A START IN LIFE. =A Journey Across America. = FRUIT FARMING IN CALIFORNIA. BY C. F. DOWSETT, _Author of "Striking Events in Irish History, " etc. , etc_. * * * * * LONDON: DOWSETT & Co. , 3, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS. * * * * * PRICE ONE SHILLING. A START IN LIFE. * * * * * _Plans, Maps, Views, Books, Samples of Fruits, Soils, etc. , etc. , ofLand at Merced, in California, may be seen at the Offices of MESSRS. DOWSETT & CO. , 3, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, where also further particulars and introductions to the owners at Mercedmay be obtained. _ CONTENTS. A Suggestion to Persons Seeking a Start in Life Special Advantages Comparison and Warning Across America-- London to Chicago Chicago to San Francisco San Francisco to Now Orleans New Orleans to London Information About California Currency Merced Price of Land American Surveys Special Instruction Provided Various Estimates as to what could be done with Various Amounts of Capital Price of Fruit Trees When Fruit Trees Pay Position of a Settler Cost of Board and Lodging Raisin Culture Irrigation Olive Culture Special Openings Potato Growing Cost of Provisions, etc. , at Merced Cost of Journey by Sea and Land Analysis of Merced Soils Position of the Vendors [Illustration: Map of North America with Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. _The dotted lines across America, indicate my journey, the Northern onegoing, the Southern one returning. C. F. D. _] =A Start in Life. = I have entitled this little book "A Start in Life, " because it conveysinformation which would enable any person possessing a small capital, with some industry, patience, and steady habits, to make a start in lifewhich, humanly speaking, could not fail of success. The old countries of Europe contain a superabundant population; everybranch of professional and commercial life is so overcrowded, that thereexists a competition so keen, as to reduce the incomes of the largest, and, in many cases, to prevent the smallest workers, in whatever sphere, from getting a remunerative return for the activities of brain, muscle, and money. To inform the public, therefore, how a young man may make a first startin life, or an older man a fresh start in life, is offering an advantagewhich, I doubt not, will be appreciated by many who read these pages. I am prepared to hear the objection that, in the proposals set forthherein, I am seeking a personal advantage as Agent for the sale of thelands at Merced, in California, that I refer to, and I meet it with thisstatement: Let the objector consider his prospects of success in theplace where he now is, and if they are reasonably good, let him staythere; if they are not, then let him intelligently consider what hiscapabilities are--whether he has any special or technical knowledge, and, if so, in what place he can expect the best return for a full useof his talents. If any opening appears probable in any of the oldcountries, he will, perhaps, first consider that; but if he can see noopening at home, then let him consider, by careful investigation, themore distant fields; let him learn all he can about all the BritishColonies, and other countries, and especially Canada and the UnitedStates, as being nearest to Great Britain. Having learnt somethinggenerally of these distant places, then, having regard to his ownabilities and capital, and his personal desires as to distance from theOld Country, climate, &c. , he should make his choice as to which of theplaces he has read of seems most likely to give him a fair prospect ofsuccess; and then, having come to this decision, he should learn all hecan about that particular place. I admit that I shall receive apersonal benefit by persons settling at Merced, in California; but--Isay this with great confidence--if, after an intelligent considerationof other places, any person, desiring a start in life, comes to theconclusion that Fruit culture in California is an occupation, and acountry, that would suit him, then let him consider all the places inCalifornia where openings for this occupation are presented, and let himchoose which of them he considers most suitable; and, at the risk ofappearing invidious, I would add that he should not believe all hereads, but should make his examination and inquiries for himself, on thespot. I do not ask him blindly to believe what is set forth in thesepages, but if he thinks that California is a suitable place ofsettlement for him, then I do say, with great emphasis, that he shouldnot settle upon anything in California until he has been to Merced, andproved for himself that the statements are credible. After he has beento Merced, I have little doubt that he will be convinced that that placepresents an opening which would be worth his decision. If he proceed to California by the Southern Pacific Railway, he couldbreak his journey at the various other places of Fruit culturesettlement, and inspect them, reaching Merced last, as the nearest tothe great centre of San Francisco. A careful comparison of the various fields of Fruit culture enterprisewill, I am assured, show him that Merced possesses peculiar advantages. It is well known that the great drawback of California is want of water;and intending settlers must not be satisfied by the statements ofagents, or owners, that their lands have water advantages, but they mustsatisfy themselves that they can have water by irrigation (not by theexpensive, laborious process of pumping it up from uncertain springs), and in such a quantity as to be permanent. At some places lands now supplied by irrigation will fall shortpresently, when the owners carry the water on to thousands of adjoiningacres; therefore, a full and permanent supply of water is an essential. THE SPECIAL ADVANTAGES my clients offer settlers at Merced are:-- 1. A permanent supply of Water, for a perpetual water right accompaniesevery lot of land sold. 2. Contiguity to a Railway Station on the main line, and to a Town, with commercial, professional, educational, social and religiousadvantages. 3. Instruction in Fruit culture gratis by a specialist, who is paid bymy clients to instruct settlers on their lands. 4. A rich Soil, of which, on another page, an analysis is given. 5. A ready Market for produce. Buyers come round the country andpurchase the crops as they are on the trees, taking upon themselves thepicking and packing. The Continent of North America is a sufficientmarket in itself for all time especially considering that its populationincreases nearly a million and a half a year. 6. The prices range from 75 dollars to 150 dollars per acre. At someother places in California, land is offered at a less price, but I cansell some land at even 10 dollars per acre; yet that at 100 dollars peracre is far cheaper, having regard to its advantages. Our land at 150dollars per acre will favourably compare with lands fetching much higherprices. 7. Free Conveyances will be given, with a perfectly clear andsatisfactory title. 8. Two-thirds of the purchase-money may remain onmortgage. 9. Merced is only 14 days from London. 10. A liberal competence may be secured by a reasonably industrioussettler. 11. Merced is a very healthy locality, and is nearer to San Franciscothan other Fruit growing centres. 12. My clients, the owners, are well-known gentlemen of wealth andposition in California, and not irresponsible land speculators, membersof a syndicate with an unknown personality. COMPARISON AND WARNING. I have already said that applicants should verify for themselves thestatements made by persons who, like myself, would be personallybenefited by their settling upon the lands offered for sale. Letterssent to this country, and advertised by agents as a guarantee ofadvantages, written by persons soon after arrival in California, and whohave not compared the place of their location with other places, canscarcely be a sufficient recommendation. Some parts of Californiaadvertised in this country for sale have not a permanent water supply;are too hot; are swept by winds; are at a considerable distance from arailway station; have a poor, sandy soil, some even mixed with alkali;and some are so situated as to be "notoriously unhealthy, " and producechills, fevers, and general malaria, and, in one case, I have heard ofan embarrassed title: therefore, I say that intending settlers shouldremember there is a California and a California--that it is not all goldwhich glitters, and that they should, personally and intelligently, investigate for themselves, on the spot, the statements made by thosewho, at a distance, offer the lands for sale. CAPITAL REQUIRED. It is recommended that settlers intending to establish Fruit farms, should have a capital of from £600 upwards; but those who have a smallercapital--say, £300, or even £100--may, in other ways, find some openingfor employing it, if accompanied with intelligent, industrious, persevering work. =A Start in Life. = To ensure the stability of a building the foundation ought to besubstantial, so in like manner a good start in life goes a great waytowards ensuring a successful career. By success I do not mean themaking of a rapid fortune by leaps and bounds of prosperity, but I domean an ultimate prosperity, acquired through patient, persevering, andintelligent labour. To make a large fortune quickly it is necessary tohave command of the requisite knowledge of the business in hand, therequisite capital, untiring energy, and a trait of genius. Beyond theseit would be necessary to have the mind absorbed in the one thing, andtherefore, supposing one possessed the requisites, would it be worthwhile to sacrifice all else to the mere accumulation of money? To livefor mere money making is a grovelling existence, and utterly unworthythe aim of any man possessing the finer instincts of human nature andthe intelligence with which it is endowed. No, I am not pretending to offer the means of making a rapidfortune--such accidents fall to the lot of but few out of the millionsof our species--but I do claim to be able to offer to men willing tolive a steady industrious life, the opportunity of acquiring, on easyterms, a small freehold estate, into which they can put the golden seedof their own mental and physical effort with the certainty of reaping agolden harvest proportionate to their area, their ability, and theirindustry; for when once a Fruit farm is planted it increases in valueevery year. To own a freehold estate of 20, 40, or 100 acres, with a comfortablehouse and buildings, and the land well stocked with choice Fruits, witha ready market, presents a prospect, by the use of a small capital, withthe addition of muscle and brains, of future competence. When such aproperty is fully matured, labour can be hired, and one's own personalenergies may be diverted, if preferred, into other channels, orcontinued in the same with largely accumulating benefits. I ask my readers requiring for themselves, or others in whom they areinterested, a start in life, to read these pages carefully, for I do notknow any calling, in the old or new world, where a small capitalist fondof country life could find an occupation more congenial than the one Ioffer at Merced, in California, and which is described herein. Residence near to a young town, which will probably increase rapidly invalue, and which now possesses extensive commercial, locomotive, socialand religious advantages, a climate than which the surface of this globescarcely presents one more desirable, a fortnight's journey from London, and a soil pregnant with inherent virtue, are amongst the considerationsof importance which will determine thoughtful investors to settle atMerced. I am prepared to show to applicants samples of the soils and fruits, andalso views, books, maps, &c. , and to answer questions, if they will callpersonally upon me, at my offices-- 3, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, so that they may have every assistance in enabling them to come to adecision as to whether the start in life I offer them at Merced, inCalifornia, is one suitable in respect of their inclination, capital, abilities, and energy. WITHIN A FORTNIGHT OF LONDON. To prove the convenient access of this land, called "British Colony"from London, I may say that on November 22nd, 1890, I left Liverpool inthe Cunard steamer "Etruria, " which reached New York on the followingSaturday evening, just too late for the Custom-house officers to examinethe luggage, so that we could not go on shore till the next morning. Istayed over the Sunday (26 hours) in New York, leaving on Monday by thefirst overland train, and after calling at innumerable stations, andstaying 14 hours at Chicago and Council Bluffs, to "make connections"(_i. E. _, catch other trains), and staying 52 hours at San Francisco, Iarrived at Merced at 10. 23 on Monday night, December 8th, _i. E. _, say 16days 6 hours after leaving Liverpool. Had I have left Liverpool by theWednesday instead of the Saturday steamer, I should not have needed tohave stayed over Sunday in New York, and, of course, there would be nonecessity for a settler to stay at San Francisco (I had to meet myclients there); therefore, deducting these two stoppages of 78 hours, or3-1/4 days, it would give 13 days to Merced in the _winter_ season. Infine weather the journey could be made in less time; some steamers, inthe summer and autumn months, have crossed from Liverpool to New York inabout six days, so that the journey _could_ be made, in favourablecircumstances, in say 12 to 13 days, but we may safely put it at 14days. I went by the Northern Prairies and Rocky Mountains, and returned by thelonger route of Southern California, the Desert of Arizona, the Plainsof Texas, through the sugar and cotton districts of the Southern States, and thence, viâ New Orleans and Washington, back to New York. Thus, after remaining eight days at Merced, where I was fully engagedeach day in inspecting the lands for sale and the country around formany miles, and after allowing for stoppages on the return journey overSundays, and waiting three days at New York for the Cunard steamer"Servia, " I reached Liverpool on January 4th, and was back again in myoffice on Monday, January 5th, being six weeks, one day and 22 hoursfrom the time I rose from my chair in my office to the time I wassitting in it again. =Across America. = LONDON TO CHICAGO. Travelling in generations past was an important event in one's life, butnow a journey across an ocean and a continent is a very commonplaceaffair. Books of travel used to be read with avidity, but now that somany persons travel, and the wires keep us in touch with all the worldevery day, the history of a journey is a small event, and one which tothose not specially interested would scarcely perhaps be read;nevertheless, as some of my readers may have to go over some of theground I have recently traversed, I have no doubt that a reference to myjourney to California and back would be of interest to them, andtherefore I will give up some time and space to the subject. This little record of my journey may perhaps be better received if Istate that I am not a novice in travel, and that before I had turnedtwenty-one years of age I had been to Australia (calling _en route_ atPernambuco in South America), and that while in Australia I visitedMelbourne, Sydney, Geelong, King George's Sound, besides various inlandtowns and gold fields, including Bendigo, Castlemaine, Tarrangower, Fryer's Creek, Forest Creek, Campbell's Creek, Tarradale, Maryborough, etc. , and various other places, and sheep and cattle stations. FromAustralia I went to Aden (the inland town) and up the Red Sea to Suez, returning to Australia, and thence to England. Since I commencedbusiness in England, in 1859, I went in 1862 to St. Thomas' in the WestIndies, thence to Aspinwall, across the Isthmus to Panama, thence toAcapulco in Mexico, on to San Francisco in California, and thence toVancouver Island, returning by the same route as far as Aspinwall, whence I went to New York. In 1865 I went on business to Russia. Arriving at the ancient city of Pskov, I proceeded across country to theestate of my client, the Count Bogouschefsky, at one time privateSecretary to the Emperor Nicholas (grandfather of the present Czar). Some of these travels were attended with a good deal of adventure; butmy recent journey from England to California and back, 13, 774 miles, insix weeks (including all stoppages), was all work, for my time wasoccupied continuously in reading up the country, learning from oldsettlers, and making notes of what I saw, some of which I have foundroom for in the following pages. On November 22nd, 1890, I was at work in my office in Lincoln's InnFields, whence a cab depositing me at Euston, the 10. 