and some young men1 some wild and some cultivated1 some never educated1 some have gone through ,harvard1 or ,oxford1 or ,cambridge1 some the sons of ,english county gentlemen and noblemen--but all cowboys1 i4e41 men who live on ranches where large herds of cattle or horses are bred1 and whose duty it is to ride over the wild rough country to know where the herds of cattle and horses are feeding1 so that if they need to be ridden up for cutting or branding1 or selling1 they may be found4 ,i was told that this was one of the hardest places for a cowboy1 i4e41 one of the wickedest1 meaning that when they visit it1 it is for a spree1 and they get drunk1 and fights and murders follow4 ,i was pointed to a little cemetery on a hill1 enclosed by a white fence1 and was told that it contained #aej bodies1 and that only #ej had died a natural death2 the others had been shot or otherwise murdered in drunken frays and other ways4 ,many strange little histories were told me about these men1 but which ,i have no time to record here4 ,in some parts of the country where water was very scarce1 there seemed to be no vegetation1 and the cattle seemed to wander solitarily along1 a mere heap of hide and bone4 ,at many stations ,i had quite a considerable interval for running about1 such as when a wheel caught fire1 which happened two or three times1 or some freight had to be taken in1 or taken out1 etc4 ,when the train again starts1 the conductors shout ,all aboard1 and there is a general rush4 ,the next day 7,december #bjth7 was again a brilliant day of sunshine2 we see many buzzards1 and breakfast at ,san ,antonio4 ,the railway stations along this country have two roofs1 one being two or three feet above the other1 so that air between should keep the building cool4 ,at breakfast1 ,i read the ,san ,antonio ,daily ,express1 which informed me severe storms prevailed everywhere in ,great ,britain1 and my thoughts were naturally much occupied with the ,old ,country4 ,the day was sultry1 but sunshine is always a great treat to me1 and it was never too hot4 ,now we are running into civilization again1 and ,i catch sight of a man ploughing2 he has a pair of mules1 and is holding the reins in his teeth4 ,as we proceed1 it is a continuous succession of cotton fields1 cotton fields1 cotton fields4 ,we see many bales2 these weigh from #dge to #fjj lbs4 each4 ,at a station called ,sequin1 ,i obtained lots of cotton seeds1 and gathered some cotton in the fields as we went along4 ,the scavengers of this country are ,turkey buzzards1 which are protected by law because of their usefulness4 ,i could not refrain from writing several times in my note-book1 glorious sunshine4 ,hitherto we have had mountains continuously in sight1 but now they are out of vision4 ,this being ,saturday we see markets at the towns we go through2 at ,habwood and ,flatonia especially was this noticeable4 ,the population seemed almost altogether negro4 ,i observed a negro and his wife1 well dressed1 riding on horseback in the old ,english pillion style2 another negro and his wife1 and about twelve children1 in a capacious kind of wagon-buggy1 and many negroes and negresses1 the latter dressed in white and gay colours1 standing at their pretty verandahed cottages4 ,we now pass a spot where a train was stopped and the passengers robbed some time ago1 by ,jesse and ,frank ,jeames and the ,ford ,brothers4 ,the modus operandi is for all the men to be secreted but one1 who stands on the line holding up a red flag which indicates danger2 the engineer then stops and the men spring aboard2 some hold revolvers to the heads of the engineers1 and others go through the train and rob the passengers4 ,the robbers shout out hands up1 and one man points his weapon at the passenger's head1 whilst another rifles his pockets4 ,if a passenger fails to hold up his hands he is shot down4 ,a passenger on the ,northern ,prairies told me of a fellow passenger1 who under such circumstances having a revolver1 aimed at a robber and pulled the trigger1 but it missed fire1 and he was instantly shot down4 ,but these attacks are now more rare1 and the officials are more prepared for them4 ,sometimes the robbers get on board the train as passengers1 and act suddenly in concert4 ,all along the country now we pass the cabins of the slaves1 familiarised to us by ,uncle ,tom's ,cabin4 ,these cabins are pleasant little houses with verandahs1 and ,i reflected how favourably they compared with the homes of many of the ,london poor1 and how happy the slaves might have been but for the knowledge that at any time they were liable to be sold like a mule or a bullock4 ,now we pass sugar1 cotton and rice plantations1 and go through such cultivations all through ,louisiana1 ,mississippi1 ,alabama1 ,north and ,south ,carolina1 ,georgia1 and ,virginia4 ,i gathered sugar and cotton going along at places1 saw a racoon in a stream fishing for crawfish1 and go through a country1 in which are plenty of alligators4 ,on the early morning of ,sunday 7,december #bast71 we go through swamps1 such as we used to read of as the hiding-places of runaway slaves4 ,all through these ,southern ,states we saw everywhere sugar and cotton1 sugar and cotton1 sugar and cotton2 these1 with rice1 are the principal products2 sugar mills1 cotton yards1 etc41 etc4 ,we soon reach ,algiers1 and cross the grand ,mississippi ,river1 then land at ,new ,orleans4 ,the actual city of ,new ,orleans covers an area of about #da square miles1 but the statutory limits of the city embrace nearly #aej square miles4 ,it is situate on both banks of the ,mississippi ,river1 and from #a1jjj to #a1ejj steamers and other vessels1 from all parts of the world1 may frequently be seen lying there4 ,new ,orleans is the chief market in the world for cotton4 ,the site of the city was surveyed in #agag by ,de la ,tour1 and it was settled in #agah1 but abandoned in consequence of overflows1 storms1 and sickness2 it was resettled in #agbc1 held by the ,french till #agbi1 then by the ,spaniards till #ahja1 by the ,french again till #ahjc1 and then1 with the ,province of ,louisiana1 was ceded to the ,united ,states4 ,the present population is about #bej1jjj4 ,there are #cc cemeteries1 and they are remarkable1 inasmuch as the bodies are buried above ground1 in vaults like tiers of ovens2 the ground is too wet for burial4 ,i attended ,trinity ,church in the morning1 had some black bear for dinner at my hotel1 the ,hotel ,st4 ,charles1 and then attended the ,y4,m4,c4,a41 where ,i gave the address in the afternoon1 which was followed by a very solemn after meeting4 ,i went to bed very early1 and was up very early the next morning 7,monday1 ,december #bbnd74 ,i had to draw the mosquito curtains in the night1 but not till after some of these insects had left their mark4 ,the principal ground floor of the hotel was on the first floor level1 and the actual ground floor was of secondary importance2 the front part was occupied by stone steps and a colonnade1 and the rear was a liquor bar and a large hall4 ,this hall used to be one of the principal auction rooms of the city1 where slaves were sold by auction2 and as ,i entered the now rather desolate-looking place1 which is partly circular in shape and constructed with many pillar supports1 ,i pictured to myself the emotional agonies1 the tempests of passion1 the lust of greed1 the calm1 subdued1 resistless attitude of despair which at times found expression1 as domestic circles were for ever broken1 tenderest sympathies for ever sundered1 closest friendships for ever separated--yea1 even the most sacred relationships of life ruthlessly shattered1 by the sale of mothers or fathers1 brothers or sisters1 wives or husbands1 sweethearts or friends4 ,of this ,i will give just two illustrations3 ,our porter on the train crossing the ,northern ,prairies was a coloured man named ,farrell2 he told me that his mother had seven boys1 and that they were all sold away from her1 and that it had been his life-work to try to find his brothers4 ,he had shipped to ,australia as a seaman1 had worked in hotels1 and on wharves and rivers1 and now was working on the railway cars endeavouring to find his brothers2 he had advertised for them in the newspapers1 but he had never heard of one of them4 ,when this family was broken up1 ,farrell and his brothers were only boys2 for it will be remembered that the date of the official announcement of the total abolition of