Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-20
WELLS, & COLL, 267 Main st.

more rain than usually falls frequently
in Alabama or Mississippi or Tennessee,
during the same months. In the time
from May to October, they have no rain
at all, which is great advantage to the
farmers, as they have no fear during har-
vest of damage to crops from shower !,
they need no grsneries; they lose no
time from wet days; their crops can re-
main in the field until sold, and many
other advantages readily suggest them
selves to any practical grsin-grower.
You see. no fences or hedges out there,
except imme mediatsly along the rivers or
around gardens, or few pastures; and
there are no trees there except
along the rivers and in the noun
tains. This would argue scarcity
of firewood, but there is plenty,
am told, to do the country for many
years to come. The usual prices for wood !
range from 81 to "a per cord, in different
localities aud twenty to thirty cords
will do the largest families for q year.
Coal will, after few years, be cheap and
accessible, as the railroads are built. /
would here state, before it escapes me,
that in case parties have not sufficient
means to buy lands, advantageous ar
rangements can be made with the owners
of large bodies of land there to farm on
shares. They will furnish buildings, land,
and everything necessary to put in crop
and harvest it, except provisions and
hands, which the renter furnishes, aud
then the proceeds are equally divided.
BY an arrangement like this, any renter
would soon be able to buy good lands for
himself.
l, would further state that there is o
thorough and perfect system Of public
schools in California, admirably man
sged, i am informed. The political COM
piexion of the country is satisfactory to
Southern man; in fact, am told that
there are large settlements made up
almost exclusively of people from the
South, all of whom are delighted with the
change, and are urging their friends here
to follow on. Horses and mules, broke
TO work, are worth from $75 to 5000;
unbroke, from $25 to 800 head. Mich
COWS are scarce, and worth from $40 to
$50; but thisis a difficulty that can and
will be overcome in a few years, as there
are many und large stock farms in thstI
country. To have fac gardens, vine.
yards, orchards, shade trees, etc, when
you live at distance from rivers, some
irrigation is necessary; but it is done
there with such ease and so little expense,
when compared with the profits, that it is
scarcely an inconvenience.
The country never gets disagreeably
muddy, as with US, and the roads are tioe
aud good the year round. In Summer
they get very dusty, it is true, but it is
reported as not very annoying, as the
regular and brisk breezs rapidly blows 1t
away. Ia consequence of this breeze the
air is always fresh aud pure, and after
the hottest days of summer you sleep
under one or two blankets every night.
There are but few springs in Califor-
MIA, an abundant supply Of water being
obtained from wells-their usual depth
from twenty to thirty feet. There are
also some few artesian wells in the State.
Wind-mills and the necessary machinery
are often put in the twenty and thirty
feet wells, and thus a oonstast supply of
water is obtained al small cost. Califor-
MIA is more than an average stock coun-
try. The wild oats which grow all over
the plains furnish first class pastursge
the year rouud, and in some instances |
it is resped and haled and shipped as hay |
to market Horses, mules, sheep, cattle ]
ane hogs all pay well-sheep- best, per
haps. Each flock has its herder, and |
thus they are safe, miles and miles from
home, in the uncultivated regions. The |
average wages paid to herders are about
thirty aollara per month. Society, of |
course, is as yet in an unsettled |
condition, and hence q man with |
a family hesitates before making
this move, but this is the case
with all new countries. In this
one, however, the attractions are 20 very |
great that we are justified in thinking
that IL will fill up more rapidly than
usual, and with great many of the best
Soathern people. In this way, / think
that this Obi sction should not weigh very
heavily. My friends and Correspondents
out there, with two exceptions. live in the
San Joaquin VALLEY hence Ills to this
SECTION that ! have special reference in
this letter. Sacramento and San Jose
valleys and several others, am informed,
contain equally as valuable and as pro-
duetivs lands, and, perhaps, as many
points Of attraction in every way. |
Ia writing the foregoing, have had
frequent reference to the letters of my
friend, Capt. ]. w. A. Wright an ex-
cohfederAte, who moved out from Hale
county, Alabama, in 1867, aud settled
near Paradise City, in the San Joaquin
Valley also, TO circular issued by Dr..
r. Ashe, Of Stookton-one Of the largest
farmers in the State--vho moved out
from Alabama some sixteen or
eighteen years ago. l have also
had several conversations with Mr.
Folz, Of this county, who lived ten
years in California, returning here last
fall He goes back to California in De-
iober, feeling confident he tells me, that
this country cannot, in any way, com
pare with that Proposing TO move TO
Califorrss myself. have gained all the
information possible on the subject Of its
re sources, h..S soys ,hss 10 furnishing ];
to you nay have benefited some q, least
Of your many readers, BY directing their
attention to this land Of great promise,
II