Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-09
From San Diego.

We are permitted to make the follow.
ing extracts from letter received in this
city. They contain information that may
be useful to emigrants and interesting to
many of our readers:
SAN DIEGO, January 4, 1869.
s* You are not the first party
that has applied to me for information
about this place and State in general,
from the Atlantic States; and you may
therefore believe as true all my state.
ments, being all the fruit of my own
practical and personal observations
within the past ten years, during which
time have resided and repeatedly tr rav-
eled through all the counties south Of
San Francisco to the distance of 1--WE
hundred miles.
First. With relation to your FIRST query,
the present population of the old and new
tows of San Diego is about eight hun
drsd, old and young; one-haf the popu-
lation of the town and county being
native Mexicans. The climate is excel
lent, being generally pronounced the best
on the Pacific coast, and is the resort of
invalids from all parts Of the country.
Epidemics, such as small -pox, which at
the present time is raging in many places
10 the States, have never been known in
this State; much>less rheumatism, con-
sumption, typhoid and other dangerous
fevers and diseases, now prevailing in
many parts of the States.
Second. This country has been, till
lately, thinly inhabited, but within the
past eight months it has increased fifty
per cent. The soil is generally dry and
billy, and hence the reason why it has
been till lately an exclusively stock
raising county. Of course throughout
the county there are some few localities
good for farming purposes, but these can
accommodate but q limited number of
families. The most of the land belongs
to the native Calfornians, or to parties
intermarried with them; but within the
past four months four of the largest
ranches, as we call them in California,
or farms, as you call them in the States,
have been sold: Ranch San Bernardo,
$35, 900; Ranch Capon, $50, 1000; Ranch
La Nacion, $35, 1000; Ranch San Die
ginto, $4,000.
Third. Six months ago there were in
this town but lye stores OF all kinds, and
to-day there are ten, apparently all doing
good business; but in nv opinion some
of them will of necessity break up, as our
small population cannot support so many,
unless the immigration should increase
instead Of decrease, as at present.
Our old town is situated ON little hill,
fronting the ocean, having on each side
a magnificent bay. The main bay or
harbor is considered the best and safest
on the whole coast. Our City Fathers
are fixing up road to Colorado river,
which will open an immense traffic with
all the inland territories. Moreover there
is every probability th at the Pacific Rail-
road Company, will make this place the
terminus of their road. If this should
ever be the case, as there is very strong
probability, the future of this place is
forever settled. We have weekly
steamer from San Francisco, mail by
land tri-weekly, ana will soon have aiti
daily. Orange, lemon, walnut and all
kinds of fruit trees grow here luxuriantly.
Summer heat in the shade is never beyond
96'. Winter is extremely mild, without
a sign of snow.