Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-10-26
9os Aa9elrs Aem|d.
LETTER FROM SOLEDAD.
PHIzANo, Los Angeles County,
October. l7th, 1873.

october, l7tn, 1878.
EDITOR HERALD:-Phizano il a
new name for "Soledad. There being
two places already in the State by the
latter name, it became necessary to
seek new one for this. 1t owes its
paternity to Brice Grimes, of Ven
tura, and is located in "Soledad Pass"
II miles from it's commencement at
the Desert, and miles from its ter
mination at Lang's.
Where PhizanO IL.
1t is in Los Angeles county 81 miles
from Los Angeles by wagon road, and
65 from Ventura. This "Pass" forms
the easiest route of communication
between the Desert and the coast. All
the Cerro GOrdo teams now pass
through it on their way from the
mines to Los Angeles. There are no
Objectionable hills to overcome, and
only occasional sandy places in the
dry river bed, that prove troublesome
at ALL Very little timber is found in
the immediate pass, but the arrOyOs
that lead in from behind mountain
speers, are said to be furnished with
pine Of good quality, rows of which
can be seen, also, on the crests Of the
mountains. The mountains are gener-
ally composed of granite, which in
many instances has decayed to such
an extent as to furnish soil sufficient
to cover them deeply in places, often
to their very tops. Considerable le clay
is mingled with this soil, and sage,
grease wood, and sometimes cedar
take root and grow in scattered
lunches clear up to their SUBMITS.
mount GleasOn' is the highest point.
1t is $500 feet above the sea, and 1890
feet above the Phizano. There is
A stream Of Fine Water
Issuing from springs above, and at
this point, that supplies most of the
pass below. Around these springs is
beautiful cienega with trees and
vines, SO rarely found in this climate,
that the day is not distant when it will
be sought by invalids, whose enerva-
ted systems fail to receive benefit from
the moist atmosphere of the coast
Fogs seldom reach here-but they
sometimes rest on the top of Mount
Gleason or scud along the whole range,
growing thinner and lighter as they
pass on toward the desert. Average
mean temperature for September 10
first half of October $50. Prevailing
winds from the west. No rain-first
frost OH the morning OF the 18th inst.
The Town Of Phizan0.
This is but small town yet, not
more than Is buildings in all, many
of which are unoccupied. A few
years since there was great excite
ment about mines near here, and a
miners town of about 1000 inhabit-
ants sprung into existence under the
magic influence of gold and silver.
A few fragments of chimneys, and
rank growth Of weeds, are all that
mark the site of "Ravena." Two idle
quartz mills in good repair, are still
standing short distance below, but
the pass so recently alive with active
business, has lapsed into state OF re-
pose and silence SO profound, that it
may justly cling to its appropriate
name Of "Soledad Pass" The only
variation consists in the travel through
it, not from industries Of its own.
Feeling an interest in your new paper
which really rivals those of our old
est cities, have spent an hour in Civ
ing you q practical description of a
portion of your county, which may
be new to some of your readers.
A SUBSCRIBER.