236

which the Conchilla River is crossed, and

Mryturn is reached 6.4 miles from Plains-
burg, in the extreme western edge of Fresno
county. For along distance the foot-hills of
the Sierras on the left have appeared to be
close and very rugged. The peaks of Mt.
Lyell and Ritter loom up on the left, full
80 miles away, and a little further south-
ward Mts. Goddard, King, Gardner,

Brewer, Silliman, Tyndall and others can:
be distinctly seen with their summits

covered with snow.

Berenda—is reached 9.5 miles from
Minturn soon after which we cross the
Fresno River, and many broad, sandy, dry
creeks, and, 7.5 miles more, come to

Madera—This is a busy town of
about 300 population. Here we find a
large “ V flume, 53 miles long, for float-
ing lumber down from the saw-mills in the
mountains at the end of the flume. It was
completed in 1876, and does an immense
business.

From Madera, a new road has been
completed into the Yo-Semite Valley, via
Fresno Flats, through Fresno and Mari-
posa big tree groves. For map of route,
see page 201, and for description of route,
Annex No. 53.

‘No visitor to this coast ever thinks of
leaving it without viewing the wonderful.

YoSmMiIrE VALLEY AND THE Bie
TrEeES—The grandest scenery on the
American Continent, if not in the world,
is to be seen in the valley of the Yo-
Semite, (pronounced Yo-Sem-ite; by the
Indians, Yo-Ham-ite). This valley was
discovered by white men in March, 1851,
first by Major Savage. It is about eight
miles long, and from one-half to’a mile in
width. The Merced River enters the head
of the valley by a series of waterfalls,
which—combined with the perpendicular

ite walls which rise on either side
from 2,000 to 6,000 feet above the green
valley and sparkling waters beneath—pre-
sents a scene of beauty and magnificenc2
unsurpassed, except, possibly, in child-
hood’s fairy dreams.

Here is majesty—enchanting — awe-in-
spiring—indescrivable!—the lofty cloud-
capped waterfalls and mirrored lakes; the
towering, perpendicular granite cliffs and
fearful chasms, strike the beholder with a
wondering admiration impossible to de-
scribe.

We have often desired to take our read-
ers with us, in a pen and pencil descrip-
tion of this most remarkable valley, and

      

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

the “Big Trees,” but in view of our lim-
ited space, the magnitude of the under-
taking, together with our conscious in-
ability to do justice to the subject, we have
contented ourselves by giving a number of
beautiful illustrations, which include the
great YoSemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Mir-
ror Lake, ana a map of the routes and the
surrounding country, showing the rela-
tive position of the valley, trees, and ad-
joining towns to the railroad.

The most notable falls in Yo-Semite
Valley are: the Ribbon, 3,300 feet fall;
the Upper Yo-Semite, 2,634 feet; the
Bridal Veil, 950; the Nevada, 700; the
Lower Yo-Semite, 600; the Vernal, 350
feet. The South Dome is 6,000 feet high;
the Three Brothers, 4,000; Cap of Liberty,
4,240: Three Graces, 3,750; North Dome,
3,725; Glaciers Point, 3,705; El-Capitain,
3300; Sentinel Rocks, 3,270; Cathedral
Rocks, 2,690; Washington Tower, 2,200;
and the Royal Arches, 1,800 feet high.

In conclusion, we would refer those of
our readers who desire full information
concerning this wonderful country, to
“ Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in Cal-
ifornia,” by J. M. Hutchings, of Yo-Semite.
This book is a thorough guide-book of Yo-
Semite Valley, profusely illustrated, viv-
idly describing every object of interest,
step by step, with facts and figures, telling
just what the tourist wants to know.

From Madera, the country is more
adapted for grazing, and large herds of
sheep can be seen while passing through.
It contains over 750,000 head of sheep

| from which is clipped 2,000,000 pounds of

wool annually.

The old Fresno placer mines are to the
eastward, along the foot-hills, but little
is being done with them, by the whites;
the Chinese are working them over, as they
are many of the abandoned placers
throughout the State.

Bordem—on Cottonwood Creek, is
the next station. This place is 2.8 miles
from Madera, with about 100 population.
Here irrigating ditches appear on each
side, and much of the land is under culti-
vation. Nine miles further comes Syca-
MORE, 4 side-track of little account, just
at the crossing of the San Joaquin River, -
which is here a small stream, with very
litle water. The country is now quite
flat, with many little round mounds from
ten to thirty feet in diameter, and from
two to five feet in height. They present
@ very peculiar appearance, somewhat re-