The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-02-20
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 1915

DAN RANClSCO, TcD ~, 1919.
DEAR WmG:-Would you like to hear
word once and while from the far West,
the real jumping-off place, where you eau
not follow the setting sun any further with
out taking to boats? guess you would,
so will tell you few things that perhaps
you don't know already.
First, we are in latitude 1921 degrees
West, which makes our time about three
hours slower than yours. Do you see the
advantage of that? OF course you don't.
Well, we sit up at night enjoying ourselves
three hours after you are all abed; and,
better still, we lay abed in the morning
dreaming the happy hours away for the
same time after you are all up and hard at
work. 1t is fair to state, however, that all
persons may not agree with me as to this
advantage, but leave it to them to figure
it out. But the climate, "aye there's the
rub" While you all over the East are
frozen up Tor frozen doen, if you like it
better) we are here taking oranges off the
trees, wearing summer clothes, eating straw
berries and all the other fruits and vegeta-
bles of the whole year every day. There
is nothing like it. All you want the shell
ter of house for is to have some where to
sleep and a cover from the wind and rain.
1t is about as near the famous "garden of
Eden =" as you can find in a years travel
Speaking of rain reminds me to tell you
that when it rains here it means business,
just as in all other tropical countries.
have seen it rain so hard you could not see
half way across the street, but it only rains
in that style for few hours at time; as
for long, quiet, nice steady rain, have
seen it rain for ten days and nights all the
time. I guess if Cecil county had a few
such rains, there would not be many
dams left. Here we don't mind them; in
fact they are just what we need. When it
pours down in that manner the granger
boils an extra piece Of pork, the miner dou-
bles his ante in seven-up, the merchant
puts on another fifty per cent, and the real
estate man says he isn't particular about
selling that piece of property just now.
The rains are every thing, and when they
are copous we all know that there is to be
a year of prosperity in all branches of labor
and business, especially with the farmers
and miners. This season Il cannot say
Winter there have been great rains, and
consequently this is sure to be year of
great prosperity. 1t is during such years
that California receives her greatest emil
grafton; last year the population was in
creased more than one hundred thousand.
| Eastern people have little idea of the vast
capabilities of the Pacific coast. l would
| like to tell you of the resources of this
State alone, but if told but half you would
not believe it; you would think it too good
to be true. For instance, if l should say
that this State can support a population of
one hundred million people, few would
believe it. Yet the best informed people
here say that is moderate estimate. If
l were to tell you that we have the richest
and largest mines of precious metals in
the world; that we have more coal, and
iron, and oil, than Pennsylvania; that we
have licher soil than any where else
/
the world; that we have and produce the
finest specimens of humanity known; that
we have beets as big as flour barrel
pumpkins as large round as a cart Wheel
one person to eat, grapes requiring to be
sliced before you can get them in your
mouth, wine for twenty five cents gallon;
that we have trees so tall it takes two per-
sons to see the tops-one looks up till he
gets tired and the other begins where the
first leaves off. am afraid you would say
l was romancing Ito draw it mildly. yet
these are facts. l would state here that |
have not seen these tall trees for myself,
but am sure it is true as | am ready to be-
lieve any thing of California. We are
never surprised at any thing. If a mine
of twenty dollar gold pieces already coined
were to be struck. none of us would be in
the least surprised; even better things than
that are hoped for. We have every thing
now known, and why should we not have
things heretofore unknown? Every thing
is possible here.
| should need an entire volume of Tie
Wing to tell you of half the resources Of
this wonderful country; great in every
thing that goes to make great people.
Emigrants from all parts of the world are
pouring in and are prosperous. There is
work for every one who is willing to work
and knows how to do it. There is no bet
ter place for the capitalist to invest; the
largest fortunes are made in real estate.
If the subject is interesting | will take
pleasure in telling you in future letters
more about this wonderful State, and de
scribing how enter prising people could bet
ter their fortunes by coming here. l have
little personal interest in the matter, but
am ready to do my share of work for the
improvement of California, as well as to
benefit those of Cecil county who are desir-
Gus Of doing better in a new home than
they can ever hope to do in their native
t,tn