Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-27
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of Tennessee.
One of the greatest annoyances which
a stranger meets in California is the real
estate agent. He meets you at the depot
he has heard you are coming-he knows
just what kind of home you want, and
to listen to his tale, you would think all
the land OF the country was for sale and he
was special agent for each tract. He is
emphatically
| A NUISANCE AND A BORE.
The regular land grabber or trader is al
most as bad If you wish to grow oranges,
his place is peculiarly adapted to its growth
as it is a sheltered nook hemmed in by high
| hills which break the cold winds. If you
wish to grow something requiring colder
| climate, he points you to the snowy sum
NIT of the nearest mountains and naively
| tells YOU there is snow enough to keep veg
citation cool.
This thing of 'climate" is rather run
into the ground. 1t is the hobby for any
one who has anything to sell. IT'S true
| we have in Southern California the most
invigorating and healthful climate i ever
knew. vet no one can live on 'Iclimate"
alone.
SELLING THE CLIMATE"
Sometime since a stranger visited this
d
He soon fell in the hands of land owner
who was extremely anxious to sell. The
owner grew eloquent in his descriptions of
his farm, its flowing streams, its green
meadows, its rich soil. By these oily rep
reservations the stranger concluded he
would visit the place, and if it came up to
the representations he would purchase.
The visit was made. The owner tried
to keep his courage up. Stranger looked
at everything. The land was within
a sand-bank or an alkaline plain. There
was neither verdure nor sparkling streams.
He was thoroughly disguised. In a fit of
rage, he said to the owner, 'sShow me all
the great things you told me were part of
your farm" Owner saw his disgust and
felt that he was caught, and replied, 81
amt selling you the trees, nor the water; |
amt selling you the house, nor the land,
but TO tell you the truth, stranger, I'm sell
ing you the climate"
THE TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.
When this great Southern railroad is
built it will run through this immediate
section. 1t will come through San Gorge
MIA Pass, and then will necessarily pass
through or near the town of San Berna-
dino. The town of San Bernadino was
settled by colony Of Mormons, who Sc
coded from the jurisdiction of Brigham.
They were what is known as "Josephites,"
being opposed to polygamy. They are a
weak organization and are good citizens.
SCHOOLS.
The public school system of this State is
regarded as very superior. The counties |
are laid off in school districts. Five hun |
dred dollars is appropriated, regardless of !
the number of the scholastic population. |
This is designed for school of eight |
months. The grade of scholarship for !
teachers is very nigh, so high that only !
very small number of the applicants are |
able to get certificates. This is pretty hard |
on the teachers, but good thing for the |
schools.
CROP PROSPECTS.
The wheat and barley fields are now in |
full head and promise heavy yield. This |
is fine barley country and grows wheat |
well, though not so well as Upper and |
Central California. measured this week |
a volunteer head of wheat, which was eleven |
inches in length. and counted 81 grains in |
a head of barley. These are far above the |
average of the general crops.
COLONIES.
A very successful mode of settlement in |
this State is the system of colonies. Large |
tracts of land can be purchased by an or |
ganization of neighbors and friends, and |
thus the burdens of settling in a new cOun-
try, are borne mutually, and they become |
thereby comparatively light. Riverside,
fourishing village in this county, was set
tied in this way, also Arahiem, in Los An
geles county.
TENNESsEEANS.
a few weeks since we had the pleasure
of visit by d. F. Wilkins, Esq, and wife
"A n of
Nashville.
Their familiar faces brought up wildly |
many recollections of the olden time. Mrs.
Parsons was in search of health, but the
soft breezes of Los Angeles did not bring
restoration on their wings, as death had
claimed her for his own. We now remem-
Der with infinite pleasure it was in our
power to offer her some evidences of kind
" sympathy during her stay in Los Angeles.
If the gentle sympathy and untiring min
iStry of he: daughter, Lille, could have
turned the arrow of the Great Archer, she |
would to-day be among us.
Another lovely and accomplished lady
of Tennessee came among US, looking for
some nepenthe for wasted health. She
found genial breeZes and mellow spring
time, but amid its flowers she breathed out
her life, and to-day she is one of the i'm
mortals. We allude to Mrs. Mary Porter
Williams, wife of Col. Stakely d. Williams,
of East Tennessee.
MIR. Wilkins told me he had read my let
tiers, published in the UNION AND AMER
ICAN and the Rural Sun, and that they
were correct representations of this coun-
try. We appreciated such a compliment,
as we have endeavOred to be more truthful,
than rhetorical or poetic, in all We have
written concerning this coast.
ONE YEAR
has now passed in California. II has been
a year of initiation and experiment. 1t
has taught us many useful things. Though
our whole tenor of life has been entirely
changed, vet, we are satisfied with the re-
suit and expect to live here so long as we
journey on earth. Though thousands of
miles from Nashville, We have sOrTowed
with her in the numerous troubles which
have affected her since our departure.
First cholera, then panic, then food, then
hurricane. What a quartette Of miSfor-
tunes, Thanks TO our ocean-breeZes, tall
mountains and specie currency, We have
had none of these.
Those wishing detailed information
about Los Angeles county would do well
r. forward so cents for Maj. McPherson's
Pamphlet on Los Angeles, and 80 cents to
me- and l will send, postpaid, Kearney's
Pamphlet on the Resources of San Ber-
nardino. JOHN SHIRLEY WARD.
FAIR HIT, MY MASTERS.