208

Nevada Mountains, numbering from 92 to
1,000 trees each, and ranging in height
from 250 to 321 feet, with a circumference,
at the i of from 60 to 95 feet each.
The largest ever discovered is called the
“Father of the Forest’”—now prostrate—
and measures 435 feet in length and 110
feetin circumference. Itis in the Calaveras
grove. The elevation of this grove above
tide is 4,735 feet. The trees number 92,
ranging from 150 to 321 feet in height.
The most notable are the “ Father of the
Forest,” as above stated; the “Mother of
the Forest,” 321 feet high, 90 feet in circum-
ference; ‘“ Hercules,” feet high, 95 feet
in circumference ; “ Hermit,” 318 feet high,
60 feet in circumference; “ Pride of the
Forest,” 276 feet high, 60 feet in circum-
ference; “Three Graces,” 295 feet high, 92
feet in circumference; “ Husband & Wife,”
252 feet high, 60 feet in circumference;
“ Burnt Tree ’’—prostrate—330 feet long, 97
feet in circumference; “The Old Maid,”
“Qld Bachelor,” “Siamese Twins,” ‘Mother
& Sons,” the “Two Guardsmen,” and many
others range from 261 to 300 feet in height
and from 59 to 92 feet in circumference.
Of over 350 big trees in the Mariposa
grove, 125 are from 290 to 35uU feet in height
and 40 feet in circumference. The “Ram-
bler” is 250 feet high, and 102 feet in cir-
cumference, at the ground.
Hotel accommodations at the different
oves, and in Yo Semite Valley will be
ound ample. Returning to Stockton, we
once more take the Overland train for San
Francisco. This is a great country for
rapid changes. Where to-day there are
only stages, to-morrow there may be palace
cars; so that it is almost impossible for us
to keep up with the times, When our
guide was first published, in 1869, not one
foot of all the roads we have come over,
from the Missouri to this place, or will go
over, or that are, was built or hardly
thought of. How fast we live! At the
same proportional increase for the next
nine years, where will we be?
Lathrop— is 8.9 miles south of Stock-
ton, at the junction of the “ Visalia Di-
vision” of the Central Pacific railroad.
Here the R. R. Co. have erected a fine, large
hotel, before which trains stop 30 minutes,
to afford passengers an opportunity to take
a meal, for which the moderate charge of
50 cents is made. (Fora description of the
country to the south, including Yo Semite
Valley and the big trees of Mariposa and
Tuolumna groves, See page 234.) Here

 

CROFUTY’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

passengers for Fort Yuma, Los Angeles
and intermediate country can “change
cars,” if they choose, without going to San
Francisco.

From Lathrop, it is 3.6 miles to the
bridge over the San Joaquin River. Here
the cars come to a full stop before crossing,
to be sure to guard against accidents—as
the bridge hasa “draw” for the accom-
modation of the river boats. Thiscompany
has a rule for all their employes, and a
“ GOLDEN” ONE IT 18, that “ In case of un-
certainty, always take the safe side.’ This
rule is well observed ; few “ accidents ” take
place on the roads operated by this com-
pany, for the reason that the road is con-
structed of good materials, and in the most
substantial manner, with all its equipments
of the first class. The officers are thor-
oughly practical men, who never discharge
an employe. on any consideration, who has
proved to be a competent man for his posi-
tion, simply to make room for a javortte,
or a worthless “ cousin.”

Crossing the bridge, the long range of
the Contra Costa Mountains looms up in
the distance, directly ahead, and extends a
long distance to the right and left, on either
hard, as though to effectually stop our
progress. We cannot see any place to get
through or over them, yet we are sure San
Francisco is on the other side.

Bantas— is 44 miles from the bridge,
and is reached after passing over a broad
bottom, the soil of which is a rich, deep
sandy loam and very productive. This
station consists of a postoffice, a half-dozen
stores, several large freight warehouses,
with a surrounding country, well settled,
most of which is under cultivation. Stages
leave this station on arrival of trains for
Graysonville, 20 miles; Mahoney, 35 miles;
Crow’s Landing, 35 miles; and Hill’s
Ferry, 41 miles.

After leaving the station, we have wit-
nessed, on several occasions, by looking
away to the right, that curious phenomenon,
the mirage, which is often seen on the
desert. (See description, page 169.) About
three miles west is to be the new station of

Tracy—at the junction of the San
Pablo & Tulare railroad, now building
from Martinez, opposite Benecia, to this
place, where a connection will be made
with the Western Division. This new road
is virtually a division of the “Central,” and
will be 72 miles to San Francisco, via
Martinez and Berkley, twelve miles longer
than the route we are now traveling, via