slavery in the ,united ,states was made on the #ahth ,december1 #ahfb1 when upwards of #d1jjj1jjj slaves were legally declared free men4 ,another coloured man engaged at this hotel1 who was born a slave1 remembered walking with his father1 who was also a slave1 and his father's anxiety to get home before nine o'clock at night1 as no coloured man was allowed to be in the streets after that hour unless he possessed a sufficient authority from his owner4 ,this man told me that at an auction of slaves at this hotel 7auctions of slaves were held in ,new ,orleans at different places three times a week7 a very fine intelligent young man was sold by auction for #b1ajj dollars to a lawyer who was known to be a cruel man4 ,my informant told me that his name was--well1 it sounded like ,rumo1 possibly ,roumeaux1 as most of the wealthy settlers were of ,french origin1 that he lived in ,st4 ,james' ,ward1 and that when he bought slaves and sent them down to his plantations1 they each received twenty-five lashes as they entered his gates1 as an example1 of what they would receive if they did not please him4 ,well1 when the hammer fell and this slave knew that he belonged to an owner whose cruelty was common talk1 he exclaimed1 ,you have lost your money4 ,this slave was sent down with others to the steamer on the ,mississippi 7which is only some ten minutes' walk from the hotel71 for shipment to this owner's plantations4 ,the poor fellow was not even allowed to say good-bye to his people1 but was sent on board4 ,when he arrived there1 he repeated to the man in charge of the slaves1 ,mr4 ,rumo will lose his money1 and shortly after he took advantage of a favourable moment1 and1 folding his arms1 he threw himself backward into the river1 and was drowned4 ,a few minutes' walk from my hotel is the ,henry ,clay monument1 where the mob was addressed last month by ,mr4 ,parkerson1 who incited them to proceed to the prison and force an entrance1 and then to take the lives of a number of ,italian murderers by lynch law4 ,on this monument some memorable words are inscribed which ,mr4 ,clay uttered1 and which ,t copied4 ,they are as follows3--,if ,i could be instrumental in eradicating this deep stain1 slavery1 from the character of our country1 ,i would not exchange the proud satisfaction which ,i should enjoy for the honour of all the triumphs ever decreed to the most successful conqueror4 ,that deep stain was removed in #ahfb1 and slaves were raised from the condition of cattle to that of men1 who could thenceforward rejoice in the freedom of being masters of their own bodies4 ,,new ,,orleans ,,to ,,london4 ,on leaving ,new ,orleans we run through swamps1 and presently skirt the ,gulf of ,mexico and travel on4 ,the next day 7,december #bcrd71 we feel it perceptibly colder1 for we are going north4 ,the country is cultivated in sugar1 cotton1 rice1 grass1 etc4 ,we breakfast at ,atlanta1 and after leaving that place1 the scenery puts me more in mind of ,england4 ,in going through ,georgia1 ,i was told that the same black families which now occupy many of the small wooden houses1 or cabins1 which ,i see1 are the same families who occupied them before the abolition of slavery4 ,although many slaves suffered cruelties through enforced separations and hard treatment1 yet very many had most comfortable homes1 considerate masters1 and light work4 ,i sat much during this day on the platform at the end of the end car1 observing the country4 ,at one station some little black urchins came to gaze1 and ,i said to one boy1 apparently seven years old1 ,what is your name8 ,he said1 ,willie ,matthews4 ,i said1 ,how old are you8 ,he said1 ,i ain't old enough to know how old ,i are4 ,and his genuine simplicity delighted me4 ,we are now passing through cultivated lands1 farms1 and estates1 and these continue right on to ,new ,york4 ,at ,greers was a very large collection of cotton4 ,at ,spartanville are large cotton mills1 such as one sees in ,lancashire4 ,the next day 7,december #bdth71 we notice ice on the ponds4 ,we cross the ,potomac ,river1 and near ,washington1 sight the ,capitol--or1 as we should say in ,england1 the ,houses of ,parliament4 ,washington ,city is the political capital of the ,united ,states4 ,its size is about #d-a_/b miles by #b-a_/b miles4 ,the ,capitol is described by the ,americans as the most magnificent public edifice in the world4 ,it is #ceb feet long and #aba feet deep1 with two wings each #bch by #adj feet4 ,its entire length is #gea feet #d inches1 and it covers an area of more than #c-a_/b acres4 ,it is of costly construction1 and stands in grounds of about #ej acres4 ,we proceed1 and stop at ,baltimore1 cross the ,bush and ,gunpowder ,rivers1 again come near the ,susquehanna and ,delaware ,rivers1 various smaller rivers1 and run on until we reach ,new ,york4 ,on arrival1 ,i immediately went to the ,cunard office and secured my berth in the ,servia4 ,the next morning 7,christmas ,day71 it was very cold1 and snowing4 ,i had a fire lit in my bed-room1 and there wrote the article which appeared in the ,january ,land ,roll4 ,in the afternoon ,i walked in the ,central ,park1 but it was so bitterly cold1 ,i was satisfied with less than two hours of exercise1 and returned to the hotel to dinner1 and finished up the day writing in my bed-room till midnight4 ,the ,central ,park1 in genial weather1 would be an attractive resort4 ,i observed large natural rocks1 lawns1 wide promenades1 seats1 lakes1 menageries1 swings1 and various such like attractions for juveniles1 overground and underground roads--a kind of ,rotten ,row1 c41 but being so cold scarcely a person was to be seen4 ,on ,december #bfth1 ,new ,york was deep in snow4 ,i visited a few shops for some necessaries1 and went on board the ,servia during the afternoon1 thinking that ,i might have difficulty in getting a cabman to drive to the docks after dark if the snow drifted deeply4 ,new ,york ,city is the metropolis of the ,united ,states4 ,in #ahhj its population was #a1bjf1eij4 ,its site was discovered in #aebd4 ,it was in #afji that ,hudson1 an ,englishman1 ascended the river which was named after him4 ,in #afad some ,dutchmen settled there4 ,in #afdh its population was #a1jjj1 and in #agjj it had increased to #f1jjj4 ,in #afhd it was captured by the ,duke of ,york1 and was henceforth called ,new ,york4 ,in #agaa a slave market was established in ,wall ,street4 ,on ,december #bgth1 about #e o'clock in the morning1 we began to clear out of the dock1 and in a few hours were again on the broad ,atlantic4 ,the next day 7,sunday1 ,december #bhth71 we had service on board1 conducted by the doctor in the saloon3 all on board not actually on duty may attend4 ,we left ,new ,york in a blizzard1 and our decks were coated with frost and snow1 but after two days this was all cleared away1 and we had a splendid run in genial weather1 so that one day ,i could comfortably walk on deck without a greatcoat4 ,our run was--from ,sandy ,hook ,lighthouse 7#de miles7 to noon of ,december #bhth1 #cgc miles2 noon of ,december #bith1 #cgi miles2 ,december #cjth1 #cge miles2 ,december #cast1 #hgh miles2 ,january #ast1 #ahia1 #cgb miles2 ,january #bnd1 #cfb miles2 ,january #crd1 #cga miles2 thence1 to ,queenstown1 #afi miles2 and from ,queenstown to ,liverpool1 #bdj miles2 making a total of #c1jfd miles4 ,the passage in the ,etruria1 going out1 was #c1jfb miles4 ,the ,servia is a fine ship1 but much older than the ,etruria1 and her engines1 consequently1 are not capable of the speed of a newer vessel4 ,her cargo capacity is #f1ejj tons1 with #a1hjj tons of coal and #a1jjj tons of water ballast4 ,her horse-power is equal to #aj1ejj4 ,the saloon is #gd by #di feet1 and is capable of seating #cej persons4 ,the ,servia has cabin accommodation for #ejj saloon and #fjj steerage passengers1 besides a crew of #bjj officers and men4 ,when there are more than #cej saloon passengers1 each meal has to be served in two relays4 ,an interesting incident occurred during the passage3 ,i discovered that our captain 7now commanding the ,aurania7 was a shipmate of mine in #ahee1 when ,i was a midshipman4 ,i reached my office in ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields at #h o'clock on the morning of ,january #eth1 having been absent just about six weeks4 ,the distances were as follows3-- ,liverpool to ,new ,york #c1jfb miles4 ,new ,york to ,chicago #iac ,chicago to ,council ,bluffs #dhh ,council ,bluffs