St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-04-25
California. No. 16.

/ | thought | should not feel satisfied
to leave California without seeing this
part of it, becoming as it is, so noted
for its semi-tropical fruits. The name
itself-Los Angeles-(pronounced Loct
1n-gelcz) does not signify. as the char.
acter of its Spanish Mexican inhabitant;
might seem to indicate, the place of the
Lost 4ngcls, but the city of the "Beau,
tiful Angels" The town is about foul
hundred miles south of San Francisco
and twenty miles inland from the port
of Wilmington. The place contains
some tel or twelve thousand people
all told, though two-thirds of these be
ing Spanish, MeXicans, Indians, and all
the grades between. are really a serious
detrlment to the prosperity of the place
which would he much better off with
out them. But they are here, and own
real estate, and until recently, con-
trolled politics and religion both. The
last election was the first one in the
history of this town in which the Re-
publican party was victorious.
All the north part of Los Angles is
the old Spanish town, called Sonora.
The houses are all adobe. (a-dO-by.)
which Is Il very sticky kind of soil found
III many of the California valleys. This
adobe is cut up into large square pieces,
and is laid up green, in walls from two
to four feet thick. When n-dried and
white-washed it makes respectablelo look
ing houses. The buildings are all low.
one-story, and roofs nearly fiat. \
walk through the streets of this old
Spanish town is interesting. There are
wide awnings over the sidewalks. and
the natives live and traffic under these
coverings. and i'll the adobe abodeS of
which they are almost part and parcel
South of the Plaza the American clc-
memt has made things of different
look. The ''Pico House." which faces
on the square, and is really the first
Notwithstanding building one sees in
going south from Sonora. is Il large and
handsome hotel. South of the Pico for
ii mile or 50, the place has much the
appearance of an eastern town. with
only here and there an adobe. to remind
one that he is in only a half civilized
country. The new school house. court
house. and several new business blocks.
are quite handsome. and are ornaments
to the town. From 4 high hill just west
of the main street one gets Il fine view
of the city and surrounding country
But the attraction of Los Angeles i
its fruits, and notably lis orange groves.
There is scarcely dooryald III town
without orange trees III it. The orange
tree without fruit is a tree of great
beauty. Perhaps the reader can re
member some particular maple, with
its cgT-shaped, symmetrical top. Take
such Il tree III June. and add fifty per
cent. t" its symmetry and one hundred
per cent. to its vrrdurc. and you have
an orange tree the year round. for the
orange Is an evergreen tree. Hang from
one to four thousand ripe oranges in
that tree. until il i loaded with the
golden fruit, and then add myriads of
orange blossoms, (for the orange bears
ripe fruit and blossoms at the same
time.) until the air all about is rcdolcnt
of the rich odor. and you have an
orange tree in bearing.
In entering the city by ears. one
passes Mr.. Wolt>kill'> grove. which i
one of the largest in the state. The
trees are about twelve or fourteen wears
old from the seed. and they look a.
near alike as 1.-TWO peas" One is struck
with the similarity of these trees. Be
Ing all of one size and shape. and set III
perfect lines, the effect of this large
orchard is very fine.
The most celebrated groves and vine
yards are near the Mission of san
Gabriel. some ten miles out of the
city. and almost under the san Gabriel
range of mountains Those of State
Senator Wilson and Mr.. l.. j. Rose, are
the largest and most celebrated for
fine Favored fruit. These men own
large tracts of land. and the annual
product of their groves and VINEYARDS
is very large. Mr.. Wilson's oldest trees
largest grove is but thirteen years Old.
He has over 5000 trees. and is con-
stantly setting out more. He also has
great vineyards, and made last year
about 100000 gallons of wine and 2.OOn
gallons of brandy. Mr.. Rose is also
large wine manufacturer, as well as
orange and nut grower. The avenue
from his house to the high
way. a quarter of a mile or more. is
lined by double row of orange trees
on each side. and these are thanked by
large vineyards with rows of grape
vines mile long. This is a beautiful
driveway.
All these Spanish towns have their
EMISSIONS" They are simply centres
where the Jesuits built an adobe church
some ninety or one hundred years ago.
and set about converting the natives
This Mission of San Gabriel has its
orange grove as well as its church.
The oranges of Los Angeles are said to
be better than the Florida or Cuba
fruit, and these from the Mission and
Wilson's groves stand the best in the
San Francisco market Oranges left on
the frees until fully rina oro ,o,ob