The San Joaquin Valley. 259 



by the citizens of the great commonwealth where we were strangers. They 

 made friends with us. They took us to their homes. They showed us their 

 cities and country. They spoke with pride and exuberant spirits of what 

 they had and what they expected to have hereafter. There was nothing 

 small or meager about any part of the treatment which they bestowed upon 

 us. They invited us here and there and everywhere, and welcomed us as 

 guests and kinsfolk. 



On our way through the valley of San Joaquin we were met, first of all, 

 by a delegation from the town of Tulare. We were asked to stop and ban- 

 quet with that people and to ride with them through their vineyards, or- 

 chards and fields of alfalfa. We soon learned, in such cases, to extemporize 

 little official and semi-official meetings on our train. We then and there 

 resolved that we would do this or would not do that. In the case of the 

 invitation from Tulare, we gladly accepted the call. Our train reached the 

 station about sunset, and we were received by the citizens with the greatest 

 cordiality. They had prepared for us a banquet at their principal dining- 

 hall, where we found the tables loaded, as usual, with substantials and fruits 

 and flowers. Nearly everything had been gathered from the gardens and 

 orchards and fields about Tulare. After the banquet a formal reception was 

 tendered to the Society in the Odd-fellows' Hall. We were welcomed in 

 good speeches, and replied as best we could. Resolutions were tendered 

 to the authorities, and guests and hosts fraternized after the manner of our 

 kind. 



Tulare is one of the newer towns of the San Joaquin plain. It is not a 

 large place, but flourishing and full of pluck. Here, as almost everywhere, 

 the great question is water; how to procure it and how to distribute it are 

 the problems. Artesian wells are successful in the neighborhood, and 

 mountain reservoirs and Tulare lake and river are expected to do the rest. 

 It is a great region for alfalfa. We were assured by the gentlemen who 

 welcomed us at the reception that as much as eleven tons to the acre had 

 been produced in the vicinity. Apricots and French prunes grow well in, 

 this part of the valley. The summers are hot here, the thermometer rising 

 with facility to 108° and 110° in the shade. This, however, is no uncommon 

 report in the matter of California temperatures; but all Californians do 

 solemnly affirm that in their dry, light atmosphere a summer heat of 110° 

 does not oppress the human system, and is by no means so dangerous to 

 health and life as is a temperature of 90° in the lowlands and heavy, humid 

 air east of the Mississippi. 



The chief resource of Tulare is, I believe, in her production of the 

 raisin grape. The whole region is well adapted for vineyards. The 

 grape crops are profuse and rich in sugar, and the weather, in the drying 

 season, is so hot and dry as to cure a crop with the greatest facilitj- and 

 perfection. It may be remarked in passing that this is about the latitude 

 where the traveler from the south touches the wine-producing districts 

 of California. In general, the south is favorable to the raisin grape 



