Identifier: reportsofexplora05unit_0 (find matches)
Title: Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: United States. War Dept Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
Subjects: Pacific railroads Discoveries in geography Natural history Indians of North America
Publisher: Washington : A.O.P. Nicholson, printer (etc.)
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant

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SION. Soon after leaving our camp under the fig trees, we found that we were entering a widelyextended valley with a nearly level surface, without trees or verdure, and bounded on all sidesby distant ranges of mountains. On turning the point of a hill, we came suddenly in sight ofthe Mission buildings, which, with the surrounding gardens, stood isolated in the seeminglydesert plain, and produced a most beautiful effect.—(See View VI.) The gardens were enclosedby walls, but the graceful palm rose above them, and groves of olive, lemon, and orange treescould be seen within. Outside of the walls the surface was barren and gravelly, and the fertilitywithin is the result of irrigation. The building presents an imposing appearance, having a long portico formed by a colonade,with twenty arches, built of brick, or abobe, and plastered and whitewashed. The floor ispaved with tiles, and a pleasant promenade in front of the edifice is thus afforded. The remains CQ CQi—i C to tr1> o CQ U o
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MISSION OF SAN FERNANDO—PALM TREES. 75 of a large fountain, with a circular basin ten feet or more in diameter, was directly in front of themain entrance, and gave an indication of the splendor of the establishment in former days.1 Iwas surprised to find the palm growing so far north, (lat. 34° 20,) and surrounded also bysuch a variety of tropical fruits.2 The grape is cultivated here, and we purchased a quantity of a very pleasant red wine, simi-lar to claret. Several men were employed in filling a large still with the fermented pulp andskins of grapes, from which the juice had been pressed, with the intention of distilling brandy(agua diente) from it. Herds of cattle were seen on parts of the broad plain, feeding on dried grass or the burrs ofthe California clover, which covers the ground in the latter part of summer when all the grasshas disappeared. This plain doubtless presents a beautifully green surface in the winter andearly summer when watered by the rains. From the Missio

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