to ,san ,francisco #a1hfg ,san ,francisco to ,merced #aeb ,merced to ,new ,orleans #b1cdd ,new ,orleans to ,washington #a1add ,washington to ,new ,york #bbh ,new ,york to ,liverpool #c1jfd ,london to ,liverpool #bja ,liverpool to ,london #bja ,journeys in buggies1 tram-cars1 c4 #aaj -------- #ac1ggd ,i must conclude with some general remarks3-- ,the ,times recently published a series of ten articles on the ,negro ,question in the ,united ,states1 and from them it appears that the position of that country is very serious in this relation4 ,these articles commenced after ,i had started on my journey1 so that ,i only saw one or two of the concluding ones and the ,times leader upon the whole1 but ,i was not surprised to see them1 because in passing through the ,states which are principally peopled by negroes1 ,i heard something about the matter from a thoughtful man1 who regarded the subject with great gravity4 ,the ,times has shown that the attitude of one race to the other is that of antagonism1 discontent1 and perpetual danger4 ,the negroes have the same constitutional privileges as the whites1 and their overpowering numbers in certain places give the power into their hands1 which1 regarded in relation to racial hatred1 renders them to be an object of danger to the country4 ,it is proposed to emigrate the negroes to some part of ,africa4 ,it would be more consistent for certain ,americans to interest themselves in solving this problem of their own rather than encouraging ,irish agitators1 and so assisting to prevent ,england solving her dark problem across ,st4 ,george's ,channel4 ,the proportion of coloured people to white in the three states of ,georgia1 ,louisiana1 and ,alabama1 is about equal1 that is1 there are as many coloured people as white4 ,the population of coloured people throughout the whole of the ,united ,states is about #g1jjj1jjj of coloured people to #ei1jjj1jjj of white people1 but it is a sad fact1 as stated in the ,times of ,march #gth last1 that a ,government return1 dated ,june #ast1 #ahij1 showed that there were #de1bcc convicts in the prisons of the ,united ,states1 and that of this number no less than #ad1fhg1 or one-third were coloured people1 and that out of these coloured people only #bcg were ,chinese1 #c ,japanese1 and #ahj ,indians1 so that #ad1bfg were negroes4 ,as the whites1 counting all the ,states1 are eight times as numerous as the coloured people1 and yet the coloured convicts are one-third of the whole1 it speaks badly for the morals of the negro race in ,america4 ,i was much struck with the immense development of electricity4 ,steamers1 railway carriages1 tramcars1 hotels1 shops1 towns1 villages1 and railway stations1 even those in remote places1 with scarcely a building near to them1 were all well lighted by electricity4 ,railways run on scaffoldings down the centre of the streets1 and horses with their vehicles run underneath them4 ,the railway trains are well heated throughout by hot water pipes 7every class71 and reflect a grave reproach on our country1 where1 in the severest weather1 it is difficult to get a foot warmer1 except by certain main line trains1 and1 even then1 one is expected to tip the attendant4 ,poor persons travelling in thin garments and poorly fed1 in severe weather1 scarcely ever dare to ask for a foot warmer unless they are prepared to fee someone1 and1 whether rich or poor1 no one can get a foot warmer at any of our country stations4 ,when we consider that railways originated in this country1 and that some of the parts of ,america ,i passed through were1 some #ej1 some #dj1 and some even #cj years ago1 only known to the trapper and the ,indian1 it shows the increase of enterprise exhibited by our cousins over the ,atlantic4 ,tramcars are worked by electricity1 by steam1 by horses and mules1 and by revolving endless cables4 ,telephones are everywhere4 ,the railway journeys in ,america often occupying several days1 the tickets are a kind of succession of coupons1 parts of which have to be given up at various stages4 ,caution is exercised in selling railway tickets for long journeys--thus1 you are required to sign the ticket1 and observations are made of you1 such as your height1 probable age1 colour of your eyes1 hair1 etc4 ,some of the lines of railway are not fenced in1 not even in towns1 so that the train runs through a town as openly as does an omnibus4 ,i may convey some idea of some of the large ,american systems of agriculture1 by referring to the estate of one of my clients1 ,mr4 ,c4,h4 ,huffman1 of ,merced1 ,california4 ,this gentleman has fields ranging from #a1jjj to #ae1jjj acres each4 ,he can plough #djj to #ejj acres a day4 ,by his traction engine he can strike #ab furrows at a time4 ,he can put #gj teams 7of eight mules or horses each7 to work at one time4 ,each harvester will cut1 thrash1 and sack an average of #ej acres a day4 ,the front part of the machine faces the standing wheat in the field1 in the centre of the machine it is thrashed and winnowed1 and at the rear it is thrown out in sacks ready for market4 ,mr4 ,huffman can sit in his study at home1 and by his telephone talk to his clerks at ,merced 7he is the banker there71 as well as to the foremen at his various ranches for #be miles round the country4 ,i particularly noticed one of his fields of wheat1 comprising #b1jjj acres1 as level and clean as a well-kept lady's flower garden in ,england4 ,the ,americans have a greater variety of foods served at their meals than we do1 but ,i never got the flavour of meat cut from a joint to equal that which1 when really well roasted and served1 we get in ,england4 ,as to bread1 ,i never tasted bread worth the name1 from the time ,i left ,london to the time ,i returned to it4 ,alike on the ,cunard steamers1 cars1 hotels1 etc41 you can get no wholemeal bread4 ,french and ,vienna breads1 and other very white abortions of that kind are obtainable in abundance1 and even a kind of brown bread1 and ,graham's bread1 but good honest wholemeal bread1 containing all the properties of the full kernel of the wheat1 it is impossible to get1 and this to me was a very great deprivation1 as my principal article of food is real wholemeal bread4 ,the system of the custody of letters at the large ,american hotels appeared to me rather unsafe4 ,a visitor asks for letters1 whereupon there are handed to him all the letters in the pigeon-hole marked with the initial of which the visitor's name commences4 ,the visitor then proceeds to look through them1 and takes what he chooses1 and hands the rest back4 ,the official is too busy1 or it is not customary for him1 to look through them for the visitor1 or even to watch the visitor in his process of selection4 ,i noticed one gentleman with a packet of letters1 ,i should think considerably over a hundred1 every now and then slip one into his breast pocket and give a furtive glance1 which did not inspire confidence1 but probably this is a well accustomed habit of the people1 and the letters1 perhaps1 are as safe as the newspapers ,i frequently saw deposited on the tops of the street letter boxes 7outside the boxes71 because they were too large to be put inside2 of course anyone could have taken them1 but the custom not to touch them is probably honourably recognized4 ,the street letter boxes are quite small square boxes1 not large pillar boxes as are ours in this country4 ,i should like to have remarked more generally on ,america1 but both time and space fail me4 ,of course1 as most people know1 the 7to us7 disgusting practice of spitting is common in ,america2 spittoons are universally provided in public and private places4 ,at ,merced ,court ,house is this notice3 ,gentlemen will not1 and others should not spit upon the floors4 ,huge spittoons are provided there4 ,the awful guttural which precedes the constant expectoration of ,americans is most trying4 ,it excites in persons near them and who are unaccustomed to it1 a sensation of necessity to vomit1 as it conveys a fear that your neighbour is about to vomit over you4 ,it is not the excusable expectoration arising from an accumalation in the air passages1 but a continuous fusilade of saliva4 ,it is a disgusting practice1 and ,i believe will die out in ,america as its citizens travel more in the old countries and become used to manners more refined than such a one as this4 ,i observed that my clients in ,california1 who have travelled in ,europe1 and other travelled ,americans1 are not guilty of this odious practice4 ,i would say to ,englishmen travelling in ,america1 don't condescend to the guessing and other loose styles of expression1 and don't affect the nasal twang4 ,americans1 with all their boast of one man being as good as another1 are greatly pleased to entertain or travel with ,englishmen having a title1 and they pay a marked respect to ,britishers who speak in a classical style1 and who1 while being devoid of foppishness1 bounce1 or vulgarity1 conduct themselves with a genial dignity4 ,california4 ,i will now say something about ,california1 and then proceed to describe the lands for sale1 and the prospects of those who will settle upon them4 ,california lies on the genial coast of the ,pacific ,ocean1 midway between the too cold regions of the ,north and the too hot regions of the ,south4 ,to be exact1 the mean temperature in ,san ,francisco in the month of ,january1 averages about #di4 ,it has varied from #ec to #ci4 ,the record of #cb years shows that between sunrise and sunset it has not been so low as #cb on more than #aj days4 ,snow is sometimes seen to fall1 but it melts immediately4 ,california has a bright1 genial climate1 and is described as pre-eminently a sunny land4 ,the early spring1 commencing about the middle of ,february and lasting about six weeks1 is a very pleasant part of the year1 but ,april is described as the cheeriest4 ,december and ,january are the least pleasant1 because it is the rainy and winter season4 ,thunderstorms are rare1 and no hurricane has ever been known there4 ,the rainfall of ,california is about twenty inches1 and the rainy days number about sixty in the year1 or about half the number of rainy days experienced in the ,atlantic ,states or ,central ,europe4 ,amongst the fruits grown in abundance are the orange1 grape1 peach1 apricot1 plum1 cherry1 apple1 nectarine1 fig1 lemon1 lime1 olive1 date1 and all the berries of value4 ,besides the immense growth of choice and luscious ,fruits1 for which ,california is famous all over the globe1 it claims to have the largest milk1 butter1 and cheese dairies in the world4 ,it is also renowned for its mineral riches1 its immense mercantile business1 its manufacturing industries1 its production of wool1 its gigantic timber1 its wealth of beauty in flowers1 its fast horses1 its grand scenery1 embracing lofty mountains1 deep valleys1 expansive fertile plains1 and all the variations of a beautiful country1 with many rivers1 and a magnificent sea coast1 whilst the coast range and the slopes of the ,sierra offer to the sportsman such game in abundance as grizzly and cinnamon bears and ,californian lions4 ,there are also deer1 hare1 rabbit1 quail1 large flocks of wild ducks and geese1 and the rivers afford such fish as salmon and trout1 and the deep sea splendid fishing4 ,san ,francisco has been called a city of #ajj hills4 ,it has a population of nearly #cjj1jjj inhabitants1 amongst whom are no less than #ej millionaires4 ,its harbour is known all over the globe as the ,golden ,gate1 and it has answered well to its name1 for an entrance to its vast resources has made the fortune of multitudes of people1 and many going there now are laying the foundations for future wealth4 ,the lands of ,california have the two essentials for successful culture--a rich soil and genial climate1 with plenty of sun1 yet never too hot and never too cold for out-door work1 and most of its domestic animals are never housed1 and require no food but wild herbage4 ,,fruit ,,culture ,,in ,,california4 ,our lands at ,merced1 in ,california1 offer to gentlemen wishing to make a first or a fresh start in life a really good opportunity4 ,it is difficult to conceive how men with energy1 enterprise1 and a little capital1 can be content to sit in an office in foggy1 blocked-up ,london1 quill driving from year's end to year's end1 when a prospect is afforded them1 such as we now offer1 of establishing a pleasant home in a luxurious land1 with a sunny1 genial climate1 and within about a fortnight's travel of ,england1 and where they would have the liberty of being their own masters1 and lay the foundation of a future competency4 ,,currency4 ,as the currency in ,california is dollars1 not pounds1 we must ask our readers to accustom themselves to dollars4 ,a dollar is #ajj cents1 and1 roughly speaking1 a cent is equivalent to a halfpenny1 so that a dollar would be worth1 of our money1 four shillings and twopence4 ,its value1 however1 varies a few cents according to the place where it is exchanged4 ,bank of ,england notes or pounds are never worth less than four shillings and twopence1 i4e41 #dhj cents or halfpennies1 which1 of course1 is four dollars and #hj cents1 there being #ajj cents in a dollar4 ,the decimal currency is extremely simple when once understood4 ,never less than #d4hj is given for an ,english pound1 but sometimes #d4hb and #d4he is obtained4 ,,merced4 ,the lands ,i have for sale are situate in the ,county of ,merced1 in ,california1 about #aej miles by rail from the ,city of ,san ,francisco1 ,they are designated ,british ,colony1 and at the nearest point are just one mile from the boundary of the town of ,merced1 and two miles from the railway station1 hotel1 shops1 etc4 ,merced town is lighted by gas and electricity1 has water laid on1 telephones1 telegraphs1 ,court ,house1 ,episcopal ,church1 ,presbyterian ,church1 ,cumberland ,presbyterian ,church1 ,methodist ,church1 ,south ,methodist ,church1 ,baptist ,church1 and ,catholic ,church1 two schools1 shops of various kinds2 two railroads1 the main one running up to ,san ,francisco1 and down to ,los ,angeles and on to ,new ,orleans1 etc41 and the other1 a branch line to ,stockton1 ,sacramento1 etc4 ,merced is #age feet above the level of the sea2 it is a pleasant little town1 affords some congenial society1 and ,i firmly believe will1 before many years have passed1 become an important centre1 because my clients have brought water from the ,merced ,river more than twenty miles off1 by a system of canals1 and have formed a reservoir of #fdj acres in extent1 with an average depth of #cj feet1 and thus have given facilities for irrigating the country round the town4 ,it is certain to become a great ,fruit-growing district1 as its soil is so fully adapted for the purpose4 ,it is much nearer to ,san ,francisco than ,los ,angeles1 and is nearer also than ,fresno and other districts which have already made themselves a name for ,fruit culture4 ,the country around ,merced has a natural fall1 and is drained by many creeks1 which are dry in summer1 but contain more or less water in winter4 ,,the ,,lands ,,for ,,sale4 ,merced is situated in the celebrated ,san ,joaquin ,valley 7pronounced ,san ,wharkeen71 which is an immense level of fertile land1 the soil generally being of a rich sandy loam1 but in some districts1 such as that ,i am now offering for sale1 of a deep rich black loam of a highly productive nature1 in fact1 it is the decomposed vegetation and alluvial deposits of past ages1 than which nothing could be more fertile4 ,we have good evidence that the land is especially suited for the production of prunes1 apricots1 pears1 peaches1 olives1 plums1 small ,fruit1 such as strawberries1 blackberries1 sweet and common potatoes1 garden stuff1 and alfalfa4 ,alfalfa 7or lucerne7 is a great crop in ,america in places where there are no old meadow lands for the cows4 ,the land is1 of course1 suited for all cereal crops1 too4 ,all the ,fruits named can be dried in the sun without artificial heat4 ,the lands are about #afj to #afe feet above the level of the sea1 and1 in common with all the country round1 they command a view on the one side of the grand snow-capped ,sierra ,nevada ,mountains1 and on the other of the mountains known as the ,coast ,range4 ,immense flocks of wild geese and ducks 7principally geese71 are often on the land4 ,there are also rabbits on the land 7so called71 but they more resemble hares in their size and habits and run4 ,there are some excellent ,fruit orchards and gardens at ,merced4 ,in the grounds around the ,court ,house are some very fine orange trees1 full of fruit1 and also in the gardens of private residents4 ,one gentleman kindly sent a bough of oranges1 and other gentlemen sent other ,fruits1 which may be seen at our offices4 ,at the ,buhach ,colony1 near the town of ,merced1 are extensive orchards of ,californian ,fruits4 ,mr4 ,atwater's