10 express trainsoon ran me down to Liverpool (201 miles), whence a steam "tender" tookme from the landing-stage to the Cunard steamship "Etruria, " some twomiles off, where I was soon comfortably located in my "state room" (No. 42). It was nearly 5 o'clock before we got away, and the next day found us atQueenstown Harbour, where we lost considerable time in waiting for themail. At length the mail, which was a heavy one, was safely on board, and off we went, head on to the Atlantic. During that night of the 23rdwe experienced a heavy gale; big seas broke over the forecastle, andflooded the decks below, through the ventilators. The A. B. 's declinedventuring on the forecastle to unship these great ventilators, and sothe engines had to be slowed down, and the ship stopped; the ventilatorswere then unshipped, and we proceeded. The night was a bad one, and thenext morning we had not got through it, and as a consequence the deckswere like lagoons; but presently we had run through it, or it had runaway from us, or had expended its energy, and we were in comparativelysmooth waters, and had a comfortable run to New York. Nothing ofparticular interest occurred during the passage. I sought and found theold American settlers amongst the passengers, and obtained from them allthe information I could of the country, and especially the State towhich I was going. I read "General" Booth's "Darkest England, " and wrotea review of it, which duly appeared in the "Land Roll. " The "Etruria" is a fine ship. She has a commodious saloon, music andreading room, plenty of deck space for exercise, comfortable cabins, bath rooms, etc. On the 29th we made Sandy Hook Lighthouse, which is about 20 miles fromNew York Dock, but we got in too late for the Custom-house officers tolook at our baggage, so we lay all night in the harbour, and nextmorning commenced the tedious process of creeping up, yard by yard, intoour berth at the dock. The run from Liverpool was thus:--Liverpool toQueenstown, on the 22nd and 23rd, 240 miles; 24th, at noon, 330 miles;25th, 454; 26th, 462; 27th, 475; 28th, 480; 29th, 471; distance toSandy Hook Lighthouse, 130 miles; so that the run totals up to 3, 042, and with the 20 miles added, 3, 062 miles. I had been recommended by a passenger to go to the Hotel St. Stephen, 46to 52, East Eleventh Street, New York, whence I drove in a cab perhaps amile and a half, for which the cabman wanted 2 dollars (equal to 8s. 4d. ); he got 1-1/2, which was half-a-dollar too much. Passengers shoulddrive to their hotel, and then ask the proper fare before paying. NewYork has many large hotels--this is comparatively a small one. All thewaiters are coloured men, and this seems pretty general throughoutAmerica. I stayed over the 30th (Sunday) in New York, by which I secured a quietday and an opportunity to attend Divine service. In my bedroom was acoil of stout Manilla rope screwed into the floor, near a window, sothat an escape might be secured in the event of fire. The towelsprovided are a kind of compromise between a duster and a pockethandkerchief--rather disappointing to one accustomed to his "tub. " NewYork is great in tram-cars, worked by horses, mules, and electricity, also elevated railways--that is, railways running down the streets onhuge tressels or scaffolding--so that the vehicles go underneath them, and the passengers in the train look straight into the first-floorwindows of the houses on the other side. There is an immense developmentof electricity all over America, and in tram-cars, railway-cars, hotels, houses, everything and everywhere, is the electric light prominent. Manyof the streets are unevenly paved. Blacking boots is a profession inAmerica--in many hotels a special charge is made for it, or else thevisitors are left to their own devices thereon--and boot-blacks haveshops and nooks fitted with high, huge easy chairs, elevated likethrones, where their clients can comfortably repose during the operationof polish. The next morning, December 1st, I was up early, and made enquiries atthe various offices representing the railway lines to Chicago, with theresult that I took a ticket by the Pennsylvania route, and left New Yorkat 10 o'clock a. M. The train service between New York and Chicago is oneof the best, if not _the_ best, in America. The cars are elegantlyfitted; they are about the length of the Pullman cars we have inEngland. The best cars are those fitted with sleeping accommodation, andtravellers having tickets for a "sleeper" have the privilege of usingthe sleeping car during the day. The sleeping cars are divided intosquares capable of seating four persons, but the space is accorded totwo only, as only two beds or berths can be made up in the space; thelower berth (which is always the favourite) is formed of the two doubleseats (the space for four seats), filled up in the centre by specialfittings and mattresses, hidden during the day inside the seats; theupper berth is pulled down from the sloping roof of the car, and in thereceptacle between the slope and the square are contained the beddingand the fittings. A curtain falls down over both the upper and lowerberths, and, so far as one can, the dressing has to be done with thecurtain hanging round one as one stands within it; and if on both sidesof the car passengers happen to stand behind their respective curtainsat the same time, they would touch one another and so block thepassage-way. The dressing accommodation is so inconvenient that onlypartial undressing is adopted. The outside of the slope is polishedmahogany, and in the daytime bears no indication whatever of what itreally is, but looks like a handsome sloping polished mahogany roof. These cars are luxuriously fitted. Another car on the train is ahandsome dining saloon, with kitchen attached, where you can order asgood a dinner as you could obtain at an hotel. The cars are also fittedliberally with lavatories and water-closets, separate ones for ladiesand for gentlemen. On this train is also a bath-room and a barber'sshop. There are also one or two small private rooms, which can be hiredseparately. This train has also a recent addition, being what is calleda drawing-room or observation car; this is the last on the train, andthe end is fitted with glass, so that in riding along passengers in thiscar enjoy an uninterrupted view of the country they are leaving behind. On this special train a ladies' maid is provided for the convenience ofladies, and a stenographer, with his type-writing machine, occupies aseat in the vestibule of the drawing-room car to take down any urgentletters which business men may desire to post _en route_. Theobservation car is supplied with a library for the use of passengers, and is fitted with plate-glass windows and easy chairs. It has aplatform where one can breathe the fresh air outside if desired. Thereis also a smoking-room car. On this special train the Stock Exchangereports of the New York and Philadelphia Exchanges are received andposted on the bulletin boards three times a day, and the weather reportsare also posted. The whole of the train is thoroughly well heated bysteam pipes, and lighted by electricity. The person in charge of a"sleeper" car is called the "porter;" he occupies a position, not like aporter on an English railway, but analagous to a steward on board ship. On leaving New York I noticed that the suburbs contained many very smallwooden houses, and the country had the appearance of many Colonialscenes I have witnessed--the land looked like reclaimed prairie, whichit probably is; and after passing many homesteads and villages we raninto Philadelphia at 12. 20. Philadelphia is the largest city, as toarea, in the United States. It is situate on the west bank of theDelaware River. It is 22 miles long, and from 5 to 8 broad, comprisingan area of 1, 294 square miles. It has over 900 miles of paved streets. Philadelphia was founded by the celebrated William Penn, who went fromEngland to America in 1682 A. D. , and purchased the site of this greatcity from the Indians. William Penn's character was remarkable for hishigh sense of honour, and if the same principle had obtained throughoutthe history of the United States with the Indians, we should never haveheard of any "Indian Difficulty. " Penn presented the city with a charterin 1701. The city, built upon lands honestly and liberally bought fromthe Indians, prospered greatly, and its population continued to increaseuntil it now reaches something approaching 900, 000. Its chief source ofwealth is from its manufactures, which embrace locomotives, and allkinds of ironware, ships, carpets, woollen and cotton goods, shoes, umbrellas, and books. It has more buildings than any other city in thatcountry, and, in point of commerce, ranks fourth among the cities of theUnited States. I noticed that the suburbs of Philadelphia contained manyhandsome stone and brick residences. I felt much interested in theconnection with William Penn, because he is one of the ancestors of thePenn-Gaskells of England, who for many years have been valuable andmuch-respected clients of mine, and in numerous transactions I havenoticed in them that beautiful trait of strict honour which gave WilliamPenn a world-wide character, and has descended from him to them. Passing by many farm homesteads, villages, and towns, all having aprosperous kind of appearance, and described as "one of the richestagricultural districts in America, " we ran into Harrisburg, which is thecapital of Pennsylvania, and situate on the east bank of the SusquehannaRiver. About five miles above Harrisburg we crossed the SusquehannaRiver on a bridge 3, 670 feet long, from the centre of which I am toldthere is a fine view, but I lost it, as a snowstorm was raging while Iwas crossing. We stopped at Altoona, a large city lying at the foot of theAlleghanies, and in ascending the Alleghanies fine scenery and greatengineering feats are discernible. From this we ran on to Pittsburg, which claims to be the best lighted city in America, the streets beingbrilliantly illuminated by arc and incandescent electric lights. Ninebridges cross the Allegheny, and five the Monongahela rivers. Pittsburghas been called the "iron city, " and "smoky city"; it has immense glass, steel and iron manufactures, and in these three interests alone employsover 50, 000 persons. Then we proceed till, presently, we catch sight of Lake Michigan, andknow that Chicago is not far off. We skirt the shore of this busy water, with its wharves, etc. On arrival (December 2nd) we drive through thecity from the Pennsylvania to the North-Western terminus. Chicago is 912 miles from New York: it is the greatest city in Illinois, and during the past 50 years has grown from a small Indian tradingstation into a metropolis. Chicago extends some 20 miles along theshores of Lake Michigan, and goes back from the lake to a depth of aboutfour miles, thus embracing about 80 square miles; beyond these confinesof the city proper the suburbs extend to some 6 to 10 miles in everydirection. It will be remembered that in 1871 Chicago had a great fire, which burned an area of 3-1/8 square miles, destroyed 17, 450 buildings, made 98, 500 persons homeless, and killed outright about 200 more. Theloss of property was estimated at 190, 000, 000 dollars, of which only30, 000, 000 dollars were recovered from insurances, and this bankruptedsome of the insurance companies. In 1874 another fire consumed 5, 000, 000dollars' worth of property. Chicago is the great central depôt forgrain, lumber and live stock. In 1888 there were packed at Chicago4, 500, 000 hogs, and about 1, 600, 000 cattle. Chicago has also extensiveiron, steel, wheel, car, flour, furniture, boot and shoe and tannerymanufactures. In driving through I noticed one long street, to the rightand left of the street I was traversing, thickly occupied withtradesmen's carts, backed on the kerb in the usual fashion, being loadedfrom the stores (or shops): there must have been a few hundred of them;I never saw so many in one street at one time anywhere in any part ofthe world. Chicago was cased in frozen snow, and thus was not veryattractive; but I noticed many very fine buildings, and was much struckwith the cosmopolitan character of the inhabitants. During the intervalof waiting for the train on the North-Western to start I was able to seea little of the place, and found that some persons I spoke to could notspeak English. They came apparently from all parts of the continent ofEurope. CHICAGO TO SAN FRANCISCO. The train was due at Chicago (December 2nd) at 9. 45 a. M. , being exactlya 23 hours and 45 minutes' run from New York. Having crossed Chicagofrom one terminus to another, I found that three trains left Chicago bywhich I could travel to San Francisco--two were slow trains, and one afast train; but, by whichever train I went, it would make no differenceas to the time I left Omaha, and consequently no difference to the timeI should arrive at San Francisco, so I went on by one of the slowtrains, as I wanted to see Council Bluffs. This train was similarlyfitted to the other, except that it had no drawing-room car, norstenographer, etc. , nor were the platforms connecting the carriagesenclosed; so that, in passing to the dining car, or any other car, thesudden change from a hot car to a shower of snow was not pleasant. Thedistance from Chicago to Omaha is 492 miles, and the country between thetwo places formed a part of the great prairie region, which, 50 yearsago, had no other inhabitant than the Indian and the trapper, but now isa succession of homesteads, villages, and towns, bearing evidence ofprosperity. At Creston, and many other stations, I noticed that there isno protection whatever from the railway; the line is unfenced, and thetrain runs through the town as openly as a coach would; there isgenerally a rough board put up here and there with the words, crudelypainted on them, "Look out for the cars!" We were due at Council Bluffsthe next morning (December 3rd) at 7. 