Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-01-10
Letter from California.

Editor ESSe:r County Her0ld. My
DEAR SIR.-Haying through the kind
ness Of q relative been favored with
your paper during the past year, l
wish to express to you the great
pleasure l have experienced in its
perusal, particularly the local and
personal items. These have brought
to mind friends and acquaintance3 Of
Eye olden time when |, too, was a
resident Of Essex County, and when
the late Judge Rich was in his prime.
BY it | see the changes that have Ia
ken place, the progress made in all
these years. Why, Guildhall was
then regular sleepy hollow. Only
think, it now boasts Steamboat
plying on the quiet old Connecticut,
several manufactures, and, not the
least Of these wonders a Newspaper;
and The cars go whizzing by in sight
Of my old home and the shrilI scream
of the Mountain Maid" awakes the
echoes around Cape Horn and the
Percy Peaks. Possibly a few items
from this side of the Continent may
be of interest to some 0fyour readers.
Our State Legislature to-day elect
ed Newton Booth at present Govern
or of the State, United States Sena-
tor for the long term, commencing
March 1875, in opposition to all po-
litical parties. This is a great tri-
umph for the Dolley Vardens, as the
Independents are tyled in this State
Booth being the re preventative Of the
principle of the peop les government
rs against corporations. Sargent
who was elected two years since is
now considered creature Of the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad This, too, is
one Of the results following the asso-
citation Of the producing classes, I'M
der the title of Patrons of Husband
~.
Our California winter has now
fairly set in. We are enjoying the
fourth week Of rain, and as the pros
perity Of the State depends so much
on the rainfall. we eagerly watch the
clouds and count the inches Of water
daily. Up to this time, the average
rainfall in the State exceeds nine
inches, so that we feel comparatively
safe for an abundant crop the com
ing year. Fearing that you may
think that it is raining with us con-
stantly, | will say that we have many
pleasant sunny days, and the absence
of the trade winds which prevail In
summer, rendering our winter season
very agreeable. A sharp frost few
mornings since was hailed with delight
by our residents, believing that it
would check the prevailing fevers.
Royal Fiske, q native of Guildhall
died in this city this week, aged 81
years. Mr. Fiske was pioneer, hay.
ing come to this State soon after gold
was discovered, was engaged in mer.
camille business in Sacramento, in tic
balmy days of, 40 and later in 1851 as
u member of the firm of Gratiot, Fisk
& Perkins, in San Francisco. Suffer
ing the vicissitudes with which many
Of our early pioneers were familiar
In 1858, we find him in Victoria
which had become a place OF more
Importance by the discovery of gold
OIL Frazer River, soon after return.
ing TO SanFrancisco has resided here
ever since. Mr.. Fske has many
friends in Lancaster and vicinity
who will no doubt be gratified t.
Know that kind friends were AROUND
him, and although he lived bache
lor, fair hands ministered to his want!
during his last hours as an evidence
Of the respect and esteem in which he
was held. | will mention that his fu
neral was attended to day by many
of our heavy Merchants and business
men. Ever fearless for the right III
was q faithful friend and safe coun
sellor. H.K. G.
SdnFronoisco Dec. 20h, 1878.