The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-06-19
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN Francisco, May 30th, 1875,

SAN Francisco, May 30th, 1875.
If line be drawn from east to west
through California at the city Of San Fran
cisco, it divides the State into two parts,
the upper of which is called Northern, and
the lower Southern California. North of
this line there are thirty-one counties, and
south twenty. The State contains one
hundred and twenty-three million acres of
land, of which only twenty-five million
acres are assessed, the balance being Gov
eminent land. The assessed value of South
ern California is about million dollars
less than the northern section. OF all the
property value of all kinds in the State
the city of San Francisco contains consld-
erably more than one-third. The greatest
part of the known natural wealth of Cali
fornia lies north of San Francisco. The
coal mines, the iron mines, the mines OF
precious metals, the timber, are nearly all
in the northern part. To an intelligent
immigrant seeking a place to support
family, and accumulate something for him.
self and them in the future, these facts are
worth more than volume of word paint
ing of scenery and climate. The climate
of Northern California is very fine, but
little inferior to that of the southern part,
and much finer than any portion of the
country east of it. 1t has not received the
advertising from tourists and others that
the southern has, and is not SO well known
to strangers. Its advantages should not
be overlooked by those intending to emil
CRATE. During the present season the emil
grafton has mostly been directed to the
southern part, and for month after month
Eastern people have been pouring into
Southern California at the rate of from
four to five hundred per day. The emil
grants on the whole are of a superior class,
farmers and mechanics. Fleeing from cold
in the East they have been anxious to get
as far South as possible, but had they known
that in point of climate Northern California
is as desirable as Southern many of them
would likely have gone to that part where
the natural advantages are the greatest.
In the southern section the crops cannot
be depended upon without irrigation, the
rainfall in some years being deficient, while
in the northern there are always abundant
rains. 1t may be well to again remark that
on the Pacific coast the rain all falls during
what are your Winter months; from April
to December no rains occur except at rare
intervals, the sun shining daily in an
unclouded sky. The northern climate is
not so different from the southern but that
it can raise all the semi-tropical fruits and
productions, and at the same time can pro-
duce some that the southern does not in
perfection. In fact, California, both North
ern and Southern, possesses every variety
of climate, from warm one like that OF
Cuba and the tropics to cold one like
that of Canada and the Arctic regions.
And often these varying climates are only
separated by ahalf dozen hours travel by
rail. 1t all depends upon the elevation;
whether it is on the mountains, in the val
leys, or on the sea coast. The valleys are
hot and tropical, the coast and foothills
temperate, and the high mountains cold
and arctic. On the mountains the snow
falls sometimes thirty feet deep, while in
the valleys it is never seen. On the sea
coast nearly the same temperature Is main
tanned the year round; the reason being
that the climate of the coast is governed
by ocean currents. In the interior valleys
during the middle Of the day it is exces-
sively warm, 112 degrees in the shade not
being uncommon. But this great heat,
which would be fatal in the East, does not
here Inconvenience those who work under
the blazing sun. Sunstroke is unknown.
The air is so dry that the heat is not noticed,
the perspiration being at once absorbed
suffocating feeling experienced in the East
with lower temperature. There is no
prostration by the heat. At sunset the air
and earth begin to COOL and at bed time
the temperature has fallen SO much that
blankets are required to keep warm through
the night This extreme of temperature
induces sound and refreshing sleep. AS
long as sound sleep is secured at night
almost any amount of heat can be borne
through the day. The difference of eli
| mate between Northern and Southern Cali
fornia is one chiefly of the degree of heat
and amount of rain. The soil is good in
both parts, and with plenty of water failure
| of crops is unknown.
Thus California is seen to have every
| desirable variation Of climate; suited tc
the profitable cultivation of almost every
kind of grain, fruit, and vegetable; and
pleasing to persons of all dispositions and
every state of health. Those DESTROYS OIL
tropical home can find it in the valleys
those wanting an even and unchangine
temperature meet it on the sea coast anC
foothills; while those who think they neec
a cold climate with some frost and snow
can be suited on the mountains. From
the great yield Of every grain and fruit
food will always be cheap. Now, with this
beautiful country, splendid climate, CHEAP
food, and good society it is not surprising
that Californians are proud of their State
and will live nowhere else except upor
compulsion. 5. T.
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