The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-07-28
CALIFORNIA LETTER.

CALIFORNIA, June Both, 1871.
In travelling over the country around San
Diego, it looks as if it were strewn with ashes
but on examination it is found to be grass
SO thoroughly dried that it has crumbled into
powder, The agricultural interest are Ian
gushing, and there is little hope for anv
change for the better, till they get supply of
water. They have had not had any rain for
two years, and are dependent on ordinary
wells which afford scanty supply and cost
four to five hundred dollars, and this not yerv
pleasant on account Of its alkaline properties.
The society here is said to be better than in
many other parts of the state, and they seem
to be a moral, sociable, kind-hearted people.
drinking very little water,) and yet almost
free from rowdyism and drunkenness They
have two parlor skating rinks, where they cul-
tivate the poetry of motion, aided by excellent
music from a string band. They all seem to
enjoy life; men, women and children ride,near-
ly every evening, on ponies or spanish horses,
and go it in break-neck style They do busi-
ness after the same fashion, borrowing money
at two to five per cent. a month to invest in
property. They have two little churches with
less congregations and very dull ministers.
School houses inferior and teachers ordinary.
Whether this place grows to be a great metro
polls, the future only can reveal, but as a
place for restoring health it is probably un-
surpassed, and for that class of persons who |
wish to be freed from the piercing winds of
the north, or the feYers and malaria of the |
aOTHh and gnnlr for q homo Abo,r
feast on oranges, apricots and olives, grapes, |
almonds and English walnuts- flowers |
bloom all the year, and live in temperature |
that changes so little that it is almost one un- |
ending summer, will find this the country to |
meet their requirements But for myself can
not tell how any one a native of Ohio can help |
longing for the green fields beautiful trees,
running stream, and delightful showers of that
dear old state. The more l see of California
the more appreciate Ohio, and the better 1
think of it as a state to live in. To show YOU
how the people are carried away with rose
colored visions of future greatness and wealth
and how they are doomed to disappointment,
will conclude this with quotation from
Divine (written twenty years since) but ap-
plies to the present time. He says:
f'The climate is soft and mild the year round,
he sky brilliant, and the atmosphere free from
hose mists which the cold currents throw on
he northern coast. The sea breeze cools the
leat of summer, and the great ocean hersely
into the same temperature the rough
Iirs of winter. The seasons roll round varied !
nly by the fresh fruits and flowers that follow
n their train. Before the eyes that fall on
hese pages are under deaths shadow, San =
Diego will have become the Queen of the
outh, in California, encircled with vineyards
nd fields of golden grain, gathering into her I
osom the flowing commerce of Colorado and
Iila"
Water, however, must spring up from arte-
an wells, or come from the mountain or the
ouds, before these bright visions are realized.
ut with the delightful showers of Ohio, this
ould indeed be an earthly paradise
Very truly your son, @, N, DILLON,