23, but we arrived some half-hourlate. Council Bluffs Station is four miles from Omaha Station, but thetowns adjoin. The former has a population of over 35, 000, and the latterof over 110, 000. They are divided by the great Missouri River, which iscrossed by two bridges, one being 2, 750 feet long, and the other 2, 920feet long. Having had breakfast at the station, I went up to the town bythe "motor, " that is, the electrical tram-car. The motor cars, like therailway cars, are heated. I noticed a large number of detached woodencottages, "standing in their own grounds, " of about one-eighth of anacre, and I learned that these are owned by labourers. Mr. Day, an agentthere, told me that the cottage would cost 500 dollars, and the land 400dollars, _i. E. , _ £100 for the house, and £80 for the land. An eighth ofan acre for £80 would be £640 per acre, and this quite out in thesuburbs; and I was told that good business blocks in the town itselfwould fetch £32, 000 (not dollars, but pounds) per acre. In the largecities, such as New York, Chicago, etc. , prices in the principal streetswould compare with prices in the City of London. Returning to thestation, I joined the express train, and crossing the Missouri River toOmaha, we proceeded west. The river was frozen at its sides, andpresented no attractions worth notice. On we go through hundreds offields of maize, always called "corn" in America; other grain crops, such as wheat, etc. , are called by their own names, but the crop knownonly as "corn" in America is maize. The rich clusters of corn aregathered, and the stalks, something in appearance between a wheat stalkand a sugar cane, are left standing for the cattle to pick over. Fortyyears ago _this_ part was uninhabited by white men, and was the home ofcountless buffaloes; now these animals are extirpated, and everywhere wesee nothing, for mile upon mile, but corn, corn, corn. One of my fellowtravellers was Mr. H. C. Jacobs, of Chicago, whose father-in-law was oneof the pioneers, and who gave me much information. The next day(December 4th), we traverse the great rolling prairies of Nebraska, andsee many herds of horses and cattle, and here and there ranch homes andcowboys. Having run through Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, we commence the Stateof Wyoming as we pull up at the City of Cheyenne, where, in the fardistance, we see, with its peaks well clothed in snow, the grand rangeof the Rocky Mountains. Soon after leaving Cheyenne, we commence theascent of the Rockies--not, of course, the actual summit range itself, but the foot hills and high lands stretching away from, and forming partof it--and as we climb the ascent terminating at Sherman, where we havegained an elevation of 8, 247 feet, we pass through very wild, grandscenery. At this altitude we look down upon floating clouds, and see inthe distance Long's Peak, 14, 000 feet high, towering above them. Allalong, at intervals, are portable fences, placed to catch the snow as itdrifts, to prevent it blocking the line; and also what are called snowsheds, which are rough timber tunnels built up to protect the rails fromthe great drifts arising out of heavy snowstorms. At the highest pointis a pyramid, commemorating a certain Mr. Oakes Ames, which looked 20feet high and very near the line; it is however, 75 feet high andhalf-a-mile off. The air is so rarefied that distances are mostdeceiving. As our descent proceeds, we catch sight, in the distance, of a herd ofwild elk, and where these rolling prairies have better herbage, we seeherds of horses with ranch buildings here and there. We pass the ranchof William Cody, who, by virtue of his being a Senator of the State ofNebraska, is called Honourable, but who was known in London, a shorttime ago, at Mr. Whitley's "Wild West" show as "Buffalo Bill. " As wepass Fort Laraime, one of the forts erected by the United StatesGovernment as a protection against the Indians, I was told some storiesof Cody's exploits against the Indians. In former days, emigrantstraversing these great prairies to found a home in this Wild West, wereoften harassed by Indians, and the soldiers at the fort had to protectthem. Buffalo Bill has been in many a skirmish, and, if rumour is true, many redskins have succumbed to him; the Government took counsel withhim in all Indian difficulties in that part of the country, and the daybefore I passed his ranch he had been sent for by the authorities thatthey might confer with him as to the outbreak which then existed, andwhich cost "Sitting Bull" his life. We passed a house cut clean in twoby the wind, great herds of horses and cattle, beautiful specimens ofthe bald and other eagles and vultures, some deer, and a very fine greywolf about the size of a Newfoundland dog. The distant mountainscenery at times is very grand, and everywhere snow-capped. The air isvery pure and keen. I much enjoyed the society of two fellow travellersover this part of my journey, Mr. Lee, of General Lee's family, ofVirginia, and Mr. Hurley, Solicitor to the Directors of the line we weretraversing. We passed the "Divide of the Continent" at an altitude of7, 100 feet, which is the dividing line of the running of water; thatrunning east empties into the North Platte River, thence into theMissouri, thence into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean; thatrunning west empties into the Green River, thence into the Colorado, thence into the Pacific Ocean. In the early morning of December 5th we ran into Ogden, which is nearSalt Lake, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, which are snow-capped, and have some very fine peaks. Salt Lake is 126 by 45 miles, and on itis situate the great City of the Mormons. On the more fertile parts ofthe prairies I gathered, at Humboldt Wells, some of the sage grass whichused to be the food of the buffaloes when they existed; at other placesI gathered samples of herbage on less favoured soils. As we proceed, wesee an encampment of Indians with red paint on their faces, which wasput on to show sympathy with, and, if necessary, take part with othertribes of Indians, then commencing a "war" with the United Statessoldiers. This district was not far, as distances go in America from thescene of action. Presently we commence our run through the great barrenalkali plains, emerging from which we get into a more fertile country, and, at Cedar Pass, notice the great ranch of Messrs. Sparks and Tinnin, who are reputed to have 100, 000 head of cattle. Mr. Byrne, of Elko, Nevada, also the owner of a large ranch, was on board the cars, and gaveme some useful information. He said that cattle raising is veryprofitable, as they double in number every four years, _i. E. _, a profitof 25 per cent. ; thus, if a man start with a 1, 000 head of stock cattle, he will have 4, 000 head in four years. If a thousand head of stock cattle were purchased off a ranch, theywould be sold just as they run, without any selection whatever--steers, heifers, cows, calves, bulls, yearlings, both sexes and all ages, butcalves which still suck their mothers are not counted, and go fornothing. Many head of cattle perish in the winter, when the land iscovered with snow, as on many large ranches no food is given them. Iurged that it would pay to have stock-yards and give food during thesnow time, and Mr. Byrne said that he always did so himself, and thatthe great ranch men were having their eyes opened to this necessity. We passed various other encampments of Indians, and far from anyencampment or habitation saw an Indian on the track carrying a smalllight bundle, and following him a long way behind was his squaw, labouring under a very heavy burden. During this day we ran through ranges of uneven mountains, rising oneabove another in broken undulations and with ever-varying tops, such astable lands, sharp conical peaks, rounded heads, and brokenindentations. The distant mountains are enveloped in snow, upon which gleams aresplendent setting sun, presenting a prospect which only such a regioncould produce. From the dazzling whiteness of one range we look upon thedense darkness of another, as being out of the sun's influence. Thelights and shades, the gorges, the fissures, the striations in the rangeupon range, with their intervals of plains and valleys, here and thereopening up peeps of great tracts of country, and then again shuttingall in to the circumference of their gigantic heads, interspersed withthe brilliance of rich gold, tingeing some tops and revealing darkrecesses, some ruby tints and fantastic shadows, --all combine to reflecta glory which lifts the mind beyond the great heights of hills to aheight, greater still, whence originated all natural grandeur. We had run through Utah and Nevada, and were now approaching thenorthern part of California. In the very early morning of December 6th Iawoke and found that the train was at a standstill. Thinking that wewere at a station I tried to sleep again, but, finding that we continuedmotionless, I went out on to the platform connecting our car with thenext and found all around was deep snow, and that another train on theother metals had broken down, and that our men were apparently helpingto get it off. We were then two miles from Truckee, and at an elevationof nearly 6, 000 feet. After a long delay we got away and ran intoTruckee. The scenery on this day was also of a truly grand character:precipices, declivities, chasms; and in one very romantic spot, of weirdand wild mountain sides, graduating to narrow gullies, with pine andother trees, some perfect, others broken by the wind was one greatwreck of a forest monster--a tree rudely snapped asunder by wind orlightning, about 40 feet from the ground, and stripped of every branch, so that it looked like a broken column; on its top sat a great vulturein the well-known attitude of its kind, as motionless as rock, andapparently meditating on the incongruity of a noisy, vulgar bit ofmachinery, with its train of cars, invading such a nook of Nature'ssolitudes. As we proceeded we came upon the succession of Placer gold diggings, known as the hydraulic mines, which were then for the most partabandoned, and these brought to my remembrance many similar spots I hadseen in Australia. The _débris_ of the mines had stopped up, ordiverted, or otherwise interfered with the Sacramento River, the BearRiver, and other rivers, to the great detriment of agriculture, horticulture, stock rearing, etc. , whereupon the State Legislature ofCalifornia passed an Act to prohibit all interference with the water, for without water the miners could not wash their dirt, and so had toabandon the diggings. All around this part, ravine followed ravine, withbeautiful vistas between, affording a continuous luxury of scenicgratification. Presently we reached what is called by many the grandestscenery on the American Continent, known as Cape Horn; it is where thetrain winds round a mountain side, on a narrow ledge, and at such aheight, that to hold one's hand out of the window would be to hold itover a sheer precipice of 2, 500 feet. The train runs along the ledge ornarrow roadway cut in the face of the mountain rock, and all around ispresented a spectacle of the majesty of Nature, which only such a rangeof mountains as the Sierra Nevada could produce. About 14 miles from Truckee, we reach a station called "Summit, " whichlies at an elevation of 7, 017 feet, and is the highest point on theSierra Nevada Mountains reached by railroads, but the granite peaks riseup to an altitude of over 10, 000 feet. Grizzly bears, and other wildcreatures, find their homes in the recesses of these fastnesses. Onleaving these mountains we make a rapid descent, and in an hour feelthat we are in another country. At Colfax I bought fruit; at Arlingtonthe temperature was like summer. At Rockling Station I saw some veryfine orange trees, full of splendid fruit. Now we have entered thefertile plains of North California, and run through cultivated lands, till we reach Sacramento, the capital of the State. It is a greatchange: from desert, alkaline plains, miles of snow sheds, snow-coveredmountains, a semi-civilization, and a freezing atmosphere, we findourselves in a warm, genial climate, cultivated farms, vineyards, gardens, and orchards of nectarines, pears, apples, and the rest. Arriving at Oakland, we crossed the Bay in the great ferry-ship, orfloating wharf, "Piedmont. " The weather was charming--the bay dottedabout with islands and surrounded by hills. The temperature was the moreenjoyable from the fact that only a few hours before we were surroundedby deep snow. On arriving at San Francisco (on Saturday, December 6th), I wentstraight to the Palace Hotel, and my first effort was to get a bath, fora continuous day and night run from New York of 3, 367 miles, makes onewho is accustomed to the use of plenty of water to look for a goodablution as the first refresher. The Palace Hotel claims to be the"model hotel of the world. " Its architect visited the leading hotels ofEurope so as to produce a hotel superior to any. As to size, it occupiesa complete block--that is, it has a street traversing each side of it. It rises to a height of 120 feet, and covers an area 350 feet by 275feet--that is, 96, 250 square feet, or nearly 2-3/4 acres, and, withsub-sidewalk extensions, exceeds three acres. The lower story is 27 feethigh, the uppermost one 16 feet high. The foundation wall is 12 feetthick, and the principal materials are stone, iron, brick, and marble. Every partition wall throughout is stone and brick. It is fire andearthquake proof, the walls being additionally tied by iron bands. Ithas four artesian wells, yielding 28, 000 gallons of water an hour, a630, 000 gallon reservoir, and tanks holding 130, 000 gallons more. Thewater is served by three large steam fire pumps, which throw the waterabove the roof. There are five patent safety-catch hydraulic elevators(or lifts). Immense precautions have been taken against fire. Thedining-rooms are 150 feet by 55 feet, and 100 feet by 50 feet. Thepublic rooms are very numerous, and are of immense size. The rooms forguests are principally 20 feet by 20 feet; none are less than 16 feet by16 feet; all are well furnished. The corridors are like streets--space, elegance, solidity, and comfort are apparent everywhere; the whole beinglighted by gas and electricity. Each bedroom has a bath-room, with hotand cold water services; w. C. , coat-closet, and lavatory closet, withhot and cold water services to itself, and which can only be used by theoccupant of the bed-room. The hotel, of course, has a barber's shop, andas I expected my client to call I was anxious to get through my toiletquickly; so I rang for one of the barber's assistants to come to mybed-room to cut my hair preparatory to the bath. This did not take long, and I asked the price, when, to my surprise, a dollar and a-half, _i. E. , _ 6s. 3d. , was required. I thought it was barbarism indeed! I left San Francisco on Monday, December 8th, and during my short stay Isaw something of the town; but it was not the same place as I rememberedit from my two visits to it in 1862. It is full of life and activity, has many wealthy men, 50 of whom, it is said, are millionaires. It has alarge number of grand buildings, fine shops, extensive markets, beautiful private residences, and an immense development of electricityfor motion, light, sound, etc. The tram-cars run in constant successioneverywhere; but the most remarkable cars are those worked by an endlesscable. In the city are works with immense steam power, and from theseworks endless cables revolve throughout the city, under the roads, invarious directions. In the bed of the tramway is a groove, under whichis the cable, revolving at a great speed. The driver of the car letsdown his grip, which tightly holds the cable, and, of course, the carstarts at full speed, and is carried along by the cable. When the driverwants to stop, he lets go his grip on the cable and applies his brake. Some of the hills in San Francisco are very steep, and the firstsensation in riding on the outside front seat, while going full speeddown a sharp declivity, is certainly novel, with no apparent motivepower, and no apparent means of stopping. The speed, of course, isalways the same, whether up or down hill, or on level ground. TelegraphHill is 394 feet high, Clay Street Hill 376 feet, and Russian Hill 360feet. A San Francisco Sunday is painful to one accustomed to our Englishways; travelling in every form, and buying and selling are veryprevalent. The Y. M. C. A. Have a large building there, and get largemeetings. I attended one gathering, which I addressed shortly. San Francisco is described as having "the mildest and most equableclimate known to any large city in the world. " January is the coldestmonth, and the mean temperature then is stated to be 50°. September isthe hottest month, and the mean temperature then is stated to be 58°. Thus only 8° difference between the coldest and warmest months, and theaverage for the whole year is 54°. San Francisco has a population of about 300, 000 (including some 40, 000Chinese), is the principal city of the State of California, and theprincipal commercial centre on the Pacific coast. I must not, however, dwell longer on this part of my journey. On Monday, December 8th, I leftSan Francisco with one of my clients, Mr. C. H. Huffman, for Merced, bythe 4 p. M train. The sun was shining gloriously, producing a charmingeffect upon the placid waters of the Bay and its beautiful surroundinghills. SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW ORLEANS. The train reached Merced at 10. 