AND PACIFIC COAST GUIDE.

Livermore Pass. On the new road there
are no grades ; on the old, there is 740 feet
altitude to overcome, which, in the trans-
portation of freight, is an important item.
Ellis—is 5.2 miles from Bantas, west,
situated in the midst of a beautiful valley,
which is rapidly settling up. The coal
mines of Corral Hollow are fourteen miles
distant from this station to the southeast,
connected a portion of the way by rail-
track. The “Central” Co. use large quan-
tities of this coal—besides transporting it
to San Francisco, and other cities and
towns. Since leaving the last station we
have gained altitude, this station being
76 feet elevation. Another engine will be
attached here, as the grade increases rap-
idly after leaving this station until we get
to the summit of the mountain.
Midway —formerly called “Zink
House,” is 5.7 miles from Ellis; elevation,
357 feet. Soon after leaving the station,
we enter the bluffs, pass through deep
cuts and over high fills,.our two iron
horses puffing and blowing furiously as
they lubor up the heavy grade. These
bluffs are heavy sand, and almost destitute
of vegetation. To ourright can be seen

the old wagon road, but now almost de-

serted. Still upward and onward, the
long train thundering around this jutting
point, and over that high embankment,
twisting and turning, first to the right, and
then to the left, like some huge serpent,
while the bluffs seem to increase in height,
and the canyon is narrower and darker at
every turn, until, at last, we are plunged
into ital darkness, and the tunnel of Liver-
more Pass; elevation, 740 feet. This tun-
nel is the only one on the road from Sacra-
mento to San Francisco; is 1,116 feet long,
supported by heavy timbers. (See illus.
tration, page 207.)

Passing through the tunnel, our descent
is rapid, through a narrow canyon, down
into one of the loveliest little valleys in
the whole country, and 7.9 miles from
Midway our train stops at

Altamont—tThis is a small station
at the foot of the mountain. Speeding to
the westward 8.1 miles, brings us to

Livermore—a thrifty town of about
1,200 inhabitants, most of whom are en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits. The town
is the center of Livermore Valley—one of
the most fertile in the State—is about 20
miles long and fifteen miles wide, sur-
rounded by the Contra Costa Mountains,
and their numerous spurs. To the north,

209

away above the head of the valley, rises
Mt. Diablo, the meridian center of the
Pacific coast.

At the station are several very large
warehouses for storing grain—as this is a
productive grain valley—several large
hotels, some stores and many fine, costly
residences. Here are particularly notice-
able the eucalyptus, or Australian blue
gum tree; we have seen it ina few places
before, but from this time forward they
will be found numerous, in some places
comprising immense groves. These trees
are planted along the sides of the streets,
around public buildings, in the grounds of
private residences, and by the Railroad
Company, in immense quantities. The
latter had 300,000 of these trees growing
beside their road and around their stations .
in the year in 1877, and we understand
500,000 more are to be set out as soon as
they can be procured. One peculiarity of
this tree, besides its being an evergreen
and unusually thrifty, is, that it will grow
on the most sandy, alkaline, dry and bar-
ren soil, and it is said to be a sure preven-
tive against chills and fever, where it is
grown in profusion. Some claim that itis
fire-proof, and that shingles or plank sawed
from these trees will not burn, and for that
reason they are.very much esteemed in
Australia—its native country—and from
which the first on this coast were imported.
There are 125 known species of the
eucalypti, about 50 of which are to be
found in California.

Leaving Livermore, the ground is
covered very thickly in places with white,
water-worn pebbles, from the size of a
mustard seed to that of a bird’s egg; when
the ground is bare of grass or grain, they
show very plainly.

Pleasanton—is reached 6.1 miles
west of Livermore, after crossing a long
bridge over Alameda Creek. The town
contains about 600 population and is beau-
tifully situated on the western edge of
the valley, and is a thrifty, substantial town.

Leaving the station, the mountain again
looms up directly ahead, and it looks to be
impossible this time to get through it; but
soon the train passes around, or through
several mountain spurs, and emerges into
a narrow canyon, down which ripples the
sparkling Alameda Creek. The bluffs an
each side are steep, and covered with scri.b
oaks, wild oats,and bunch grass, Sycamcre
trees are to be seen, also white and live
oaks, some with long, drooping moss-