New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-10
LETTER FROM sOUTHERN CALL
FORNIA.
TIE Delicious ClImate-AgrlcuItur raj and
Grazing Lands-Fruit Culture.

GrazIng Lands-Fruit CuItUre.
Los ANGELES, CAL, March %, 1865.
Ny experience here has been that of many
old Californians-varied. / have had an
opportunity to see life from more than one
standpoint, all OF which can not regret,
as it imparts to me pretty correct knowl-
edge of the world, to certain extent.
On the fifth of November last left San
Francisco on the steamer Orizaba for San
Pedro, the landing place for passengers and
freight for Los Angeles. Every ten days a
steamer from San Francisco touches at
Santa Barbara and San Pedro, and once
month at San Diego, the three landing
points Of Southern California. Santa Bar
bara, small place on the coast below
Point Conception, is the first landing we
make. By its position and surroundings
Santa Barbara is fully excluded from north
western wind-storms, and presents an equa-
bility Of temperature equal if not superior
to any other point on the California coast.
1t has no harbor and is only an open road.
stead. Freight and passengers are landed
by means of small boats. The valley of
Santa Barbara is quite beautiful. Upon the
east are high mountains, upon the west
hills. The valley extends back for many
miles, varying in width. The town is small,
and built close to the beach. Viewed from
the steamer it has much the appearance of
some of the small towns Gu the lower
Mississippi, the trees, shrubbery, beach,
and buildings causing that impress ssIon.
Three miles back is an old mission, which
adds much to the interest and beauty of the
view, said to have been originally built
during the latter part of the last century,
and rebuilt in 1880 by some OF the faithful
padres who trayersed this coast at an early
day, preaching their doctrines, and trying
to Ciyilize the natives.
The lower coast of California has many
relics in the shape of churches and school
buildings to mark the steps of the early
from San Francisco. Still further below
we see many beautiful valleys and slopes
between the mountains and coast.
California is more equally mixed as to
different races of people than any other
State. And nowhere do we find greater re.
speCt paid TO each other.
About our city: There are many good
buildings here, none, however, higher than
two stories. The courthouse is about the
size Of that at CarrOltOn, Louisiana. Most
new buildings are of brick, the material
being cheaper than wood. The old adobe
or mud houses are gradually Crumbhug
away, and giving place to the more modern
style. Considerable business is done here.
Several houses send large trains of
merchandise every year to Utah. Salt Lake.
Within the last year many parties
seeking homes have arrived here, not only
from other States bat from the northern
part of this. The severe winds experienced
north Of US, and the diseases peculiar to
the mines, have sent many among us seek
ing health, There are larger aAd finer
| bodies of agricultural and grazing lands in
Southern California than in any other part
of the state or the territories east of US.
| In the neighbOring valleys are many flourish,
| ing settlements. General ROsencrans has
| lately come into possession of considerable
| government land IN this valley, Good land
| can be purchased here at reasonable prices.
| The Southern Pacific railroad will open up
| a great quantity of excellent farming land
| in this State to the east OF US.
II would be impossible for me to picture
| to you fully the beauty of the scenery and
| the dehghtfulness of climate in this section
| of country. Our climate can not be eX-
celled. We have no rough winds, no
extreme cold nor heat. The air is clear and
pure. We are free from any unhealthful
| miasma. Disease aud sickness are little
| known here. The average of the thermom-
eter during December last, at 7-9O a. NJ,
was 81 degrees February and March have
| been colder than formerly.
Southern California is thinly settled, but
its future is bright. Stock raising is an
extensive business; fruit growing is highly
remunerative; grapes, oranges, lemons,
olives, figs, pears, English wanuts, lines,
citrous, and pomegranates all grow to
| perfection in this valley and below Oh
1 the coast. We have fine blackberries
and all the garden vegetables thai
Louisiana can produce. Sixty mile:
to the interior the apple, peach, apricot,
nectarine, and similar fruits are grown
| Successful experiments have been made
with h0ps, tobacco, cotton, and the sill
worm. Wool growing is very profitable.
company with a capital of $40 600 is or
| ganized in this county for the purpose o
manufacturing wooden goods. We expec
to have railroad soon from our city t
San Pedro ON the coast, and no doubt i
| will extend back to join at some point tn,
| Southern Pacific railroad.
! Your obedient servant I. r. A.