23 on Monday night, December 8th, 1890, where I was met, and in a spacious family buggy, drawn by a pair of goodhorses, I was very soon at the residence of my client, Mr. C. H. Huffman. The continuous day and night travelling by rail, and the taking ofvoluminous notes all along, had caused a constant excitement which toldupon the nerves, and for two days I felt as though I needed absoluterest, but, remembering that I had already been long absent from myoffice, I commenced my work at Merced the next morning. The town ofMerced is the capital of the county of that name; it is not many yearsold, but it has a striking difference to many new small towns I haveseen in the Colonies, in that it has several very good buildings andresidences. It has seven churches and chapels of various denominations, some good shops, medical men, society, schools, gas, water, electricity, and a station on the main Great Southern Pacific Railway. It isundoubtedly a town which must rapidly increase in value, for thisreason: My clients, Messrs. Crocker and Huffman, at a cost of some twomillion dollars, have tapped the Great Merced River 25 miles off, andbrought water down to the town and irrigated the country round. Theyhave formed a reservoir 640 acres in extent. Hitherto the rich landsaround the town of Merced have not been irrigated, and consequently werenot suitable for growing the Fruits for which California is so famous;but, now that a system of canals, formed by my clients, has irrigatedtheir estate, extending over some 50, 000 or 60, 000 acres, the whole ofthis great area is changed in value, and is available, and willeventually be used, for the production of choice Fruits. Thus, Mercedwill become a centre, like other parts of California, and, being so muchnearer than those other parts to San Francisco, will benefitadditionally by that advantage alone. Merced is only 152 miles from SanFrancisco, while Fresno is 207, Bakersfield 314, and Los Angeles, 483miles. It is rumoured that another line of railway will also be formedin connection with the present main line, and Merced would then be animportant railway junction. I drove out every day with Mr. Huffman, andinspected the country for some miles around the town, including theMerced River, 25 miles off. The land designated British Colony, is, atits commencement, only two miles from the Merced Railway Station, hotel, and shops. Mr. Huffman has a most comfortable residence, and hasexcellent stables, well filled with first-class buggy horses, so thattravelling was always an easy matter. Being a lay preacher in England, Itook advantage of offers made me, and preached on the Sunday I was atMerced in two of the churches at the morning and evening services. I left Merced on Tuesday night, December 16th, by the 10. 23 train, having stayed there eight days. I immediately "turned in, " and nextmorning (December 17th) was up as usual at 6. 30, and much enjoyed thesplendid scenery through which we were passing--in a mountainouscountry, grandly diversified with all the alternations of heights anddepths, lights and darks, rich and barren, including many evidences ofengineering skill--as we coursed along, now looking high up, now lookinglow down, and presently winding along the celebrated "loop, " describedas the "greatest engineering feat in the world, " by which the train goesthrough mountain passes, creeping along the tops of eminences, thenreturning, crosses under itself at a low level, then, ascending, crossesover itself at a higher level, so that in its meandering course you nowlook down at your side on the line you have just traversed, and anonlook up at your side at the line you are about to traverse. We passedthrough the Mojava (pronounced Moharvie) desert, where the yucca palm isplentiful. A fellow passenger, and old settler, enlivened the time bysome relations of his experiences thus: He once shot a grizzly bearwhich weighed 1, 500 lbs. Some are much larger than this. Everything ofweight in America is generally reckoned by pounds, not cwts. Or tons. Onanother occasion he slew a Californian lion. He had killed a bullock, and the carcase was hanging in his house at the back, where was anaperture like a small window without glass, and under this openingoutside stood an empty case. The lion scenting the carcase, and hearingno sound from within, approached the house, and was endeavouring tocreep through the aperture when, in its efforts to do so, it kicked thecase away, and the poor animal was stuck fast, having its head andshoulders inside. My fellow traveller, on returning home, was surprisedto find his visitor, and so despatched him with an axe, and has foryears used the skin, which is 9 feet 8 inches long. The temperature wascharming, although in the distance we could see the snow-cappedmountains. We run through the antelope valley, gather some juniperplant, see a skunk, see natural oil wells at Saugus, pass the head ofthe Santa Clara Valley, see the San Fernando mountains, go through thegreatest tunnel in America--the San Fernando tunnel, 6, 967 feet long, go by Burbank, where there is a land boom, and arrive at Los Angeles, where during the two hours of waiting I have a look at the town and apleasant chat with Mr. White Mortimer, the British Consul, whom I calledupon. The next day (December 18th) we were on the desert of Arizona, where we saw Indian camps at places which were somewhat oases as toplant life. Speaking generally, nothing grows on a great part of thisdesert but cactus, of which I am told there are some 200 varieties, fromthe dwarf kind to trees 40 feet high. This plant has a strange if not aweird appearance. Here and there, like solitary sentinels, stands out atall cactus, with perhaps two or three heads or branches, growingperpendicularly with itself. The mountains on either side look as ifthey had their origin in volcanic eruptions. Some parts of the desert are covered with a dwarf kind of evergreenshrub. We see large numbers of prairie dogs, which are of a size betweena rat and a rabbit; they live in holes like rabbits. There are alsogophers, skunks, prairie rats, rattlesnakes, and hawks, which feed onsnakes and rats. We pass tribes of Yuma Indians, Aztec Indians and Gila(pronounced Heela) Indians. On reaching a part where is some grass wesee some cattle, which are straying on the line; the engine whistleshrieks, the cattle run, and some coyote wolves are startled from theirlairs and run, too; large numbers are here, and the preceding nighttheir yells aroused some passengers from sleep. As we proceed, quail areseen, and wild cats something like a lynx. Arriving at Tucson(pronounced Tewsohn), I enquired for a gentleman to whom I had anintroduction, but learned that he was up at his gold mine. This Tucsonis an ancient city, having been founded by the Jesuits in 1560 A. D. Itdoes a large business in exporting gold dust, wool, and hides. I expectthat these mountains of Arizona contain much value in minerals. TheIndians in this part of the country are the Apaches, and were describedto me as the most treacherous of all the American Indians, that they arecowardly and will never fight in the open. A gentleman who entered thetrain at Tucson gave me many instances of this. In the evening we saw"cow-boys" round their fire camping out in the open, and also a camp offreighters resting on their journey across the desert. The next morningearly (December 19th) we arrived at El Paso, a most interesting Mexicantown situate on the borders of Old Mexico, New Mexico and Texas, where Ibought the skin of a Mexican tiger, and other things. In travelling for some days in a train continuously one feels the needof exercise, and this I obtained by getting in and out of many of therailway stations and walking up and down. Between San Francisco and NewOrleans there are 322 stations, and I should suppose the number ofstations on both the Northern and Southern routes I traversed wouldprobably amount to nearly 700. We are now commencing to cross the great plains of Texas. At first theplains are desert, with mountains skirting our view; the scenery is lessinteresting than the Arizona desert, because there are no cacti. Thisdesert has probably been under salt water at some time. The rocky hillsappear to have a volcanic origin. As we go on, we reach a poor kind ofpasture, growing out of a scrubby kind of shrub, with some occasionalcacti, many hills and mountains like barren rocks, with not a bird or ananimal to be seen. The weather has been warm since leaving Merced, butnow, so far south as we are, it is hot on this December day. I had readin the short telegrams given by American papers, that the winter wasvery severe in England, and I pictured often to myself, friends andclients in England muffled up amidst frost and snow, whilst I wasrevelling in glorious sunshine, so warm that no greatcoat could be worn. Had I returned by the route I went (the Northern Prairies), I might havebeen delayed by snow drifts, but by this, the Southern route, there wasno snow, but a continuous, cheerful, delightful sunshine, not too hotanywhere, but simply delightful. I should certainly recommend anyonegoing from England to California in the winter season, to go by theSouthern route. Amongst the objects of interest, we notice in thedistance a small herd of 14 wild antelope trotting along; cattle, coyotewolves, and, at many places, the well-picked bones of animals which haddropped dead, or, when weak, had been killed or eaten by carnivora orreptiles. We saw large numbers of prairie dogs; they sit outside theirholes like a squirrel, on their haunches, with their fore paws up; theyare very quick, and most difficult even to shoot. More antelopes andcoyotes. At a station called Alpine were several cowboys, all armed withrevolvers and cartridge belts, and some with dagger knives too; theirmustangs were hitched up close by. These cowboys are some old and someyoung men, some wild and some cultivated, some never educated, some havegone through Harvard, or Oxford, or Cambridge, some the sons of Englishcounty gentlemen and noblemen--but all cowboys, _i. E. , _ men who live onranches where large herds of cattle or horses are bred, and whose dutyit is to ride over the wild rough country to know where the herds ofcattle and horses are feeding, so that if they need to be ridden up forcutting or branding, or selling, they may be found. I was told that thiswas one of the "hardest" places for a cowboy, _i. E. , _ one of thewickedest, meaning that when they visit it, it is for a "spree, " andthey get drunk, and fights and murders follow. I was pointed to a littlecemetery on a hill, enclosed by a white fence, and was told that itcontained 150 bodies, and that only 50 had died a natural death; theothers had been shot or otherwise murdered in drunken frays and otherways. Many strange little histories were told me about these men, butwhich I have no time to record here. In some parts of the country wherewater was very scarce, there seemed to be no vegetation, and the cattleseemed to wander solitarily along, a mere heap of hide and bone. Atmany stations I had quite a considerable interval for running about, such as when a wheel caught fire, which happened two or three times, orsome freight had to be taken in, or taken out, etc. When the train againstarts, the conductors shout "All aboard, " and there is a general rush. The next day (December 20th) was again a brilliant day of sunshine; wesee many buzzards, and breakfast at San Antonio. The railway stationsalong this country have two roofs, one being two or three feet above theother, so that air between should keep the building cool. At breakfast, I read the San Antonio _Daily Express_, which informed me "severe stormsprevailed everywhere in Great Britain, " and my thoughts were naturallymuch occupied with the Old Country. The day was sultry, but sunshine isalways a great treat to me, and it was never too hot. Now we are running into civilization again, and I catch sight of a manploughing; he has a pair of mules, and is holding the reins in histeeth. As we proceed, it is a continuous succession of cotton fields, cotton fields, cotton fields. We see many bales; these weigh from 475 to600 lbs. Each. At a station called Sequin, I obtained lots of cottonseeds, and gathered some cotton in the fields as we went along. Thescavengers of this country are Turkey buzzards, which are protected bylaw because of their usefulness. I could not refrain from writing several times in my note-book, "glorious sunshine. " Hitherto we have had mountains continuously insight, but now they are out of vision. This being Saturday we seemarkets at the towns we go through; at Habwood and Flatonia especiallywas this noticeable. The population seemed almost altogether negro. Iobserved a negro and his wife, well dressed, riding on horseback in theold English pillion style; another negro and his wife, and about twelvechildren, in a capacious kind of wagon-buggy, and many negroes andnegresses, the latter dressed in white and gay colours, standing attheir pretty verandahed cottages. We now pass a spot where a train was stopped and the passengers robbedsome time ago, by Jesse and Frank Jeames and the Ford Brothers. The_modus operandi_ is for all the men to be secreted but one, who standson the line holding up a red flag which