beautiful orchards, nurseries; and gardens,
containing almost every.variety of vege-
tables, fruits, and flowers.

By steam cars it is 2.6 miles from Santa
Clara to

San Jose Crry—(Pronounced San O-za);
population, 18,000. This is the county
seat of Santa Clara county, and is the larg-
est town in Santa Clara, Valley, in popu-
lation being the fourth in the State. It
was first settled by the Spanish mission-
aries,in 177%. The city is lighted with
gas; the streets are macadamized, and
ornamented with rows of shade trees on
each side. Artesian wells, and the “ Cali-
fornia Wind Mill,” together with a small
mountain stream, abundantly supply the
city with good water. The Alameda, or
grove, was planted in 1799. It is by far
the prettiest. grove of planted timber in the
State, and by many people it is claimed
that San Jose is the prettiest city in the
State. It is certainly one of the best im-
proved, and there are none more beautiful.
Its orchards, vineyards and shade trees;
its fine private and public buildings, and
the delightful climate of the valley, render
it a favorite place of summer resort.

San Jose has numerous church edifices—
ample public and private schools, hotels,
and newspapers. The Mercury and. In-
dependent, both daily and: weekly; the
Patriot, daily; and Argus,, weekly, are
‘published here. The Auzerais, St. James,
Exchange and Lick, are the principal
hotels. The city is connected by railroad
with Solidad, 72 miles, south, and San
Francisco by two lines—the one we came
on, through the thickly settled and well-
cultivated Santa Clara and San Mateo
countries; distance, 50 miles, and by Cen-
tral Pacific via Niles and Oakland.

The new road to Mt. Hamilton —20
miles distant—leaves San Jose, and can be
seen Winding up the side of the mountain,
on the east. It was for the erection of a
college on the summit of Mt. Hamilton—
altitude, 4,400 feet—that the millionaire,

James Lick, left $150,000 in his will—it-
should be called the Lick Hie Hamusron.

COLLEGE.
Stages leave San Jose daily for the noted
New ALMADEN QUICKSILVER Mrnes—

These mines are very extensive, and should

be visited by the curious.. They were dis-
covered by an officer in the Mexican ser-
vice during the year 1845, who, seeing the
Indians with their faces painted with ver-

    

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

‘Almaden mine, marked b

milion, bribed one of them,:who told him.

where it-was to be found. The followin
year, several English and Mexicans forme

|a@ company for working the mines, large

sums of money were expended, and many
difficulties had to be overcome; but finally,
by the introduction of important improve-
ments, the mines have proved to be very
valuable. The different mines furnish
employment for, and support from 1,000 to
1,500 persons. Nearly all the miners are
Mexicans. ae

It is supposed that these mines were
known and worked by the native Indians
of California, long before the country was
known by white men. They worked them
to procure the vermilion paint which the
ore contained, for the purpose of paintin
and adorning their villainous persons, an
to “swop” with the neighboring tribes.
Near the mines are the springs, where is
put up the New Almaden Vichy Water, so
noted for its medicinal qualities. The
Guadalupe Quicksilver mines are ten miles
distant.

Both San Jose and Santa Clara are em-
bowered in trees, among which are the
oak, eucalyptus, poplar, spruce cedar,
Monterey and Italian cypress, orange,
pepper, sycamore, and many others.

Leaving San Jose, the State Normal
School building is on the left in the center
of a block, surrounded by beautiful

rounds. Several miles further on is the

ebrew Cemetery. Here the road to Mt.
Hamilton can be plainly seen; it is 22
miles long and 30 feet wide, with a uni-
form grade of five feet to the hundred.

Away to the right, on the side of the
mountain, marked by a red appearance, is
a quicksilver mine, but the water prevents
work. Still further and below, is the New
columns of
steam that are always ascending.

Coyote Creek is now on our left,in a
broad, low bottom. The small stations of

EpEN VauE;'CovoTE and PrRRys, are |

soon passed, and 18.8 mites from San Jose,
we are at

MapronE—The country passed over is
well settled, and many fine residences are
scattered along the valley, which is about
one mile in width, with low rolling hills
on the west.

Leaving Madrone, on the right a huge
sharp cone rises up out of the valley 1,000
feet in height. We call it Johnson’s
Peak, named for the enterprising newsman
of this road.

TENNANTS—is four miles further, be-

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