gardens and orchard1 a few miles from the town1 are worth inspection4 ,he has two magnificent olive trees1 nine or ten years' old1 which bear heavy crops1 and which are used for the production of olive oil2 his vineyard and orange orchard1 his lemon and persimmon trees1 all look very prosperous4 ,he would gladly show any settler how he has cultivated them4 ,he has a corn and stock farm1 and has only gradually cultivated these ,fruits1 which occupy some eleven acres4 ,,price ,,of ,,the ,,land4 ,the prices of the land for sale are #ge1 and #ajj1 and #aej dollars per acre1 according to position4 ,two-thirds of the purchase-money may remain on mortgage as long as the interest is paid at #h per cent1 per annum1 which is the lowest interest payable in ,california4 ,the mortgagor is liable to the ,government for the taxes1 which amount to #a-a_/b to #b per cent1 per annum1 so that he would really only receive #f to #f-a_/b per cent1 interest4 ,all mortgages are publicly recorded1 and so the property is vested in the mortgagor till he is paid off1 and when that is done it also is publicly recorded4 ,these taxes embrace all known to us in ,england as rates and taxes1 except a road tax of #b dollars a head per annum1 chargeable to every male over twenty-one years of age4 ,this tax may be paid for in labour on the road if desired4 ,a free conveyance will be given1 but the cost of recording the transaction in the county office 7there is no stamp duty71 about #a-a_/b dollars1 must be paid by the purchaser4 ,the recording of a mortgage would probably be #c-a_/d dollars because it is longer4 ,the record is a public acknowledgment of the title of the owner to the land made in the county books4 ,foreigners can hold freehold property in ,california1 but they have no right to vote--indeed1 they would have no right to vote until they had resided five years in the country1 and had become naturalized2 then a resident has before him the possibility of becoming ,governor of the ,state to which he belongs1 or1 indeed1 ,secretary of the ,interior1 which corresponds with the position of the ,premier in ,england4 ,,american ,,surveys4 ,according to the ,american surveys the country is arranged in squares1 as shown on all the maps4 ,a section is a square mile1 or #fdj acres4 ,a township is #cf sections1 i4e41 six miles on each of its four sides4 ,a quarter section is #afj acres1 and the lands are so arranged that a roadway is reserved around each quarter section #fj feet wide1 and the land for such roadway is taken from each side1 so that each owner has to contribute #cj feet to such road1 and1 of course1 he has the benefit of the frontage to it4 ,a #bj acre lot would be an eighth of a quarter section4 ,on some of the lots for sale at ,british ,colony1 are one or two houses and some buildings4 ,these may be purchased thus3 ,one house and buildings1 #a1jjj dollars2 another house and buildings1 #a1jjj dollars2 another house and buildings 7,n4,e471 #fjj dollars2 but if one purchaser bought four lots of #bj acres1 each adjoining so that one house and buildings should come near the centre1 then such house and buildings would be given in4 ,,special ,,knowledge ,,of ,,fruit ,,culture4 ,few settlers would have the requisite special knowledge of ,fruit culture without some instruction1 and1 therefore1 the owners of the land have engaged the services of ,professor ,eisen1 at a fixed salary1 so that all settlers on their lands may have the benefit of the ,professor's instruction1 free of charge4 ,professor ,eisen is well known as a specialist in horticulture in ,california4 ,he has just published a book on the raisin industry in ,california1 which may be seen at our offices4 ,the culture of grapes for raisins1 and plums for prunes1 would be remarkably successful on the lands for sale4 ,,canned ,,fruits4 ,wholesale buyers come round the country to buy the ,fruit crops while on the trees4 ,an enormous trade is done in ,america in canned ,fruits2 the hotels1 steamers1 railway cars1 and private families use them largely at all meals1 and ,america itself seems to be a sufficient market for ages to come for all the ,fruit and vegetables its ,state of ,california can produce4 ,,estimates4 ,how to start with a capital of #bj1jjj dols4 dols4 #hj acres of land1 #ab1jjj dols41 half cost #f1jjj ,trees1 such as orange1 olive1 fruit1 etc4 #b1jjj ,house and barn #b1ejj ,horses #djj ,cow #ej ,poultry #be ,furniture1 etc4 #fjj ,waggon1 tools1 etc4 #djj ,labour1 per year1 #c men1 etc41 for1 #c years1 including living #d1jjj ,interest on #f1jjj dols4 at #h--dhj dols4 per year1 #c years #a1ddj ------ dols4 #ag1dae ,leaving a balance of #b1ehe dols4 for first payment of land1 or for other improvements and unforeseen expenses4 ,profit the fourth year should be about #d1jjj to #ejjj dols4 at the lowest4 ,how to start with a capital of #aj1jjj dols41 i4e41 say #b1jjj4 dols4 dols4 #dj acres of land 44 44 44 44 #f1jjj ,house and barn 44 44 44 44 #a1bjj ,well and pump 44 44 44 44 #ajj ,horses 44 44 44 44 #bjj ,waggon and tools 44 44 44 44 #cej ,furniture1 etc 44 44 44 44 #ejj ,cow 44 44 44 44 #ej ,trees1 etc4 44 44 44 44 #a1bjj ,seed1 etc4 44 44 44 44 #ajj 44 44 44 44 ---- #i1gjj ,living one year1 etc42 incidentals 44 #cjj 44 44 44 44 ----- dols4 #aj1jjj ,,profits4 dols4 dols4 ,first year4--,land between the trees1 cultivated in potatoes1 vegetables1 etc4 44 44 44 44 #ejj ,poultry1 eggs1 etc4 44 44 44 44 #aej --- #fej 7,eggs and poultry pay for groceries4 ,many families are doing this now47 dols4 dols4 ,second year4--,the same as above 44 #fej ,third year4--,the same as above 44 #fej ,yield from ,fruit1 #aj dols4 per acre 44 #djj ---- #a1jej ,fourth year4--,the same from poultry1 etc4 #fej ,from ,fruit trees1 #ej dols4 per acre 44 #b1jjj ---- #b1fej ,fifth year4--,the orchard is now in good bearing1 and should pay from #ajj to #bej dols4 per acre2 say the lowest 44 #d1jjj 7,no time to attend to any but ,fruit trees unless a man is employed1 so only the return of ,fruit trees is given74 ,sixth year4--,the orchard now pays1 if properly attended to1 from #aej to #cej dols4 per acre2 say the lowest 44 #f1jjj ,seventh year4--,the orchard pays1 if properly cared for1 from #bjj to #dej dols4 per acre2 say the lowest 44 #h1jjj ,this clear after expenses have been deducted4 ,the farmer can take care of #bj acres himself1 with occasional help4 ,with #dj acres he requires one man more1 his son or hired help4 ,the first three years he will only make his living ordinarily so2 after that time he will make money4 ,poultry1 and vegetables should1 during the first year pay for all expenses at least1 and in many instances leave a large surplus4 ,all this depends upon the capacity of the settler4 ,with good land such as this #ajj dollars or more could be made from vegetables the first season by a capable and experienced man4 ,at least it has been done repeatedly4 ,if poultry is properly cared for1 a family will make its living by selling eggs and chickens until the trees come in bearing4 ,how to start with a capital of #h1jjj dols41 i4e41 say #a1fjj4 dols4 ,land1 #dj acres1 #f1jjj dols41 half cost44 44 #c1jjj ,house and barn 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #a1ejj ,horses 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #bjj ,cows and chickens 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #ge ,waggon and tools 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #bjj ,sundries1 tools1 etc4 44 44 44 44 44 44 #djj ,trees1 etc4 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #a1bjj ,well and pump 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #ajj ,or windmill and tank 44 44 44 44 44 44 #bej ,interest on #c1jjj dols4 at #h for three years 44 #ghj ,sundries for living1 etc4 44 44 44 44 44 #bie ----- dols4 #h1jjj ,the fourth and fifth years there should be a gross profit of at least #b1fej dols4 a year1 enough to pay for the balance due on land4 ,how to start with1 a capital of #e1jjj dols41 i4e41 say #a1jjj4 dols4 ,land1 #bj acres1 #c1jjj dols41 half cost 44 44 #a1ejj ,house and barn1 etc4 44 44 44 44 44 44 #a1jjj ,trees 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #fjj ,horses 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #bjj ,cow 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #ej ,household furniture 44 44 44 44 44 44 #ajj ,waggon and tools 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #bjj ,well and pump 