indicates danger; the engineerthen stops and the men spring aboard; some hold revolvers to the headsof the engineers, and others go through the train and rob thepassengers. The robbers shout out "hands up, " and one man points hisweapon at the passenger's head, whilst another rifles his pockets. If apassenger fails to hold up his hands he is shot down. A passenger on theNorthern Prairies told me of a fellow passenger, who under suchcircumstances having a revolver, aimed at a robber and pulled thetrigger, but it missed fire, and he was instantly shot down. But theseattacks are now more rare, and the officials are more prepared for them. Sometimes the robbers get on board the train as passengers, and actsuddenly in concert. All along the country now we pass the cabins of theslaves, familiarised to us by "Uncle Tom's Cabin. " These cabins arepleasant little houses with verandahs, and I reflected how favourablythey compared with the "homes" of many of the London poor, and how happythe slaves might have been but for the knowledge that at any time theywere liable to be sold like a mule or a bullock. Now we pass sugar, cotton and rice plantations, and go through such cultivations allthrough Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. I gathered sugar and cotton going along atplaces, saw a racoon in a stream fishing for crawfish, and go through acountry, in which are plenty of alligators. On the early morning of Sunday (December 21st), we go through swamps, such as we used to read of as the hiding-places of runaway slaves. Allthrough these Southern States we saw everywhere sugar and cotton, sugarand cotton, sugar and cotton; these, with rice, are the principalproducts; sugar mills, cotton yards, etc. , etc. We soon reach Algiers, and cross the grand Mississippi River, then land at New Orleans. Theactual city of New Orleans covers an area of about 41 square miles, butthe statutory limits of the city embrace nearly 150 square miles. It issituate on both banks of the Mississippi River, and from 1, 000 to 1, 500steamers and other vessels, from all parts of the world, may frequentlybe seen lying there. New Orleans is the chief market in the world forcotton. The site of the city was surveyed in 1717 by De la Tour, and itwas settled in 1718, but abandoned in consequence of overflows, storms, and sickness; it was resettled in 1723, held by the French till 1729, then by the Spaniards till 1801, by the French again till 1803, andthen, with the Province of Louisiana, was ceded to the United States. The present population is about 250, 000. There are 33 cemeteries, andthey are remarkable, inasmuch as the bodies are buried above ground, invaults like tiers of ovens; the ground is too wet for burial. I attendedTrinity Church in the morning, had some black bear for dinner at myhotel, the "Hotel St. Charles, " and then attended the Y. M. C. A. , where Igave the address in the afternoon, which was followed by a very solemnafter meeting. I went to bed very early, and was up very early the nextmorning (Monday, December 22nd). I had to draw the mosquito curtains inthe night, but not till after some of these insects had left their mark. The principal ground floor of the hotel was on the first floor level, and the actual ground floor was of secondary importance; the front partwas occupied by stone steps and a colonnade, and the rear was a liquorbar and a large hall. This hall used to be one of the principal auctionrooms of the city, where slaves were sold by auction; and as I enteredthe now rather desolate-looking place, which is partly circular inshape and constructed with many pillar supports, I pictured to myselfthe emotional agonies, the tempests of passion, the lust of greed, thecalm, subdued, resistless attitude of despair which at times foundexpression, as domestic circles were for ever broken, tenderestsympathies for ever sundered, closest friendships for everseparated--yea, even the most sacred relationships of life ruthlesslyshattered, by the sale of mothers or fathers, brothers or sisters, wivesor husbands, sweethearts or friends. Of this I will give just twoillustrations: Our porter on the train crossing the Northern Prairieswas a coloured man named Farrell; he told me that his mother had sevenboys, and that they were all sold away from her, and that it had beenhis life-work to try to find his brothers. He had shipped to Australiaas a seaman, had worked in hotels, and on wharves and rivers, and nowwas working on the railway cars endeavouring to find his brothers; hehad advertised for them in the newspapers, but he had never heard of oneof them. When this family was broken up, Farrell and his brothers wereonly boys; for it will be remembered that the date of the officialannouncement of the total abolition of slavery in the United States wasmade on the 18th December, 1862, when upwards of 4, 000, 000 slaves werelegally declared free men. Another coloured man engaged at this hotel, who was born a slave, remembered walking with his father, who was also aslave, and his father's anxiety to get home before nine o'clock atnight, as no coloured man was allowed to be in the streets after thathour unless he possessed a sufficient authority from his owner. This mantold me that at an auction of slaves at this hotel (auctions of slaveswere held in New Orleans at different places three times a week) a veryfine intelligent young man was sold by auction for 2, 100 dollars to alawyer who was known to be a cruel man. My informant told me that hisname was--well, it sounded like Rumo, possibly Roumeaux, as most of thewealthy settlers were of French origin, that he lived in St. James'Ward, and that when he bought slaves and sent them down to hisplantations, they each received twenty-five lashes as they entered hisgates, as an example, of what they would receive if they did not pleasehim. Well, when the hammer fell and this slave knew that he belonged toan owner whose cruelty was common talk, he exclaimed, "You have lostyour money. " This slave was sent down with others to the steamer on theMississippi (which is only some ten minutes' walk from the hotel), forshipment to this owner's plantations. The poor fellow was not evenallowed to say good-bye to his people, but was sent on board. When hearrived there, he repeated to the man in charge of the slaves, "Mr. Rumowill lose his money, " and shortly after he took advantage of afavourable moment, and, folding his arms, he threw himself backward intothe river, and was drowned. A few minutes' walk from my hotel is the Henry Clay monument, where themob was addressed last month by Mr. Parkerson, who incited them toproceed to the prison and force an entrance, and then to take the livesof a number of Italian murderers by lynch law. On this monument somememorable words are inscribed which Mr. Clay uttered, and which Tcopied. They are as follows:--"If I could be instrumental in eradicatingthis deep stain, slavery, from the character of our country, I would notexchange the proud satisfaction which I should enjoy for the honour ofall the triumphs ever decreed to the most successful conqueror. " Thatdeep stain was removed in 1862, and slaves were raised from thecondition of cattle to that of men, who could thenceforward rejoice inthe freedom of being masters of their own bodies. NEW ORLEANS TO LONDON. On leaving New Orleans we run through swamps, and presently skirt theGulf of Mexico and travel on. The next day (December 23rd), we feel itperceptibly colder, for we are going north. The country is cultivated insugar, cotton, rice, grass, etc. We breakfast at Atlanta, and afterleaving that place, the scenery puts me more in mind of England. Ingoing through Georgia, I was told that the same black families which nowoccupy many of the small wooden houses, or "cabins, " which I see, arethe same families who occupied them before the abolition of slavery. Although many slaves suffered cruelties through enforced separations andhard treatment, yet very many had most comfortable homes, consideratemasters, and light work. I sat much during this day on the platform atthe end of the end car, observing the country. At one station somelittle black urchins came to gaze, and I said to one boy, apparentlyseven years old, "What is your name?" He said, "Willie Matthews. " Isaid, "How old are you? " He said, "I ain't old enough to know how old Iare. " And his genuine simplicity delighted me. We are now passing through cultivated lands, farms, and estates, andthese continue right on to New York. At Greers was a very largecollection of cotton. At Spartanville are large cotton mills, such asone sees in Lancashire. The next day (December 24th), we notice ice onthe ponds. We cross the Potomac River, and near Washington, sight theCapitol--or, as we should say in England, the Houses of Parliament. Washington City is the political capital of the United States. Its sizeis about 4-1/2 miles by 2-1/2 miles. The Capitol is described by theAmericans as the most magnificent public edifice in the world. It is 352feet long and 121 feet deep, with two wings each 238 by 140 feet. Itsentire length is 751 feet 4 inches, and it covers an area of more than3-1/2 acres. It is of costly construction, and stands in grounds ofabout 50 acres. We proceed, and stop at Baltimore, cross the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers, again come near the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers, various smallerrivers, and run on until we reach New York. On arrival, I immediatelywent to the Cunard office and secured my berth in the "Servia. " The nextmorning (Christmas Day), it was very cold, and snowing. I had a fire litin my bed-room, and there wrote the article which appeared in theJanuary _Land Roll_. In the afternoon I walked in the Central Park, butit was so bitterly cold, I was satisfied with less than two hours ofexercise, and returned to the hotel to dinner, and finished up the daywriting in my bed-room till midnight. The Central Park, in genialweather, would be an attractive resort. I observed large natural rocks, lawns, wide promenades, seats, lakes, menageries, swings, and varioussuch like attractions for juveniles, overground and underground roads--akind of "Rotten Row, " &c. , but being so cold scarcely a person was to beseen. On December 26th, New York was deep in snow. I visited a few shops forsome necessaries, and went on board the "Servia" during the afternoon, thinking that I might have difficulty in getting a cabman to drive tothe docks after dark if the snow drifted deeply. New York City is themetropolis of the United States. In 1880 its population was 1, 206, 590. Its site was discovered in 1524. It was in 1609 that Hudson, anEnglishman, ascended the river which was named after him. In 1614 someDutchmen settled there. In 1648 its population was 1, 000, and in 1700 ithad increased to 6, 000. In 1684 it was captured by the Duke of York, andwas henceforth called "New York. " In 1711 a slave market was establishedin Wall Street. On December 27th, about 5 o'clock in the morning, we began to clear outof the dock, and in a few hours were again on the broad Atlantic. Thenext day (Sunday, December 28th), we had service on board, conducted bythe doctor in the saloon: all on board not actually on duty may attend. We left New York in a blizzard, and our decks were coated with frost andsnow, but after two days this was all cleared away, and we had asplendid run in genial weather, so that one day I could comfortably walkon deck without a greatcoat. Our run was--from Sandy Hook Lighthouse (45 miles) to noon of December28th, 373 miles; noon of December 29th, 379 miles; December 30th, 375miles; December 31st, 878 miles; January 1st, 1891, 372 miles; January2nd, 362 miles; January 3rd, 371 miles; thence, to Queenstown, 169miles; and from Queenstown to Liverpool, 240 miles; making a total of3, 064 miles. The passage in the "Etruria, " going out, was 3, 062 miles. The "Servia" is a fine ship, but much older than the "Etruria, " and herengines, consequently, are not capable of the speed of a newer vessel. Her cargo capacity is 6, 500 tons, with 1, 800 tons of coal and 1, 000 tonsof water ballast. Her horse-power is equal to 10, 500. The saloon is 74by 49 feet, and is capable of seating 350 persons. The "Servia" hascabin accommodation for 500 saloon and 600 steerage passengers, besidesa crew of 200 officers and men. When there are more than 350 saloonpassengers, each meal has to be served in two relays. An interesting incident occurred during the passage: I discovered thatour captain (now commanding the "Aurania") was a shipmate of mine in1855, when I was a midshipman. I reached my office in Lincoln's InnFields at 8 o'clock on the morning of January 5th, having been absentjust about six weeks. The distances were as follows:-- Liverpool to New York 3, 062 miles. New York to Chicago 913 " Chicago to Council Bluffs 488 " Council Bluffs to San Francisco 1, 867 " San Francisco to Merced 152 " Merced to New Orleans 2, 344 " New Orleans to Washington 1, 144 " Washington to New York 228 " New York to Liverpool 3, 064 " London to Liverpool 201 " Liverpool to London 201 " Journeys in buggies, tram-cars, &c. 110 " -------- 13, 774 " I must conclude with some general remarks:-- The _Times_ recently published a series of ten articles on the "NegroQuestion in the United States, " and from them it appears that theposition of that country is very serious in this relation. Thesearticles commenced after I had started on my journey, so that I only sawone or two of the concluding ones and the _Times_ leader upon the whole, but I was not surprised to see them, because in passing through theStates which are principally peopled by negroes, I heard somethingabout the matter from a thoughtful man, who regarded the subject withgreat gravity. The _Times_ has shown that the attitude of one race tothe other is that of "antagonism, discontent, and perpetual danger. " The negroes have the same constitutional privileges as the whites, andtheir overpowering numbers in certain places give the power into theirhands, which, regarded in relation to racial hatred, renders them to bean object of danger to the country. It is proposed to emigrate thenegroes to some part of Africa. It would be more consistent for certainAmericans to interest themselves in solving this problem of their ownrather than encouraging Irish agitators, and so assisting to preventEngland solving her dark problem across St. George's Channel. The proportion of coloured people to white in the three states ofGeorgia, Louisiana, and Alabama, is about equal, that is, there are asmany coloured people as white. The population of coloured peoplethroughout the whole of the United States is about 7, 000, 000 of colouredpeople to 59, 000, 000 of white people, but it is a sad fact, as stated inthe _Times_ of March 7th last, that a Government return, dated June1st, 1890, showed that there were 45, 233 convicts in the prisons of theUnited States, and that of this number no less than 14, 687, or one-thirdwere coloured people, and that out of these coloured people only 237were Chinese, 3 Japanese, and 180 Indians, so that 14, 267 were negroes. As the whites, counting all the States, are eight times as numerous asthe coloured people, and yet the coloured convicts are one-third of thewhole, it speaks badly for the morals of the negro race in America. I was much struck with the immense development of