A GENERAL, A COLONEL & A MAJOR

Beauties of California, 1883

On March 31, 1881, an article appeared in the Daily Alta California describing the route to Santa Cruz upon the new South Pacific Coast Railroad. The journey was undertaken by an unnamed trio of gentlemen described as a General, a Colonel, and a Major, "… three military heroes of the California Militia in days gone by." The old soldiers departed on at 8:45 a.m. Sunday morning from the railroad’s ferry at the foot of Market street and

"… in due course were soon whirling rapidly on the narrow-gauge through the beautiful town of Alameda, drawn by engine No. 7, under direction and control of that most careful and competent engineer, A.W. Standley, with the accomplished and gentlemanly S.H. Davis, Esq., for conductor. The showers of the preceding night having effectually laid all dust, we had a delightful run to the lovely City of San Jose, claimed to be and called by its people the 'Eden of California;' thence to Los Gatos, a beautiful village at the foot of the grade over the Santa Cruz Mountains, and at which point begins one of the most beautiful and picturesque railroad rides in the United States, [equaling] in all, and surpassing in many …"

"The General, war-worn and weather-beaten, seated himself on the rear platform and seemed 'a boy again,' in his delight at the ever-changing scenes as we ascended the grade along the windings of the [pellucid] and rushing Los Gatos Creek the eddies and pools of which, we learned from gentlemen on the train, are alive with the 'speckled beauties.' Nine miles from Los Gatos we came to the long tunnel (6200 feet), during the construction of which the great explosion took place, killing a number of white men and Chinamen. We made the passage in six minutes, without any inconvenience whatever for want of pure air; in fact, the same may be said of all the tunnels on the road. On emerging at the west end we saw by the course of the water in the tributary to the San Lorenzo River that we had passed the Summit, and were on the down grade for Santa Cruz through grand scenery on every hand. We soon reached Felton – a pretty place and much used, in conjunction with the Big Trees, for picnics; thence we soon passed the powder works on the San Lorenzo River, above which, on a seeming pinnacle, stands the beautiful residence of the Superintendent, Bernard Peyton, Esq. It is a lovely spot, and, we were told, entirely safe from any explosion that might occur at the works … On sharp time (12:54 p.m.) we reached our objective point, and in the Pacific Ocean House Bus were soon conveyed to that really cozy and comfortable hotel … The city is literally a flower garden. At 2:36 p.m. sharp, we were on our train, homeward-bound, arriving safely at 6:40 p.m., after a day of unalloyed enjoyment."

"If it did not sound like a 'puff,' we would speak more of the railroad, but we can truthfully say that for solidity of construction, smoothness, safety, speed and regularity, with attentive and gentlemanly employees, the South Pacific Coast Railroad will not stand second with any road in the State; and whoever may wish a day’s recreation cannot better themselves in any other direction or route from San Francisco. The public at large is deeply indebted to President A.E. Davis and his associates, who, without bonus or subsidy, had the boldness and energy to build this outlet for pleasure and traffic. May their success be commensurate with their public spirit and enterprise. Truly yours, The Three Military Heroes Aforesaid, San Francisco, March 29^th, 1881."

Source: “Santa Cruz – A Beautiful and Enjoyable Ride Over the South Pacific Coast Railway,” – editors - Daily Alta California, March 31, 1881.