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #ajj 7,if tank and windmill required1 from #bej dols4 upwards extra74 ,seed1 etc4 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #ej ,sundry expenses and chickens 44 44 44 44 #cjj ,interest for three years on balance of land at #h 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 #cfj ,capital on hand to pay for part of the land44 #hdj ----- dols4 #e1cjj ,what some people have started with1 and come out all right4 dols4 dols4 ,land1 #c1jjj dols41 cash1 balance credit #ajjj ,house and barn #ejj ,horses #aej ,cow #ej ,poultry #be #bbe ,provisions1 sundries1 etc #ajj ,furniture and tools #aej ,sundry expenses #ajj ,waggon and horses #aej dols4 #b1bbe ,but ordinarily1 this is too little1 as the planting of the land cannot be proceeded with at once1 and work must be procured among the neighbours1 etc4 ,the estimates1 were furnished us by ,professor ,eisen1 who remarked that1 probably1 in giving estimates all persons would vary somewhat1 but these1 and other estimates which he gave1 are really more than estimates1 because they are the actual results of past experiences4 ,,professor ,,eisen',s ,,opinion4 ,received ,january #bjth1 #ahia4 ,professor ,eisen writes3--,i am of opinion that these lands 7,british ,colony1 ,merced7 are amongst the very best in the ,state for raisins2 still1 as ,i explained to you1 ,i do not advise any one to put his whole interest in the raisin industry1 as the market for this ,fruit is limited4 ,for other dried fruit1 especially for prunes 7,french plums71 apricots1 peaches1 and nectarines1 the market is practically unlimited1 and as our population increases yearly #a1ejj1jjj people1 it will be seen that our markets must extend as well1 even after we have driven all foreign ,fruits out of our home markets4 ,as regards the adaptability of the land of ,british ,colony for various ,fruits1 ,i can say that they are especially adapted to the prune 7,french plums7 and peaches for drying and canning1 olives for olive oil and pickling2 also for oranges4 ,you can see how the orange thrives in the city of ,merced and surroundings1 or in localities exactly like those of ,british ,colony lands1 and there can be no doubt that oranges and lemons will prove very profitable in ,british ,colony4 ,olives will especially do well there4 ,the ,british ,colony lands ,i consider as exceptionally rich and fertile1 and there are few1 if any1 equal to them in this ,state or anywhere else4 ,,price ,,of ,,fruit ,,trees4 ,the prices in ,california of young ,fruit trees for planting1 for the season #ahij-ia1 are given as follows3-- dols4 ,prunes 7like ,french plums7 #be to #cj per #ajj ,plums and other prunes #ae ,apricots #bj ,peaches1 from #ae to #ag4ej ,olives 7layers7 #bj ,olives1 grafted #dj to #fj ,pears #ah ,oranges1 best kinds #gj to #ajj ,shade trees #ej ,grape-vines 7raisins7 #ab ,persimmons #ae ,walnuts1 from #ae to #ce ,,when ,,fruit ,,trees ,,pay4 ,the ,fruit trees enumerated above would begin to bear the second year1 but only the fourth year would they bear any considerable amount2 the fifth and sixth years they would come into good bearing1 and should then yield a profit of1 say1 from #ajj to #cej dollars per acre4 ,at seven years the orchard should be in full bearing1 and never yield less than #aej1 and1 possibly1 #dej dollars per acre4 ,instances have been known when prunes1 peaches1 and pears have produced from #gej to #a1ejj dollars per acre clear profit4 ,,position ,,of ,a ,,settler4 ,the position of a settler1 then1 is that for the first three years he cannot depend upon his crop of ,fruit to maintain him1 but must either have sufficient capital to support him during that time1 or else earn his living in some other way4 ,to be idle1 and live on capital1 would not1 of course1 suit any man who meant to succeed1 and therefore he would fill up his time in cultivating garden and poultry produce1 for which there is always a demand1 or in getting some occasional employment4 ,,cost ,,of ,,board ,,and ,,lodging4 ,at ,merced railway station is a very large hotel1 and the cost of board and lodging for emigrants is only #be dollars1 i4e41 say1 #e per month2 to usual visitors it is #fj dollars a month4 ,,raisin ,,culture4 ,the ,pacific ,rural ,press1 referring to the raisin vineyards in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley1 ,california1 states3-- ,what is especially interesting to the home-seeker in connection with this information1 is the fact that everyone of these vineyardists is prosperous4 ,no other horticultural industry is so profitable as the culture of the raisin grape1 in no other is the work so pleasant1 and no other yields a return so quickly4 ,an acre of ,muscat vines in full bearing will yield from two to three tons of grapes on good heavy soil4 ,at #e-a_/b cents a pound in the sweat-box1 this means from #bbe to #cbe dollars per acre1 gross4 ,numerous instances are known1 however1 where the yield of an acre of ,muscats amounted to as much as #dej dollars1 this being the result of careful cultivation and favourable circumstances4 ,some grapes are borne on the vines when they are one-year old1 while two-year old's have been known to bear a crop4 ,at three years the vines pay the expenses and interest on the money invested1 and at four years from planting they bring the first large paying crop4 ,the ,merced ,argus says of raisin culture3-- ,one of the great charms of raisin culture is the extreme simplicity of its operations4 ,,what ,,can ,,be ,,more ,,simple than to pick a bunch of ,muscat grapes from the vine1 and lay it on the ground4 ,in six days the bunch of grapes1 without being meanwhile touched1 has assumed the appearance of a bunch of raisins1 and has flattened out as if it had been pressed4 ,it is then carefully turned over1 so as to expose the underside to the direct action of the sun4 ,in eight days more it is a perfect bunch of raisins1 and no act of man can improve it even in appearance4 ,all the operations of fancy packing are so simple1 that a child may learn them in a day4 ,a single acre of raisin vines in a ,merced ,colony lot means handfuls of bright1 golden double eagles to the bright-eyed children of the ,merced farmer in the near future4 ,harper's ,magazine for ,january1 #ahia1 contains an article on ,california1 which all persons interested in that ,state would do well to read4 ,i extract a few statements3-- ,,irrigation4 ,a piece of land at ,riverside1 below the flow of water1 was worth #cjj dollars an acre4 ,contiguous to it was another piece not irrigated1 which would not sell for #ej dollars an acre4 ,by bringing water to it1 it would quickly sell for #cjj dollars1 thus adding #bej dollars to its value4 ,as the estimate at ,river side is that one inch of water will irrigate five acres of ,fruit land1 five times #bej dollars would be #a1bej dollars per inch1 at which price water for irrigation has actually been sold at ,riverside4 ,the standard of measurement of water in ,southern ,california is the miner's inch under four inches pressure1 or the amount that will flow through an inch-square opening under a pressure of four inches measured from the surface of the water in the conduit to the centre of the opening through which it flows4 ,this is nine gallons a minute1 or1 as it is figured1 #a1gbh cubic feet or #ab1ifj gallons in #bd hours1 and #a_/ej of a cubic foot a second4 ,this flow would cover #aj acres about #ah inches deep in a year2 that is1 it would give the land the equivalent of #ah inches of rain1 distributed exactly when and where it was needed1 none being wasted1 and more serviceable than #ej inches of rainfall as it generally comes4 ,this1 with the natural rainfall1 is sufficient for citrous ,fruits and for corn and alfalfa1 in soil not too sandy1 and it is too much for grapes and all deciduous fruits4 ,but irrigation1 in order to be successful1 must be intelligently applied4 ,in unskilful hands it may work more damage than benefit4 ,mr4 ,theodore ,s4 ,van ,dyke1 who may always be quoted with confidence1 says that the ground should never he flooded2 that water must not touch the plant or tree1 or come near enough to make the soil bake around it2 and that it should be let in in small streams for two or three days1 and not in large streams for a few hours4 ,,olive ,,culture4 ,the growth of the olive is to be1 it seems to me1 one of the leading and most permanent industries of ,southern ,california4 ,it will give