electricity. Steamers, railway carriages, tramcars, hotels, shops, towns, villages, and railwaystations, even those in remote places, with scarcely a building near tothem, were all well lighted by electricity. Railways run on scaffoldings down the centre of the streets, and horseswith their vehicles run underneath them. The railway trains are wellheated throughout by hot water pipes (every class), and reflect a gravereproach on our country, where, in the severest weather, it is difficultto get a foot warmer, except by certain main line trains, and, eventhen, one is expected to "tip" the attendant. Poor persons travelling inthin garments and poorly fed, in severe weather, scarcely ever dare toask for a foot warmer unless they are prepared to fee someone, and, whether rich or poor, no one can get a foot warmer at any of our countrystations. When we consider that railways originated in this country, andthat some of the parts of America I passed through were, some 50, some40, and some even 30 years ago, only known to the trapper and theIndian, it shows the increase of enterprise exhibited by our cousinsover the Atlantic. Tramcars are worked by electricity, by steam, by horses and mules, andby revolving endless cables. Telephones are everywhere. The railwayjourneys in America often occupying several days, the tickets are a kindof succession of coupons, parts of which have to be given up at variousstages. Caution is exercised in selling railway tickets for longjourneys--thus, you are required to sign the ticket, and observationsare made of you, such as your height, probable age, colour of your eyes, hair, etc. Some of the lines of railway are not fenced in, not even intowns, so that the train runs through a town as openly as does anomnibus. I may convey some idea of some of the large American systemsof agriculture, by referring to the estate of one of my clients, Mr. C. H. Huffman, of Merced, California. This gentleman has fields rangingfrom 1, 000 to 15, 000 acres each. He can plough 400 to 500 acres a day. By his traction engine he can strike 12 furrows at a time. He can put 70teams (of eight mules or horses each) to work at one time. Eachharvester will cut, thrash, and sack an average of 50 acres a day. Thefront part of the machine faces the standing wheat in the field, in thecentre of the machine it is thrashed and winnowed, and at the rear it isthrown out in sacks ready for market. Mr. Huffman can sit in his studyat home, and by his telephone talk to his clerks at Merced (he is thebanker there), as well as to the foremen at his various ranches for 25miles round the country. I particularly noticed one of his fields ofwheat, comprising 2, 000 acres, as level and clean as a well-kept lady'sflower garden in England. The Americans have a greater variety of foods served at their meals thanwe do, but I never got the flavour of meat cut from a joint to equalthat which, when really well roasted and served, we get in England. Asto bread, I never tasted bread worth the name, from the time I leftLondon to the time I returned to it. Alike on the Cunard steamers, cars, hotels, etc. , you can get no wholemeal bread. French and Vienna breads, and other very white abortions of that kind are obtainable in abundance, and even a kind of brown bread, and "Graham's" bread, but good honestwholemeal bread, containing all the properties of the full kernel of thewheat, it is impossible to get, and this to me was a very greatdeprivation, as my _principal_ article of food is _real_ wholemealbread. The system of the custody of letters at the large American hotelsappeared to me rather unsafe. A visitor asks for letters, whereuponthere are handed to him all the letters in the pigeon-hole marked withthe initial of which the visitor's name commences. The visitor thenproceeds to look through them, and takes what he chooses, and hands therest back. The official is too busy, or it is not customary for him, tolook through them for the visitor, or even to watch the visitor in hisprocess of selection. I noticed one gentleman with a packet of letters, I should think considerably over a hundred, every now and then slip oneinto his breast pocket and give a furtive glance, which did not inspireconfidence, but probably this is a well accustomed habit of the people, and the letters, perhaps, are as safe as the newspapers I frequently sawdeposited on the tops of the street letter boxes (outside the boxes), because they were too large to be put inside; of course anyone couldhave taken them, but the custom not to touch them is probably honourablyrecognized. The street letter boxes are quite small square boxes, notlarge pillar boxes as are ours in this country. I should like to have remarked more generally on America, but both timeand space fail me. Of course, as most people know, the (to us)disgusting practice of spitting is common in America; spittoons areuniversally provided in public and private places. At Merced Court Houseis this notice: "Gentlemen will not, and others should not spit upon thefloors. " Huge spittoons are provided there. The awful guttural which precedes the constant expectoration ofAmericans is most trying. It excites in persons near them and who areunaccustomed to it, a sensation of necessity to vomit, as it conveys afear that your neighbour is about to vomit over you. It is not theexcusable expectoration arising from an accumalation in the airpassages, but a continuous fusilade of saliva. It is a disgustingpractice, and I believe will die out in America as its citizens travelmore in the old countries and become used to manners more refined thansuch a one as this. I observed that my clients in California, who havetravelled in Europe, and other travelled Americans, are not guilty ofthis odious practice. I would say to Englishmen travelling in America, don't condescend to the"guessing" and other loose styles of expression, and don't affect thenasal twang. Americans, with all their boast of one man being as good asanother, are greatly pleased to entertain or travel with Englishmenhaving a title, and they pay a marked respect to Britishers who speak ina classical style, and who, while being devoid of foppishness, bounce, or vulgarity, conduct themselves with a genial dignity. =California. = I will now say something about California, and then proceed to describethe lands for sale, and the prospects of those who will settle uponthem. California lies on the genial coast of the Pacific Ocean, midway betweenthe too cold regions of the North and the too hot regions of the South. To be exact, the mean temperature in San Francisco in the month ofJanuary, averages about 49°. It has varied from 53° to 39°. The recordof 32 years shows that between sunrise and sunset it has not been so lowas 32° on more than 10 days. Snow is sometimes seen to fall, but itmelts immediately. California has a bright, genial climate, and is described as"pre-eminently a sunny land. " The early spring, commencing about themiddle of February and lasting about six weeks, is a very pleasant partof the year, but April is described as the "cheeriest. " December andJanuary are the least pleasant, because it is the rainy and winterseason. Thunderstorms are rare, and no hurricane has ever been known there. Therainfall of California is about twenty inches, and the rainy days numberabout sixty in the year, or about half the number of rainy daysexperienced in the Atlantic States or Central Europe. Amongst the fruits grown in abundance are the orange, grape, peach, apricot, plum, cherry, apple, nectarine, fig, lemon, lime, olive, date, and all the berries of value. Besides the immense growth of choice and luscious Fruits, for whichCalifornia is famous all over the globe, it claims to have the largestmilk, butter, and cheese dairies in the world. It is also renowned forits mineral riches, its immense mercantile business, its manufacturingindustries, its production of wool, its gigantic timber, its wealth ofbeauty in flowers, its fast horses, its grand scenery, embracing loftymountains, deep valleys, expansive fertile plains, and all thevariations of a beautiful country, with many rivers, and a magnificentsea coast, whilst the "coast range" and the slopes of the "Sierra" offerto the sportsman such game in abundance as grizzly and cinnamon bearsand Californian lions. There are also deer, hare, rabbit, quail, largeflocks of wild ducks and geese, and the rivers afford such fish assalmon and trout, and the deep sea splendid fishing. San Francisco has been called "a city of 100 hills. " It has a populationof nearly 300, 000 inhabitants, amongst whom are no less than 50_millionaires_. Its harbour is known all over the globe as the "GoldenGate, " and it has answered well to its name, for an entrance to its vastresources has made the fortune of multitudes of people, and many goingthere now are laying the foundations for future wealth. The lands of California have the two essentials for successfulculture--a rich soil and genial climate, with plenty of sun, yet nevertoo hot and never too cold for out-door work, and most of its domesticanimals are never housed, and require no food but wild herbage. FRUIT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. Our lands at Merced, in California, offer to gentlemen wishing to make afirst or a fresh start in life a really good opportunity. It isdifficult to conceive how men with energy, enterprise, and a littlecapital, can be content to sit in an office in foggy, blocked-upLondon, "quill driving" from year's end to year's end, when a prospectis afforded them, such as we now offer, of establishing a pleasant homein a luxurious land, with a sunny, genial climate, and within about afortnight's travel of England, and where they would have the liberty ofbeing their own masters, and lay the foundation of a future competency. CURRENCY. As the currency in California is dollars, not pounds, we must ask ourreaders to accustom themselves to dollars. A dollar is 100 cents, and, roughly speaking, a cent is equivalent to a halfpenny, so that a dollarwould be worth, of our money, four shillings and twopence. Its value, however, varies a few cents according to the place where it isexchanged. Bank of England notes or pounds are never worth less thanfour shillings and twopence, _i. E. , _ 480 cents or halfpennies, which, ofcourse, is four dollars and 80 cents, there being 100 cents in a dollar. The decimal currency is extremely simple when once understood. Neverless than 4. 80 is given for an English pound, but sometimes 4. 82 and4. 85 is obtained. MERCED. The lands I have for sale are situate in the County of Merced, inCalifornia, about 150 miles by rail from the City of San Francisco, Theyare designated "British Colony, " and at the nearest point are just onemile from the boundary of the town of Merced, and two miles from therailway station, hotel, shops, etc. Merced town is lighted by gas andelectricity, has water laid on, telephones, telegraphs, Court House, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church, South Methodist Church, Baptist Church, and CatholicChurch, two schools, shops of various kinds; two railroads, the main onerunning up to San Francisco, and down to Los Angeles and on to NewOrleans, etc. , and the other, a branch line to Stockton, Sacramento, etc. Merced is 175 feet above the level of the sea; it is a pleasantlittle town, affords some congenial society, and I firmly believe will, before many years have passed, become an important centre, because myclients have brought water from the Merced River more than twenty milesoff, by a system of canals, and have formed a reservoir of 640 acres inextent, with an average depth of 30 feet, and thus have given facilitiesfor irrigating the country round the town. It is certain to become agreat Fruit-growing district, as its soil is so fully adapted for thepurpose. It is much nearer to San Francisco than Los Angeles, and isnearer also than Fresno and other districts which have already madethemselves a name for Fruit culture. The country around Merced has a natural fall, and is drained by manycreeks, which are dry in summer, but contain more or less water inwinter. THE LANDS FOR SALE. Merced is situated in the celebrated San Joaquin Valley (pronounced SanWharkeen), which is an immense level of fertile land, the soil generallybeing of a rich sandy loam, but in some districts, such as that I am nowoffering for sale, of a deep rich black loam of a highly productivenature, in fact, it is the decomposed vegetation and alluvial depositsof past ages, than which nothing could be more fertile. We have goodevidence that the land is especially suited for the production ofprunes, apricots, pears, peaches, olives, plums, small Fruit, such asstrawberries, blackberries, sweet and common potatoes, garden stuff, andalfalfa. Alfalfa (or lucerne) is a great crop in America in places wherethere are no old meadow lands for the cows. The land is, of course, suited for all cereal crops, too. All the Fruits named can be dried inthe sun without artificial heat. The lands are about 160 to 165 feet above the level of the sea, and, incommon with all the country round, they command a view on the one sideof the grand snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains, and on the other ofthe mountains known as the Coast Range. Immense flocks of wild geese andducks (principally geese), are often on the land. There are also"rabbits" on the land (so called), but they more resemble hares in theirsize and habits and run. There are some excellent Fruit orchards and gardens at Merced. In thegrounds around the Court House are some very fine orange trees, full offruit, and also in the gardens of private residents. One gentlemankindly sent a bough of oranges, and other gentlemen sent other Fruits, which may be seen at our offices. At the Buhach Colony, near the townof Merced, are extensive orchards of Californian Fruits. Mr. Atwater'sgardens and orchard, a few miles from the town, are worth inspection. Hehas two magnificent olive trees, nine or ten years' old, which bearheavy crops, and which are used for the production of olive oil; hisvineyard and orange orchard, his lemon and persimmon trees, all lookvery prosperous. He would gladly show any settler how he has cultivatedthem. He has a corn and stock farm, and has only gradually cultivatedthese Fruits, which occupy some eleven acres. PRICE OF THE LAND. The prices of the land for sale are 75, and 100, and 150 dollars peracre, according to position. Two-thirds of the purchase-money may remainon mortgage as long as the interest is paid at 8 per cent, per annum, which is the lowest interest payable in California. The mortgagor isliable to the Government for the taxes, which amount to 1-1/2 to 2 percent, per annum, so that he would really only receive 6 to 6-1/2 percent, interest. All mortgages are publicly recorded, and so theproperty is vested in the mortgagor till he is paid off, and when thatis done it also is publicly recorded. These taxes embrace all known tous in England as rates and taxes, except a road tax of 2 dollars a headper annum, chargeable to every male over twenty-one years of age. Thistax may be paid for in labour on the road if desired. A free conveyancewill be given, but the cost of recording the transaction in the countyoffice (there is no stamp duty), about 1-1/2 dollars, must be paid bythe purchaser. The recording of a mortgage would probably be 3-1/4dollars because