244

CROFUTT'S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

2,500 to 8,000 feet, but narrow—a_ huge |our road is built, is covered with sage-

“hog-back” ridge. Leaving Newhall, it is
8.6 miles to :
Andrews—To the west of this station,

| brush, cactus, grease-wood, small cedars

and mesquite shrubs.
The station is of little account—only a

about four miles, are located several oil | few buildings, a store, hotel, cattle pen and

wells, in a region said to be very rich in
oil. Two refineries have been established
at this station, which furnish for shipment
about one car-load per day. Live oaks and
some white oaks are numerous along the
road and on the sides of the low-hills,
for the last fifteen miles, making the
country look more cheerful than it other-
wise would.

Leaving Andrews, we soon commence to
ascend, passing through deep cuts to the

San Fernanpo TunNEL—This tunnel,
as before stated, is 6,967 feet in length,
timbered all the way, and is reached from
the north up a grade of 116 feet per mile;
. grade in tunnel, 87 feet per mile; grade be-
yond tunnel—south—for five miles, 106 feet
per mile; elevation of tunnel, 1,469 teet.
The view, from the rear end of the car,
while passing through the tunnel, is quite
an interesting one.

The light, on entering the great bore, is
large and bright, the smooth rails glisten
like burnished silver in the sun’s rays.
Gradually the light lessens in brilliancy;
the rails become two long ribbons of silver,
sparkling through the impenetrable dark-
ness; gradually these lessen, the light
fades—and fades, and fades—the entrance
is apparently not larger than a pin’s head,
and then all light is gone and darkness
reigns supreme—and still we are not
through. It is the history of many a life:
the bright hopes of youth expire with age.

As we emerge from the tunnel, the valley
of San Fernando dawns a bright vision of
beauty upon us. Here we enter, as it were,
a new world of verdure and fruitfulness—a
Jand literally “flowing with milk and
honey.” From the tunnel we have de-
scended rapidly, 5.2 miles to

San Kermando—named for the
famous old mission of San Fernando, lo-
cated about two miles to the right, embow-
ered in lovely groves of orange, lemon and
olive trees. It is in the middle of the valley
of the same name, surrounded by moun-
tain ranges. The San Fernando Moun-
tains are on the east and north, the Coast
Range on the West, and the Sierra Santa
Monica on the west and south. The
greater portion of the western and central
part of the valley is under a high state of
cultivation, but the eastern, along where

 

 

shutes make up the place. Leaving the
station, we pass groves of planted trees;
those on the right, of the eucalypti species.

Sepulyeda—is the next station, 12.5
miles southof San Fernando. It is situated
on the east bank of Los Angeles River,
where passenger trains meet and pass.
Continuing along down the valley—which
now begins to present an improved appear-
ance—-8.6 miles we come to Hast Los
Angeles.

Los Angeles Junction—is sit-
uated about one mile east of the city, from
which street-cars run regularly; fare, 10
cents or four tickets for 25 certs. The
principal hotels, the Pico and St. Charles,
charge from $2 to $3 per day; the United
States and Lafayette from $1.50 to $2.00, all
of which send buses to the depot, on ar-
rival of trains.

Leos Angeles !—Ah, here we are at
the “City of the Angels!’ Los Angeles is
the county seat of Los Angeles county,
situated on the Los Angeles River, 24
miles north from the port of San Pe:lro;
but the principal shipping point is at
Wilmingtoy, about two milesahove San
Pedro, at the head of the bay, with which
it is connected by railroad 22 miles dis-
tant. It is also connected with Santa
Monica by rail, 18 miles to the westward,
where steamers land from up and down
the coast. The city contains a population
of about 16,000—has many fine busincss
blocks, three banks, several large, fine
hotels, chief of which is the Pico. The
churches and schools are all that could
be desired, both in numbers and quality.
There are four daily, seven weekly, and
a number of miscellaneous publications.

The dailies are: the Star, Hxupress Herald,

and the Republican.

Water for irrigation in the city is sup-
plied by Los Angeles River, and by wind-
mills. The manufactories are not very
numerous, the shops of the Railroad Com-
pany being the principal ones. The town
is a railroad center, commanding an ex-
tensive trade at present, and in the future
itfears no rival. It is already connected
with Santa Monica, on the west, 18 miles;
Wilmington, on the south, 22 miles; Santa
Ana, on the southeast, 33 miles; Yuma, on

the east, 248 miles, and San Francisco, |