us1 what it is nearly impossible to buy now1 pure olive oil1 in place of the cotton seed and lard mixture in general use4 ,it is a most wholesome and palatable article of food4 ,those whose chief experience of the olive is the large1 coarse1 and not agreeable ,spanish variety1 used only as an appetizer1 know little of the value of the best varieties as food1 nutritious as meat1 and always delicious4 ,good bread and a dish of pickled olives make an excellent meal4 ,a mature olive grove in good bearing is a fortune4 ,i feel sure that within #be years this will be one of the most profitable industries of ,california1 and that the demand for pure oil and edible fruit in the ,united ,states will drive out the adulterated and inferior present commercial products4 ,,special ,,openings4 ,there are now at ,merced special openings for a nurseryman and a dairyman2 the latter would be by growing alfalfa 7lucerne7 and raising poultry for at present the ,merced people often have to get poultry and eggs from ,san ,francisco1 #aej miles off4 ,,potato ,,growing4 ,a settler might make a really good return out of potatoes while his ,fruit trees are maturing1 which is a food more in use in ,america than in ,england4 ,potatoes are not only served at luncheon and dinner1 but also at breakfast everywhere1 and1 if every settler planted his land with potatoes1 there would be no fear of overstocking the market4 ,mr4 ,eisen states that potatoes yield from #ej to #djj sacks to the acre1 and sell at prices varying from #ij cents to #b dollars per sack4 ,if only #ej sacks were grown to the acre1 it would show a scarce year1 when prices would range higher1 but the crop is never a failure in ,california4 ,two crops can be grown in a year2 the first crop is planted at the end of ,february1 if warm1 or else in ,march1 or indeed any time till the middle of ,may1 and dug three months after2 the second crop is planted in ,august or ,september1 and dug three months after4 ,to put in the potatoes a settler would need the help of a labourer1 to whom he would have to give one dollar per day and his board1 or1 if the labourer be a ,chinaman1 one dollar and a quarter per day without his board4 ,if the potatoes occupied ten acres1 and they produced say #bjj sacks to the acre1 and fetched #a dollar per sack1 that would yield #b1jjj dollars1 or for the two crops #d1jjj dollars1 or1 say1 #hjj4 ,this sounds a large sum1 but the land is exceedingly rich1 as may be seen from the samples ,i have brought back1 and large results may be expected from it if properly worked1 for1 of course1 in any undertaking the result depends upon the way it is worked4 ,the following paragraph is from an important paper or periodical of #bj pages1 known as the ,pacific ,rural ,press1 of ,december #acth1 #ahij1 and although the crop it mentions was not grown in ,california1 it shows at least what can be done on good ground3-- ,nearly #a1jjj bushels of potatoes1 or1 to be exact1 #igd bushels and #dh pounds1 have been grown on one acre of land in ,johnson ,county1 ,wyoming1 the past season4 ,this crop wins the first prize of several hundred dollars offered by the ,american ,agriculturist for the largest yield of potatoes on one exact acre4 ,it was grown on virgin soil without manure or fertilizer1 but the land was rich in potash1 and the copious irrigation was of water also rich in saline material4 ,there were #bb1hjj hills on one acre1 and #a1efj pounds of sets1 containing one1 two1 and three eyes1 were planted of the early ,vermont and ,manhattan varieties4 ,the profit on the crop on this first prize acre was #gad dollars1 exclusive of #ejj dollars in prizes4 ,thus1 this one acre would have produced #adb worth of potatoes4 ,i do not mention it as an example of what a settler may or may not do at ,merced1 but as the land at ,merced which ,i am offering for sale is of the richest quality1 rich results may certainly be expected4 ,,cost ,,of ,,goods1 c41 ,,at ,,merced4 per lb4 ,beef 7to boil71 #h to #aj cents ,beef 7steak71 #aj cents ,beef 7shoulder71 #aj cents ,beef 7choice71 #ab-a_/b cents ,beef 7porterhouse and tenderloin71 #ae cents ,veal1 #aj to #ae cents ,mutton1 #aj to #ab-a_/b cents ,pork1 #aj to #ab-a_/b cents ,sausages1 #ab-a_/ to #ae cents ,corned beef1 #h to #aj cents ,bacon1 #ab-a_/b cents ,hams1 #ae cents ,tongues1 #aj cents ,flour1 #d-a_/b to #e dollars for a barrel weighing #bjj lbs4 ,tea1 #be cents to #a dollar ,coffee1 #bd to #de cents ,candles1 #ae to #bj cents ,chocolate1 #be cents ,cod fish1 #aj cents ,corn meal1 #c to #d cents ,cocoa1 #ej to #fj cents ,cracker biscuits1 #h to #aj cents ,graham flour1 #c to #e cents ,macaroni1 #ae cents ,oatmeal1 #e cents ,rolled oats1 #f cents ,rice1 #e-a_/b to #h cents ,salt1 #a to #b cents ,soda1 #d cents ,starch1 #aj cents ,sugar1 #g to #h cents ,sugar 7house71 #f-a_/b to #g-a_/b cents ,butter1 #be to #dj cents ,eggs1 #ae to #dj cents per dozen1 according to season ,coal oil1 #a4dj per #e-;gallon can4 ,one of my clients recently visited ,england with his family1 and says that one can live cheaper at ,merced than in ,england4 ,the cost of a twelve-roomed house is #c1jjj to #d1jjj dollars1 according to finish1 i4e41 from #fjj to #hjj4 ,most of the houses are built of wood1 and such a house could be built in twenty to thirty days1 if necessary4 ,stabling for two horses1 with room for buggy1 wagon1 harness1 and hay1 would cost #bej dollars or #ej4 ,a ten-roomed house would cost from #b1ejj to #c1ejj dollars1 according to finish4 ,an eight-roomed house would cost from #b1jjj to #b1ejj dollars4 ,a six roomed house would cost about #b1jjj dollars4 ,a four-roomed house would cost about #a1bjj dollars4 ,live poultry cost about #f dollars per dozen4 ,cows1 #be to #ej dollars each4 ,horses1 #ge to #aej dollars each4 ,sheep1 #c to #d dollars each4 ,cultivators cost from #g to #ae dollars each4 ,ploughs and harrows about the same price4 ,a riding cultivator1 #de to #ej dollars4 ,pruning shears1 #c dollars4 ,day labour costs #a dollar per day and board2 but1 in harvest time1 #a-a_/b dollar per day and board4 ,carpenters1 #b-a_/b dollars per day1 sometimes with and sometimes without board4 ,fencing costs #ejj dollars 7i4e41 #ajj7 a mile4 ,to fence a #bj-;acre lot would cost #cej dollars 7i4e41 #gj72 but if the eight forming the quarter section joined together1 it would cost each about #acj dollars 7i4e41 #bf74 ,the fence would be a #f-;inch board at bottom1 then #cj inches of wire netting to keep out rabbits1 then another #f-;inch board and a barbed wire at top4 ,firewood costs #f to #g dollars a cord of hard wood1 or #e to #f dollars of willow wood2 a cord of wood is #d-;ft4 by #d-;ft4 by #h-;ft4 ,,take ,,clothing ,,and ,,bric-,a-,,brac4 ,all kinds of clothing are dear4 ,a good suit would cost #g to #h1 or1 if ready made1 #e4 ,settlers should therefore take with them plenty of clothes1 sufficient1 say1 to last for five years1 including boots1 blankets1 linen1 etc42 also bric-a-brac1 and anything to add cheerfulness and refinement to the home1 but they should not take furniture nor animals4 ,guns they might take1 but not tools nor implements4 ,,sea ,,passage ,,from ,,england4 ,steamships run from ,liverpool and ,southampton at the following rates3-- #a4--;,cunard ,company's ,line4 ,liverpool to ,new ,york4 ,during the summer months-- #ast class4 #bnd class4 #crd class4 ,from #ab #abs4 to #bf #es4 #g #d4 ,during the winter months-- #ast class4 #bnd class4 #crd class4 #aj #ajs4 to #be #g #d4 ,the third-class passengers are provided with a free ticket from ,london to ,liverpool4 #b4--;,inman ,line4 ,liverpool to ,new ,york-- ,first class fares from #aj #ajs4 to #be4 ,second class fares from #f #ajs4 to #g #gs4 ,third class fares #d4 ,the third class includes a free ticket from ,london to ,liverpool4 #c4--,the ,white ,star ,line4 ,liverpool to ,new ,york #ast class4 #bnd class4 #crd class4 ,summer season--#ae to #bh #g to #i #d4 ,winter season--#aj #ajs4 to #ah #f #ajs4 to #h #d4 ,the third class passengers are provided with a free ticket from ,london to ,liverpool1 and free tickets1 if required1 from ,new ,york to ,boston or ,philadelphia4 #d4--,north ,german ,lloyd ,company4 ,southampton to ,new ,york-- ,first class1 #ad to #bc4 ,second class1 #aj4 #e4--,the ,american ,line4 ,liverpool to ,new ,york-- ,second class1 #f4 ,third class1 #c #afs4 ,steamers leave ,southampton1 ,liverpool1 ,glasgow1 and ,queenstown1 thus being convenient respectively