it is longer. The record is a public acknowledgment ofthe title of the owner to the land made in the county books. Foreigners can hold freehold property in California, but they have noright to vote--indeed, they would have no right to vote until they hadresided five years in the country, and had become naturalized; then aresident has before him the possibility of becoming Governor of theState to which he belongs, or, indeed, Secretary of the Interior, whichcorresponds with the position of the Premier in England. AMERICAN SURVEYS. According to the American surveys the country is arranged in squares, asshown on all the maps. A "section" is a square mile, or 640 acres. A"township" is 36 sections, _i. E. , _ six miles on each of its four sides. A quarter section is 160 acres, and the lands are so arranged that aroadway is reserved around each quarter section 60 feet wide, and theland for such roadway is taken from each side, so that each owner has tocontribute 30 feet to such road, and, of course, he has the benefit ofthe frontage to it. A 20 acre lot would be an eighth of a quartersection. On some of the lots for sale at "British Colony, " are one ortwo houses and some buildings. These may be purchased thus: One houseand buildings, 1, 000 dollars; another house and buildings, 1, 000dollars; another house and buildings (N. E. ), 600 dollars; but if onepurchaser bought four lots of 20 acres, each adjoining so that one houseand buildings should come near the centre, then such house and buildingswould be given in. SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF FRUIT CULTURE. Few settlers would have the requisite special knowledge of Fruit culturewithout some instruction, and, therefore, the owners of the land haveengaged the services of Professor Eisen, at a fixed salary, so that allsettlers on their lands may have the benefit of the Professor'sinstruction, _free of charge_. Professor Eisen is well known as aspecialist in horticulture in California. He has just published a bookon the raisin industry in California, which may be seen at our offices. The culture of grapes for raisins, and plums for prunes, would beremarkably successful on the lands for sale. CANNED FRUITS. Wholesale buyers come round the country to buy the Fruit crops while onthe trees. An enormous trade is done in America in canned Fruits; thehotels, steamers, railway cars, and private families use them largely atall meals, and America itself seems to be a sufficient market for agesto come for all the Fruit and vegetables its State of California canproduce. ESTIMATES. How to start with a capital of 20, 000 dols. dols. 80 acres of land, 12, 000 dols. , half cost 6, 000 Trees, such as orange, olive, fruit, etc. 2, 000 House and barn 2, 500 Horses 400 Cow 50 Poultry 25 Furniture, etc. 600 Waggon, tools, etc. 400 Labour, per year, 3 men, etc. , for, 3 years, including living 4, 000 Interest on 6, 000 dols. At 8%--480 dols. Per year, 3 years 1, 440 ------ dols. 17, 415 Leaving a balance of 2, 585 dols. For first payment of land, or for otherimprovements and unforeseen expenses. Profit the fourth year should be about 4, 000 to 5000 dols. At thelowest. How to start with a capital of 10, 000 dols. , i. E. , say £2, 000. dols. Dols. 40 acres of land . . . . . . . . 6, 000 House and barn . . . . . . . . 1, 200 Well and pump . . . . . . . . 100 Horses . . . . . . . . 200 Waggon and tools . . . . . . . . 350 Furniture, etc . . . . . . . . 500 Cow . . . . . . . . 50 Trees, etc. . . . . . . . . 1, 200 Seed, etc. . . . . . . . . 100 . . . . . . . . ---- 9, 700 Living one year, etc. ; incidentals . . 300 . . . . . . . . ----- dols. 10, 000 PROFITS. dols. Dols. _First year_. --Land between the trees, cultivated in potatoes, vegetables, etc. . . . . . . . . 500 Poultry, eggs, etc. . . . . . . . . 150 --- 650 (Eggs and poultry pay for groceries. Many families are doing this now. ) dols. Dols. _Second year_. --The same as above . . 650 _Third year_. --The same as above . . 650 Yield from Fruit, 10 dols. Per acre . . 400 ---- 1, 050 _Fourth year_. --The same from poultry, etc. 650 From Fruit trees, 50 dols. Per acre . . 2, 000 ---- 2, 650 _Fifth year_. --The orchard is now in good bearing, and should pay from 100 to 250 dols. Per acre; say the lowest . . 4, 000 (No time to attend to any but Fruit trees unless a man is employed, soonly the return of Fruit trees is given). _Sixth year_. --The orchard now pays, if properly attended to, from 150 to 350 dols. Per acre; say the lowest . . 6, 000 _Seventh year_. --The orchard pays, if properly cared for, from 200 to 450 dols. Per acre; say the lowest . . 8, 000 This clear after expenses have been deducted. The farmer can take careof 20 acres himself, with occasional help. With 40 acres he requires oneman more, his son or hired help. The first three years he will only make his living ordinarily so; afterthat time he will make money. Poultry, and vegetables should, duringthe first year pay for all expenses at least, and in many instancesleave a large surplus. All this depends upon the capacity of thesettler. With good land such as this 100 dollars or more could be madefrom vegetables the first season by a capable and experienced man. Atleast it has been done repeatedly. If poultry is properly cared for, a family will make its living byselling eggs and chickens until the trees come in bearing. =How to start with a capital of 8, 000 dols. , i. E. , say £1, 600. = dols. Land, 40 acres, 6, 000 dols. , half cost. . . . 3, 000 House and barn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 500 Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Cows and chickens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Waggon and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Sundries, tools, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 Trees, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 200 Well and pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Or windmill and tank . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Interest on 3, 000 dols. At 8 % for three years . . 780 Sundries for living, etc. . . . . . . . . . . 295 ----- dols. 8, 000 The fourth and fifth years there should be a gross profit of at least 2, 650 dols. A year, enough to pay for the balance due on land. How to start with, a capital of 5, 000 dols. , i. E. , say £1, 000. dols. Land, 20 acres, 3, 000 dols. , half cost . . . . 1, 500 House and barn, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 000 Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Cow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Household furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Waggon and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Well and pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 (If tank and windmill required, from 250 dols. Upwards extra). Seed, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Sundry expenses and chickens . . . . . . . . 300 Interest for three years on balance of land at 8% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 Capital on hand to pay for part of the land. . 840 ----- dols. 5, 300 What some people have started with, and come out all right. dols. Dols. Land, 3, 000 dols. , cash, balance credit 1000 House and barn 500 Horses 150 Cow 50 Poultry 25 ___ 225 Provisions, sundries, etc 100 Furniture and tools 150 Sundry expenses 100 Waggon and horses 150 _____ dols. 2, 225 But ordinarily, this is too little, as the planting of the land cannotbe proceeded with at once, and work must be procured among theneighbours, etc. The estimates, were furnished us by Professor Eisen, who remarked that, probably, in giving estimates all persons would vary somewhat, butthese, and other estimates which he gave, are really more thanestimates, because they are the actual results of past experiences. PROFESSOR EISEN'S OPINION. Received January 20th, 1891. Professor Eisen writes:--"I am of opinion that these lands (BritishColony, Merced) are amongst the very best in the State for raisins;still, as I explained to you, I do not advise any one to put his wholeinterest in the raisin industry, as the market for this Fruit islimited. For other dried fruit, especially for prunes (French plums), apricots, peaches, and nectarines, the market is practically unlimited, and as our population increases yearly 1, 500, 000 people, it will be seenthat our markets must extend as well, even after we have driven allforeign Fruits out of our home markets. As regards the adaptability ofthe land of British Colony for various Fruits, I can say that they areespecially adapted to the prune (French plums) and peaches for dryingand canning, olives for olive oil and pickling; also for oranges. Youcan see how the orange thrives in the city of Merced and surroundings, or in localities exactly like those of British Colony lands, and therecan be no doubt that oranges and lemons will prove very profitable inBritish Colony. Olives will especially do well there. The British Colonylands I consider as exceptionally rich and fertile, and there are few, if any, equal to them in this State or anywhere else. " PRICE OF FRUIT TREES. The prices in California of young Fruit trees for planting, for theseason 1890-91, are given as follows:-- dols. Prunes (like French plums) 25 to 30 per 100 Plums and other prunes 15 " Apricots 20 " Peaches, from 15 to 17. 50 " Olives (layers) 20 " Olives, grafted 40 to 60 " Pears 18 " Oranges, best kinds 70 to 100 " Shade trees 50 " Grape-vines (raisins) 12 " Persimmons 15 " Walnuts, from 15 to 35 " WHEN FRUIT TREES PAY. The Fruit trees enumerated above would begin to bear the second year, but only the fourth year would they bear any considerable amount; thefifth and sixth years they would come into good bearing, and should thenyield a profit of, say, from 100 to 350 dollars per acre. At seven yearsthe orchard should be in full bearing, and never yield less than 150, and, possibly, 450 dollars per acre. Instances have been known whenprunes, peaches, and pears have produced from 750 to 1, 500 dollars peracre clear profit. POSITION OF A SETTLER. The position of a settler, then, is that for the first three years hecannot depend upon his crop of Fruit to maintain him, but must eitherhave sufficient capital to support him during that time, or else earnhis living in some other way. To be idle, and live on capital, wouldnot, of course, suit any man who meant to succeed, and therefore hewould fill up his time in cultivating garden and poultry produce, forwhich there is always a demand, or in getting some occasionalemployment. COST OF BOARD AND LODGING. At Merced railway station is a very large hotel, and the cost of boardand lodging for emigrants is only 25 dollars, _i. E. , _ say, £5 per month;to usual visitors it is 60 dollars a month. RAISIN CULTURE. The _Pacific Rural Press_, referring to the raisin vineyards in the SanJoaquin Valley, California, states:-- "What is especially interesting to the home-seeker in connection withthis information, is the fact that everyone of these vineyardists isprosperous. No other horticultural industry is so profitable as theculture of the raisin grape, in no other is the work so pleasant, and noother yields a return so quickly. " An acre of Muscat vines in full bearing will yield from two to threetons of grapes on good heavy soil. At 5-1/2 cents a pound in thesweat-box, this means from 225 to 325 dollars per acre, gross. Numerousinstances are known, however, where the yield of an acre of Muscatsamounted to as much as 450 dollars, this being the result of carefulcultivation and favourable circumstances. Some grapes are borne on thevines when they are one-year old, while two-year old's have been knownto bear a crop. At three years the vines pay the expenses and intereston the money invested, and at four years from planting they bring thefirst large paying crop. The _Merced Argus_ says of raisin culture:-- "One of the great charms of raisin culture is the extreme simplicity ofits operations. WHAT CAN BE MORE SIMPLE than to pick a bunch of Muscatgrapes from the vine, and lay it on the ground. In six days the bunch ofgrapes, without being meanwhile touched, has assumed the appearance of abunch of raisins, and has flattened out as if it had been pressed. It isthen carefully turned over, so as to expose the underside to the directaction of the sun. In eight days more it is a perfect bunch of raisins, and no act of man can improve it even in appearance. All the operationsof fancy packing are so simple, that a child may learn them in a day. Asingle acre of raisin vines in a Merced Colony lot means handfuls ofbright, golden double eagles to the bright-eyed children of the Mercedfarmer in the near future. _Harper's Magazine_ for January, 1891, contains an article onCalifornia, which all persons interested in that State would do well toread. I extract a few statements:-- IRRIGATION. "A piece of land at Riverside, below the flow of water, was worth 300dollars an acre. Contiguous to it was another piece not irrigated, whichwould not sell for 50 dollars an acre. By bringing water to it, it wouldquickly sell for 300 dollars, thus adding 250 dollars to its value. Asthe estimate at River side is that one inch of water will irrigate fiveacres of Fruit land, five times 250 dollars would be 1, 250 dollars perinch, at which price water for irrigation has actually been sold atRiverside. "The standard of measurement of water in Southern California is theminer's inch under four inches pressure, or the amount that will flowthrough an inch-square opening under a pressure of four inches measuredfrom the surface of the water in the conduit to the centre of theopening through which it flows. This is nine gallons a minute, or, as itis figured, 1, 728 cubic feet or 12, 960 gallons in 24 hours, and 1/50 ofa cubic foot a second. This flow would cover 10 acres about 18 inchesdeep in a year; that is, it would give the land the equivalent of 18inches of rain, distributed exactly when and where it was needed, nonebeing wasted, and more serviceable than 50 inches of rainfall as itgenerally comes. This, with the natural rainfall, is sufficient forcitrous Fruits and for corn and alfalfa, in soil not too sandy, and itis too much for grapes and all deciduous fruits. "But irrigation, in order to be successful, must be intelligentlyapplied. In unskilful hands it may work more damage than benefit. Mr. Theodore S. Van Dyke, who may always be quoted with confidence, saysthat the ground should never he flooded; that water must not touch theplant or tree, or come near enough to make the soil bake around it; andthat it should be let in in small streams for two or three days, and notin large streams for a few hours. OLIVE CULTURE. "The growth of the olive is to be, it seems to me, one of the leadingand most permanent industries of Southern California. It will give us, what it is nearly impossible to buy now, pure olive oil, in place of thecotton seed and lard mixture in general use. It is a most wholesome andpalatable article of food. Those whose chief experience of the olive isthe large, coarse, and not agreeable Spanish variety, used only as anappetizer, know little of the value of the best varieties as food, nutritious as meat, and always delicious. Good bread and a dish ofpickled olives make an excellent meal. A mature olive grove in goodbearing is a fortune. I feel sure that within 25 years this will be oneof the most