232

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

steamboat plies regularly, for the transpor-
tation of freight and passengers for the
regular coast steamboats that stop at this
point.

We are now running along, over and be-
side asalt marsh, inhabited by cranes, peli-
cans, ducks and mud-hens, with peat-bogs
and stagnant pools for immediate sur-
roundings, while to the left, a half-mile
away, is high rolling prairie, covered with
cattle and sheep, beyond, the long range of
the Gabilan Mountains, while to the
far right an occasional glimpse can be had
of Old Pacific.

A run of 10.3 miles from Pajaro, and the
train stops at

CASTROVILLE--one-half mile to the west of
the railroad; population about 800. The
town issituated at the northern end of Sali-
nas Valley, in Monterey county, one of the
most productiveinthe State. Itisrecorded
in the Agricultural Bureau in Washington,
that the largest yield of wheat ever known
was grown in this valley, in 1852, being 102
bushels to the acre. That year whole fields
averaged 100 bushels to the acre; an ordi-
nary crop is from 40 to 50 bushels. In
1876, Monterey county produced 800,000
bushels of wheat, 400,000 bushels of barley,
70,000 bushels of oats, and other productions
in proportion. Sheep and cattle in large
numbers are raised. The wool-clip for
1876 amounted to 1,500,000 lIbs.; butter,
360,000 Ibs.; cheese, 120,000 lbs.; average
value of land, $8 per acre. The lands in
this valley are mostly “safe lands,” i. e.,
will raise a crop without irrigation. Emi-
grant, this isa good place for you tocome to.

To the east, beside the mountains, can be
seen, at certain points after leaving Cas-
troville, the little villages of Natividad and
Sodaville, also the Alisal race-track.

As we proceed southward, the valley
widens and appears more beautiful.

Satinas—is 7.9 miles south of Castro-
ville, situated to the right of the road, and
on the east bank of Salinas River, with a
thriving population of 3,000, and many
fine stores, hotels, and private residences.
The Abbott House is the principal hotel,
and the Index and Democrat. are two
papers published here weekly.

Stages leave daily for New Republic,
east, three miles; Natividad, northeast,
six miles; fare, ten cents per mile. From
Salinas a railroad extends nineteen miles
west to

MontEerrey—This place is situated on
the southern extreme of the bay of Monte-

rey, the most capacious on the Pacific
Coast, 136 miles from San Francisco by
rail, and about 100 by steamer. Immedi-
ately to the westward of the city is Point
Pinos, jutting out to the northward four
miles, to meet Point Santa Cruz, another
long promontory extending from the
north, between which and the main land—
land-locked as it were—is the broad bay of
Monterey. This bay was first discovered
by Cabrillo in 1542. In 1770, the site was
occupied by the Jesuits, under the leader-
ship of Padre Junipero, who, June 3d of
that year, held the first mass. The bell
which called the faithful together was
hung from a tree, the location of which is
now marked by a cross, erected on the
centennial day of its celebration, bearing
the legend, “Junz 3d, 1770.” On the hill,
near this cross, are the ruins of an old fort,
near a Mexican fort of later date; and
higher up the hill is where the Americun
fort of 1846 was built, when the Ameri-
cans seized the country.

Monterey is a quiet, sleepy old town,
where every person seems satisfied with
himself, apparently believing the world is
completed; living on in the dreamy self-
satisfied consciousness that the spirit of
progress is at an end; a present tangible
heaven of eternal sunshine. It is a glori-
ous place to spend a few weeks; having
done so, the pleasurable memories of the
sojourn will ever remain a ray of soft sun-
shine, while plodding through the cares,
trials and perplexities of an active business
life. Monterey—as one might well sup-
pose—is a@ favorite resort in the summer
for the better classes of citizens of the State,
as well as for tourists, who find ample
accommodations.

Returning to Salinas, and starting once
more for the south, we find this to be the
widest portion of Salinas Valley, which is
about 90 miles in length, with an average
width of eight miles. The valley is situ-
ated between the Gabilan Mountains, to
the eastward, and Santa Lucian Range on
the west, about 20 miles from the Pacific
Ocean, from the winds of which it is pro-
tected by the mountain named.

CHUALAR—is the next station, 10.9 miles .
from Salinas, and consists of several stores,
hotels, saloons, and a dozen or more resi-
dences. Here are cattle pens and shutes,
indicating that we are in a country where
cattle are shipped to market; the same
might be said of GonzauEs, a station six
miles further, only there area few more