Vol. III. SEPTEMBER, 1887. No. 29. 



A VISIT TO MOUNT HAMILTON. 



We left San Jose by the Mt. Hamilton stage shortly after seven 

 o'clock in the morning, and proceeded across the rich, level fields 

 towards the hills which border the valley on the north-east. 



The fertility of the soil, as evidenced by the occasional, heavily 

 fruited orchards, the broad expanse of the valley lands, waiting to 

 be cut up into small farms, and the delightful climate of this re- 

 gion, — all of these seemed to prophecy that this valley will soon 

 attract a great number of new settlers, and be filled with prosper- 

 ous villages and happy homes. 



Arriving at the foot-hills, we began to ascend through thriity 

 vineyards, whose bright green foliage contrasted finely with the 

 yellow fields which surrounded them. As we passed up the easy 

 grade we met numerous teams heavily laden with bales of new 

 hay, which was being sent down from the fields farther up the 

 hills. 



Winding upward, we reached the Grand View House, a rightly 

 named hostelry, standing at an angle of the road fifteen hundred 

 feet above the valley, and commanding a magnificent view of the 

 rich landscape, situated near enough to show all the details of field, 

 road, orchard and stream. 



Here our horses were changed, and as we set out again we left 

 the region of the valley, and struck out boldly into the hills. 



As we rode on, mile after mile, the constantly changing scene 

 was one of cDntinual interest, but fitted to calm the mind rather 

 then to excite the feelings. The mountain air was pure and salu- 

 brious; the sky was becoming clear, for we were getting above the 

 region of fogs; houses were few, and the not very fertile land was 

 chiefly devoted to pasturage. The great oaks of the hills were 

 becoming more numerous, and occasionally the presence of the 

 needle pine with its long blue leaves and great cones showed that 

 we were in higher altitudes. 



On the road we passed two large wagons, each loaded with a 

 huge section of the great iron pier on which the largest telescope 

 in the world is to rest. Leaving these teams to slowly creep up 

 the mountain, where their load will remain till the end of time, we 

 hurried along the gentle grade, continually passing places of in- 

 terest, till we drove up to the stable at Smith Creek, twenty miles 