profitable industries of California, and that the demand forpure oil and edible fruit in the United States will drive out theadulterated and inferior present commercial products. " SPECIAL OPENINGS. There are now at Merced special openings for a nurseryman and adairyman; the latter would be by growing alfalfa (lucerne) and raisingpoultry for at present the Merced people often have to get poultry andeggs from San Francisco, 150 miles off. POTATO GROWING. A settler might make a really good return out of potatoes while hisFruit trees are maturing, which is a food more in use in America than inEngland. Potatoes are not only served at luncheon and dinner, but alsoat breakfast everywhere, and, if every settler planted his land withpotatoes, there would be no fear of overstocking the market. Mr. Eisen states that potatoes yield from 50 to 400 sacks to the acre, and sell at prices varying from 90 cents to 2 dollars per sack. If only50 sacks were grown to the acre, it would show a scarce year, whenprices would range higher, but the crop is never a failure inCalifornia. Two crops can be grown in a year; the first crop is plantedat the end of February, if warm, or else in March, or indeed any timetill the middle of May, and dug three months after; the second crop isplanted in August or September, and dug three months after. To put in the potatoes a settler would need the help of a labourer, towhom he would have to give one dollar per day and his board, or, if thelabourer be a Chinaman, one dollar and a quarter per day without hisboard. If the potatoes occupied ten acres, and they produced say 200sacks to the acre, and fetched 1 dollar per sack, that would yield 2, 000dollars, or for the two crops 4, 000 dollars, or, say, £800. This soundsa large sum, but the land is exceedingly rich, as may be seen from thesamples I have brought back, and large results may be expected from itif properly worked, for, of course, in any undertaking the resultdepends upon the way it is worked. The following paragraph is from an important paper or periodical of 20pages, known as the _Pacific Rural Press_, of December 13th, 1890, andalthough the crop it mentions was not grown in California, it shows atleast what can be done on good ground:-- "Nearly 1, 000 bushels of potatoes, or, to be exact, 974 bushels and 48pounds, have been grown on one acre of land in Johnson County, Wyoming, the past season. This crop wins the first prize of several hundreddollars offered by the _American Agriculturist_ for the largest yield ofpotatoes on one exact acre. It was grown on virgin soil without manureor fertilizer, but the land was rich in potash, and the copiousirrigation was of water also rich in saline material. There were 22, 800hills on one acre, and 1, 560 pounds of sets, containing one, two, andthree eyes, were planted of the early Vermont and Manhattan varieties. The profit on the crop on this first prize acre was 714 dollars, exclusive of 500 dollars in prizes. " Thus, this one acre would have produced £142 worth of potatoes. I do notmention it as an example of what a settler may or may not do at Merced, but as the land at Merced which I am offering for sale is of the richestquality, rich results may certainly be expected. COST OF GOODS, &c. , AT MERCED. per lb. Beef (to boil), 8 to 10 cents Beef (steak), 10 cents Beef (shoulder), 10 cents Beef (choice), 12-1/2 cents Beef (porterhouse and tenderloin), 15 cents Veal, 10 to 15 cents Mutton, 10 to 12-1/2 cents Pork, 10 to 12-1/2 cents Sausages, 12-1/ to 15 cents Corned beef, 8 to 10 cents Bacon, 12-1/2 cents Hams, 15 cents Tongues, 10 cents Flour, 4-1/2 to 5 dollars for a barrel weighing 200 lbs. Tea, 25 cents to 1 dollar Coffee, 24 to 45 cents Candles, 15 to 20 cents Chocolate, 25 cents Cod fish, 10 cents Corn meal, 3 to 4 cents Cocoa, 50 to 60 cents Cracker biscuits, 8 to 10 cents Graham flour, 3 to 5 cents Macaroni, 15 cents Oatmeal, 5 cents Rolled oats, 6 cents Rice, 5-1/2 to 8 cents Salt, 1 to 2 cents Soda, 4 cents Starch, 10 cents Sugar, 7 to 8 cents Sugar (house), 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 cents Butter, 25 to 40 cents Eggs, 15 to 40 cents per dozen, according to season Coal oil, 1. 40 per 5-gallon can. One of my clients recently visited England with his family, and saysthat one can live cheaper at Merced than in England. The cost of a twelve-roomed house is 3, 000 to 4, 000 dollars, accordingto finish, _i. E. , _ from £600 to £800. Most of the houses are built ofwood, and such a house could be built in twenty to thirty days, ifnecessary. Stabling for two horses, with room for buggy, wagon, harness, and hay, would cost 250 dollars or £50. A ten-roomed house would cost from 2, 500 to 3, 500 dollars, according tofinish. An eight-roomed house would cost from 2, 000 to 2, 500 dollars. A six roomed house would cost about 2, 000 dollars. A four-roomed house would cost about 1, 200 dollars. Live poultry cost about 6 dollars per dozen. Cows, 25 to 50 dollars each. Horses, 75 to 150 dollars each. Sheep, 3 to4 dollars each. Cultivators cost from 7 to 15 dollars each. Ploughs and harrows aboutthe same price. A riding cultivator, 45 to 50 dollars. Pruning shears, 3dollars. Day labour costs 1 dollar per day and board; but, in harvest time, 1-1/2dollar per day and board. Carpenters, 2-1/2 dollars per day, sometimes with and sometimes withoutboard. Fencing costs 500 dollars (_i. E_. , £100) a mile. To fence a 20-acre lotwould cost 350 dollars (_i. E_. , £70); but if the eight forming thequarter section joined together, it would cost each about 130 dollars(_i. E_. , £26). The fence would be a 6-inch board at bottom, then 30inches of wire netting to keep out rabbits, then another 6-inch boardand a barbed wire at top. Firewood costs 6 to 7 dollars a cord of hard wood, or 5 to 6 dollars ofwillow wood; a cord of wood is 4-ft. By 4-ft. By 8-ft. TAKE CLOTHING AND BRIC-A-BRAC. All kinds of clothing are dear. A good suit would cost £7 to £8, or, ifready made, £5. Settlers should therefore take with them plenty ofclothes, sufficient, say, to last for five years, including boots, blankets, linen, etc. ; also _bric-a-brac, _ and anything to addcheerfulness and refinement to the home, but they should not takefurniture nor animals. Guns they might take, but not tools norimplements. SEA PASSAGE FROM ENGLAND. Steamships run from Liverpool and Southampton at the following rates:-- 1. --Cunard Company's Line. Liverpool to New York. During the summermonths-- 1st class. 2nd class. 3rd class. From £12 12s. To £26 5s. £7 £4. During the winter months-- 1st class. 2nd class. 3rd class. £10 10s. To £25 £7 £4. The third-class passengers are provided with a free ticket from Londonto Liverpool. 2. --Inman Line. Liverpool to New York-- First class fares from £10 10s. To £25. Second class fares from £6 10s. To £7 7s. Third class fares £4. The third class includes a free ticket from London to Liverpool. 3. --The "White Star" Line. Liverpool to New York 1st class. 2nd class. 3rd class. Summer season--£15 to £28 £7 to £9 £4. Winter season--£10 10s. To £18 £6 10s. To £8 £4. The third class passengers are provided with a free ticket from Londonto Liverpool, and free tickets, if required, from New York to Boston orPhiladelphia. 4. --North German Lloyd Company. Southampton to New York-- First class, £14 to £23. Second class, £10. 5. --The American Line. Liverpool to New York-- Second class, £6. Third class, £3 16s. Steamers leave Southampton, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Queenstown, thusbeing convenient respectively for passengers from the north or south ofEngland, from Scotland, or from Ireland. Steamers run from this country to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, orBaltimore, but New York is the best port for Merced. THE LAND JOURNEY FROM NEW YORK TO MERCED, CALIFORNIA. _Copy of Letter from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. _ "Our fares from New York to Merced, _viâ_ New Orleans, are:--1st class, unlimited, £19 19s. 0d. ; limited, £18 4s. 7d. ; 2nd class, £12 8s. 4d. ;3rd class, £12 2s. 9d. , all rail; £11 1s. 11d. By steamer to NewOrleans, and thence rail, food, and sleeping berth on steamer included. The charges for sleeping car berths are:--1st class, 22 dollars; 2ndclass from New Orleans, 3 dollars. There are no 2nd class sleepers toNew Orleans, except on the fortnightly excursion trains from Cincinnati, leaving that city January 7th and 21st, February 4th and 18th; March 4thand 18th; April 8th and 22nd, etc. The charge from Cincinnati is 4dollars 50 cents. Third class passengers can travel in 2nd classsleepers upon payment of the usual charge. The fares from New Orleans toprincipal Californian points, including Merced, are:--1st class, unlimited, £14. 1s. 3d. ; 2nd class, £8. 17s. 1d. ; 3rd class, none. Sleeping cars--1st class, 13 dollars; 2nd class, 3 dollars. Tickets may be obtained through Messrs, DOWSETT and Co. , 3, Lincoln'sInn Fields, London, direct from Liverpool to California, or any otherState _en route_. ANALYSIS OF MERCED SOILS. Having fitted up a portion of one of my offices with all the requisitesfor carrying out quantitative analyses of surface soils, I requestedProfessor Lobley, F. G. S. , etc. , to analyse the four samples of soilswhich I brought with me from Merced. A general analysis of four samples of soil from Merced, California, hasgiven the following results:-- SAMPLE A. Organic matter (Humus) 5. 5 Soluble inorganic matter 11. 75 Insoluble silica and silicates 82. 75 -------- 100. 00 SAMPLE B. Organic matter (Humus) 4. 25 Soluble inorganic matter 14. 45 Insoluble silica and silicates 81. 30 -------- 100. 00 SAMPLE C. Organic matter (Humus) 5. 25 Soluble inorganic matter 16. 75 Insoluble silica and silicates 78. 00 -------- 100. 00 SAMPLE D. Organic matter (Humus) 3. 5 Soluble inorganic matter 12. 0 Insoluble silica and silicates 84. 5 -------- 100. 00 The organic matter is available for plant growth. The inorganic matter, soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid, is (with theexception of the alumina it may contain) composed of fertilisingmaterial. The substances found in the soluble inorganic matter of soilsare lime, magnesia, alumina, silica, phosphoric acid, oxide of iron, oxide of manganese, potash and soda. The insoluble mineral matter isnearly all silica. There is very little clayey matter in any of thesoils--not more than about five per cent. All the soils are remarkablyfree from stones or pebbles, or even coarse sand. From the above it will be seen that these soils, while possessing alarge amount of matter available for plant growth, are exceedinglyfriable, and would be very easily worked. They would absorb heatquickly, and from their porosity would require little drainage, and sowould be both warm and dry soils, and form fertile land suitable foralmost all kinds of agricultural and horticultural produce. THE POSITION OF MY CLIENTS, THE VENDORS. My clients, the owners of the land called "British Colony, " at Merced, are well-known persons--well-known as men of great wealth, and asgentlemen of undoubted integrity, the Hon. Charles Crocker and Mr. C. H. Huffman, whose enterprises in railway, canal, and other public works, have been of gigantic proportions. I have every confidence myself in dealing with these gentlemen, and Isubmit that my friends, clients, and the general public, who may bewilling to take up any of this "British Colony" land at Merced, may havefull confidence, too, that they will at least be treated justly, andmore than that is not expected from strangers in business; but I believethat I might add they would be treated liberally if necessity arose, andI have ground for this statement from what I have heard of theirtreatment of other persons who have settled in one of their other"Colonies. " CALIFORNIA, MERCED. I have for sale besides the estate designated "British Colony, " a tractof land belonging to a well-known merchant in the City of London, whohas owned it for 13 years. It comprises 5, 084 acres, and has aregistered Government title. Price 30 dollars per acre, and 7 years'credit would be given if 20 per cent. Is paid down. Part of it is wellsuited for Fruit growing, but as yet the water from the canals belongingto my other clients has not been taken to it. It has, however, somecreeks upon it, but they are frequently dry. The land is of a rollingprairie character, and is now let at a nominal rent of 25 cents per acrefor sheep farming. The soil is varied; some of it is a good loam, someof a clayey nature, and some stony; there is a shepherd's house, withbarn and yard. The taxes upon it are about 15 to 20 cents per acre. Onehalf of the land would be sold separately, but it must be the halffarthest from the side where the canals are. The situation is anattractive one as the undulations really form the first foothills of theSierra Nevada Mountains, of which there is a grand view. This land iswell worth buying, as when water is obtained, the price will then beincreased to that asked for other irrigated Fruit lands. A plan may be seen at my offices, 3, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. FINIS. * * * * * London: Printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. TO OWNERS OF LANDS AND HOUSES. REQUIRED TO PURCHASE. _Messrs. Dowsett & Co. Have applications for Landed Estates, CountryHouses, Town Houses, Farms, Villa Farms, Building Lands, Cheap Sectionsof Land for the People, Ground Rents, Colonial Lands, and General Landand House Investments. Messrs. Dowsett & Co, invite owners wishing to sell, and who have notyet employed an Agent, to employ them: they do not appreciateinstructions which are sent to several Agents, but they are prepared togive careful, intelligent, personal attention to the Sale of Propertywhich is placed in their hands. They prefer giving personal attention toa few properties rather than having on their books a mass of particularsof which they have no personal knowledge, and which are to be found inmany Agents' lists. Messrs. Dowsett & Co. , personally inspect Properties for Sale, because apersonal knowledge greatly facilitates success, and for this they make anominal charge of sixpence per mile; they then prepare carefulparticulars so as to introduce the matter advantageously to the public. Owners of Property may obtain a printed statement of charges forValuing, or for Selling by Auction, or privately, all kinds of Real andPersonal Estate, Furniture Live and Dead Stock, Stocks-in-Trade, Timber, Growing Crops, etc. Messrs. Dowsett & Co. Are prepared to make Geological Reports of Soilsand Minerals, and give Quantitative Analyses of Soils. They areassisted, when special needs require, by experts in Agricultural andArchitectural Science, and also in every branch of professional andcommercial enterprise. Messrs. Dowsett & Co. , undertake any branch of these varied services inLondon or any part of England, Scotland, Ireland, the Colonies, America, or other Countries, and personally visit other countries on agreedterms. Messrs. Dowsett & Co, Auctioneers, Surveyors, Valuers, Estate Agents, etc. , 3, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. _ LANDS AND RESIDENCES FOR SALE. _Country Houses, Town Houses, Landed Estates, Farms, Building Lands, Ground Rents, and Investments generally in Lands and Houses, See "TheLand Roll, " which for one penny may be obtained of Messrs, Dowsett &Co. , 3, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. _