200 The United States arsenals and barracks are located near the town, forming an in- teresting feature to the visitor. Benicia is justly celebrated for her excellent schools, public and private. The only law school in the State is located here, and also a young ladies’ high school, or seminary. It is connected by steamers with Suisun, Sacramento, Stockton, and San Francisco; by stage with Vallejo, seven miles west, | over the rolling hills; and by hourly ferry —two miles distant, across the Straits— with Martinez—the county seat of Contra Costa county, a small town of about 600 inhabitants. The county is principally de- voted to agriculture and vine culture, the | vineyards being numerous, producing over 70,000 gallons of wine per annum. The | Alhambra Ranche, two miles from town, owned by Dr. Strenzel, is thought to be the best for its sdze in the State. It contains 3,500 grape vines, and 5,000 fruit trees. Its proprietor has been awarded a large num- ber of medals and prizes for the “dest cul- | tivated farm,” the “ best fruit,’ and the “best native wine in California.” Passing on down the straits, we have a fine view of Vallejo, which lies to our right, near where we enter San Pablo Bay. Turning to the left, 23 miles more brings us to San Francisco. But we must return again to Sacramento, | and this time will take a seat in the cars of | the California Pacific railroad, operated by the “Central,” and start over what is known as The Vallejo Route. Taking our seat in the cars, in the “Cen- tral” depot, the train crosses the bridge— 600 feet long—over the Sacramento River, and pass through the town of WASHINGTON —on the west bank, a place of about 1,000 population, then cross the “Tuiles”—a broad belt of overflowed swamp land —on an em- bankment and trestle bridge, raised above the annual floods, until we reach the high- lands, or elevated ‘plains. The trestle ee affords ample passage for the flood tides. From Sacramento, it is 9.4 miles to SwincLE—a small side-track for loading cattle, near by which, large numbers of cattle are kept and fed, preparing for market. From Swingle it is 3.86 miles to Davis—the junction of the Marysville Branch, where the road passes on north to CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST Knight’s Landing and Williams. It con- tains a population of about 600, with many fine private residences, and one weekly newspaper, the Facts. Davisville is in the midst of a fine wheat country, and will remain a point of shipment for the vast crops annually raised in that vicinity. Turning north—from Davis—we pass through large groves of live oak, and highly. cultivated fields, and 4.85 miles from Davis, come to a side-track for load- ing cattle, called Merrrr—but it did not have merit enough for our train to stop, so we passed along 4.35 miles to Woop.tanp—the county seat of Yolo county, situated three miles west of Cache Creek, in the midst of an extensive plain. The town is one of the most thriving in the State. Population about 3,000. Yolo county, in the summer, is one vast wheat-field—far, almost as the eye can reach, the waving wheat stretches away on either hand. Huge oaks are seen in every direction, and several large warehouses for wheat appear. The principal hotels are the Craft, and the Capital. There is one daily paper, the Maz; and the Democrat, a weekly. Along the road we will observe a number of vineyards. Soon after leaving Woodland, on the right can be seen the race-track where, at certain scasons,some good time is made. Again‘on the left, the track of the North- ern railway branches off for Williams. Groves of oaks, and bands of sheep are numerous. Curtis—a side-track is passed, 5.25 miles fr.m Woodland, and 3.9 miles more brings us to Knient’s Lanpinc—at the landing of which we stopped on our way “up the Sacramento.” (See description, page 198.) Returning to Woodland, we take the Northern Railway. This road is operated by the “Central,” | and passes through one continuous wheat field for the whole distance from Woodland to Williams, 39 miles. The stations and distances are Youo, 4.91 miles; Backs, 5.88 miles; Dunnigan, 7.52 miles; Har- rington, 5.04 miles; Arbuckle, 5.17 miles; Berlin, 4.06 miles; Macy, .98 mile; and 0.738 miles more we are at the end of the track at . WILLIAMs—This: place is situated in Colusa county, nine miles west of Colusa, and the Sacramento River.