INTEODUCTION 



THE FIFTH EDITION. 1869 



The progress of California within the last year has been remarkable. The 

 rapid advance of the Middle Facific Kailroad, the probability that other 

 transcontinental railroads will soon be commenced, the construction of a 

 number of coast roads, the cultivation of large areas previously unoccupied, 

 the concurrence of large crops of grain with high prices, the doubling of the 

 wool clip within two years, the success of the mulberry plantations, the in- 

 creasing profits of the vineyards, and the discovery of the White Pine mines, 

 have contributed to make this a year of unexampled activity and prosperity. 



Before this edition goes to press, the Middle Pacific Railroad will have 

 been completed, and the cars will run through from New York to Sacra- 

 mento, a distance of 3,181 miles. Of the Western Pacific, connecting Sacra- 

 mento with Oakland, twenty miles are in running order, and it is expected 

 that the remainmg 104 miles will be completed before the 1st of July, with 

 the exception of a small section at Livermore Pass, where there is a tunnel 

 that will probably not be cut through till August. The CaUfornia Pacific 

 Eailroad between Vallejo and Sacramento, has become one of the main lines 

 of travel in the State. The first section of the Southern Pacific Railroad, from 

 San Jose to Gilroy, thirty miles, the Napa Valley railroad from Adelante to 

 Calistoga, thirty-three miles, and the Central California road from Junction 

 (on the Central Pacific line) to Marysville, are finished. The roads now in 

 the course of construction, are the Marysville branch of the California Pacific, 

 forty-two miles, the Western Pacific from Cosumnes to Oakland, 104 miles, 

 the San Lorenzo road from Santa Cruz to Felton, 15 miles, the road from Los 

 Angeles to Wilmington, twenty miles, and the Petaluma and Santa Rosa 

 road, sixteen miles. Promises have been made that work shall soon be com- 

 menced on roads to connect Suscol with Santa Rosa, thirty miles, Stockton 

 with Paradise, twenty-five miles on the way to Visalia, and Marysville with 

 Chico, on the way to Oregon. 



It has been discovered that the plains east of the San Joaquin river, long 