for passengers from the north or south of ,england1 from ,scotland1 or from ,ireland4 ,steamers run from this country to ,new ,york1 ,philadelphia1 ,boston1 or ,baltimore1 but ,new ,york is the best port for ,merced4 ,,the ,,land ,,journey ,,from ,,new ,,york ,,to ,,merced1 ,,california4 ,copy of ,letter from the ,southern ,pacific ,railroad ,company4 ,our fares from ,new ,york to ,merced1 vi ,new ,orleans1 are3--#ast class1 unlimited1 #ai #ais4 #j;d42 limited1 #ah #ds4 #g;d42 #bnd class1 #ab #hs4 #d;d42 #crd class1 #ab #bs4 #i;d41 all rail2 #aa #as4 #aa;d4 by steamer to ,new ,orleans1 and thence rail1 food1 and sleeping berth on steamer included4 ,the charges for sleeping car berths are3--#ast class1 #bb dollars2 #bnd class from ,new ,orleans1 #c dollars4 ,there are no #bnd class sleepers to ,new ,orleans1 except on the fortnightly excursion trains from ,cincinnati1 leaving that city ,january #gth and #bast1 ,february #dth and #ahth2 ,march #dth and #ahth2 ,april #hth and #bbnd1 etc4 ,the charge from ,cincinnati is #d dollars #ej cents4 ,third class passengers can travel in #bnd class sleepers upon payment of the usual charge4 ,the fares from ,new ,orleans to principal ,californian points1 including ,merced1 are3--#ast class1 unlimited1 #ad4 #as4 #c;d42 #bnd class1 #h4 #ags4 #a;d42 #crd class1 none4 ,sleeping cars--#ast class1 #ac dollars2 #bnd class1 #c dollars4 ,tickets may be obtained through ,messrs1 ,,dowsett and ,co41 #c1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,london1 direct from ,liverpool to ,california1 or any other ,state en route4 ,,analysis ,,of ,,merced ,,soils4 ,having fitted up a portion of one of my offices with all the requisites for carrying out quantitative analyses of surface soils1 ,i requested ,professor ,lobley1 ,f4,g4,s41 etc41 to analyse the four samples of soils which ,i brought with me from ,merced4 ,a general analysis of four samples of soil from ,merced1 ,california1 has given the following results3-- ,,sample ,a4 ,organic matter 7,humus7 #e4e ,soluble inorganic matter #aa4ge ,insoluble silica and silicates #hb4ge -------- #ajj4jj ,,sample ,b4 ,organic matter 7,humus7 #d4be ,soluble inorganic matter #ad4de ,insoluble silica and silicates #ha4cj -------- #ajj4jj ,,sample ,c4 ,organic matter 7,humus7 #e4be ,soluble inorganic matter #af4ge ,insoluble silica and silicates #gh4jj -------- #ajj4jj ,,sample ,d4 ,organic matter 7,humus7 #c4e ,soluble inorganic matter #ab4j ,insoluble silica and silicates #hd4e -------- #ajj4jj ,the organic matter is available for plant growth4 ,the inorganic matter1 soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid1 is 7with the exception of the alumina it may contain7 composed of fertilising material4 ,the substances found in the soluble inorganic matter of soils are lime1 magnesia1 alumina1 silica1 phosphoric acid1 oxide of iron1 oxide of manganese1 potash and soda4 ,the insoluble mineral matter is nearly all silica4 ,there is very little clayey matter in any of the soils--not more than about five per cent4 ,all the soils are remarkably free from stones or pebbles1 or even coarse sand4 ,from the above it will be seen that these soils1 while possessing a large amount of matter available for plant growth1 are exceedingly friable1 and would be very easily worked4 ,they would absorb heat quickly1 and from their porosity would require little drainage1 and so would be both warm and dry soils1 and form fertile land suitable for almost all kinds of agricultural and horticultural produce4 ,,the ,,position ,,of ,,my ,,clients1 ,,the ,,vendors4 ,my clients1 the owners of the land called ,british ,colony1 at ,merced1 are well-known persons--well-known as men of great wealth1 and as gentlemen of undoubted integrity1 the ,hon4 ,charles ,crocker and ,mr4 ,c4,h4 ,huffman1 whose enterprises in railway1 canal1 and other public works1 have been of gigantic proportions4 ,i have every confidence myself in dealing with these gentlemen1 and ,i submit that my friends1 clients1 and the general public1 who may be willing to take up any of this ,british ,colony land at ,merced1 may have full confidence1 too1 that they will at least be treated justly1 and more than that is not expected from strangers in business2 but ,i believe that ,i might add they would be treated liberally if necessity arose1 and ,i have ground for this statement from what ,i have heard of their treatment of other persons who have settled in one of their other ,colonies4 ,,california1 ,,merced4 ,i have for sale besides the estate designated ,british ,colony1 a tract of land belonging to a well-known merchant in the ,city of ,london1 who has owned it for #ac years4 ,it comprises #e1jhd acres1 and has a registered ,government title4 ,price #cj dollars per acre1 and #g years' credit would be given if #bj per cent4 is paid down4 ,part of it is well suited for ,fruit growing1 but as yet the water from the canals belonging to my other clients has not been taken to it4 ,it has1 however1 some creeks upon it1 but they are frequently dry4 ,the land is of a rolling prairie character1 and is now let at a nominal rent of #be cents per acre for sheep farming4 ,the soil is varied2 some of it is a good loam1 some of a clayey nature1 and some stony2 there is a shepherd's house1 with barn and yard4 ,the taxes upon it are about #ae to #bj cents per acre4 ,one half of the land would be sold separately1 but it must be the half farthest from the side where the canals are4 ,the situation is an attractive one as the undulations really form the first foothills of the ,sierra ,nevada ,mountains1 of which there is a grand view4 ,this land is well worth buying1 as when water is obtained1 the price will then be increased to that asked for other irrigated ,fruit lands4 ,a plan may be seen at my offices1 #c1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,london4 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,london3 ,printed by ,vincent ,brooks1 ,day ,son1 ,gate ,street1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields4 ,,to ,,owners ,,of ,,lands ,,and ,,houses4 ,,required ,,to ,,purchase4 ,messrs4 ,dowsett ,co4 have applications for ,landed ,estates1 ,country ,houses1 ,town ,houses1 ,farms1 ,villa ,farms1 ,building ,lands1 ,cheap ,sections of ,land for the ,people1 ,ground ,rents1 ,colonial ,lands1 and ,general ,land and ,house ,investments4 ,messrs4 ,dowsett ,co1 invite owners wishing to sell1 and who have not yet employed an ,agent1 to employ them3 they do not appreciate instructions which are sent to several ,agents1 but they are prepared to give careful1 intelligent1 personal attention to the ,sale of ,property which is placed in their hands4 ,they prefer giving personal attention to a few properties rather than having on their books a mass of particulars of which they have no personal knowledge1 and which are to be found in many ,agents' lists4 ,messrs4 ,dowsett ,co41 personally inspect ,properties for ,sale1 because a personal knowledge greatly facilitates success1 and for this they make a nominal charge of sixpence per mile2 they then prepare careful particulars so as to introduce the matter advantageously to the public4 ,owners of ,property may obtain a printed statement of charges for ,valuing1 or for ,selling by ,auction1 or privately1 all kinds of ,real and ,personal ,estate1 ,furniture ,live and ,dead ,stock1 ,stocks-in-,trade1 ,timber1 ,growing ,crops1 etc4 ,messrs4 ,dowsett ,co4 are prepared to make ,geological ,reports of ,soils and ,minerals1 and give ,quantitative ,analyses of ,soils4 ,they are assisted1 when special needs require1 by experts in ,agricultural and ,architectural ,science1 and also in every branch of professional and commercial enterprise4 ,messrs4 ,dowsett ,co41 undertake any branch of these varied services in ,london or any part of ,england1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 the ,colonies1 ,america1 or other ,countries1 and personally visit other countries on agreed terms4 ,messrs4 ,dowsett ,co1 ,auctioneers1 ,surveyors1 ,valuers1 ,estate ,agents1 etc41 #c1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,london4 ,,lands ,,and ,,residences ,,for ,,sale4 ,country ,houses1 ,town ,houses1 ,landed ,estates1 ,farms1 ,building ,lands1 ,ground ,rents1 and ,investments generally in ,lands and ,houses1 ,see ,the ,land ,roll1 which for one penny may be obtained of ,messrs1 ,dowsett ,co41 #c1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,london4