The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-01-26
CALIFORNIA, &C.
SANTA PAuLA. CAL. Jan. 90. 1875.

L CONTINUED my route yesterday morn
my, leaving at five minutes past nine. just
as the stage from the north arrived to
change horses The bill was two dollar
md half, for suppot, lodging, breakfast
aud the horse. to which | add d a quar-.
GER to the lrishman from Springfield,
Mass, at hint from Santa Anna. Di.
rectly after leaving Rincop station. the
road lost itself upon the beach, across
which it lay several miles. We camc out
upon lands which were pasturing a flock
Of sheep, aud further on flock of goats :;
there were also some cattle. The cactus
is the principal veget BILE. passed one
or two very inferior huts, and after thir.
teen miles came to Bueuaventura. Santa
Anna pricked up his ears and struck a
lively trot, as we sighted this valley. A
small river was forded before reaching
the village, which consists mainly Of a
single street, its elevation twenty. FIVE feet
above the ocean beach, There are two
considerable hotels here the first one, at
which stopped, kept by mn old Califor.
nian, originally from Albany. Unlike
the usupl Californian, he spoke with more
respect Of Albany and New York state,
han Of California, Another resident
present struck the other key. He was
from Kentucky, and favored a soil where
here were no weeds in the corn. In
Kentucky they not only had to hoe the
corn, which you had not here, but to pull
out the grass with your fingers. Another
genten an was in OF u more eastern type,
,urmised by ne at once to be the brother
of one from whom | had brought letter
of introduction to him from Santa Bar.
bara. So it proved to be. They were
born in Massachusetts, graduated at
Dartmouth, had taught winter schools in
Vermont ind studied sometimes doubt
ess in the same books with the pretty
natives He gave me directions to lake
he valley instead of the stage road to Los
Angeles. The distance would be fifteen
miles more, but the country would be
among the best in southern California.
Leaving at half past ten, | came on
Yesterday afternoon to this first station,
sixteen miles. BY my barometer, | find
[ have risen one hundred and seventy. five
fec: The Pacific with its green waters
have loft, and probably shall not see
again, After leaving Bueuavcnturn the
road for while was very wide and very
dusty. Turning up the valley it became
by degrees narrower and harder. Except
that for want of rain every thing is dried
up, this wsuld seem to be fertile valley
and it is tolerably well cultivated at least
divided into small farms, Judge, from
the number Of houses along the road. |,
is fine valley certainly, but IN o!disb
man talked with last night, sail they
mad raised but one good crop here in four
years. on account OF drouth. lie thought
interested parties very much over cstimat
d this. as well as other parts of Califor
ia. He came 10 1869, had lived here
ever since, is an accurate, intelligent man
rom St Lawrence County. New York.
In my trip yesterday. except at Buena.
ventura, passed but a tiuglo good house,
10 village or out and that, a moderate
story and half dwelling, would be hard
y second class in the White River valley.
They are shanties, in general, built OF
rough boards, some OF them having coat
Of paint; none more than two or three
rooms. AT few places, few trees had
been set out. | passed one long willow
hedge The country is new Of course, and
most of the settlers, as usual. come in
poor, With scasonable rains,a few years
will tell upon it favorably Schools have
been commenced Two terms Of four
months each, are the rule, the number OF
scholars in one case | found as high as
fifty. In this, a teacher from Pennsyl
vania had taught last year, at a hundred
dollars a month, boarding himself. This
year, lady teaches at sixty dollars. We
passed large hocks Of sheep, smaller
herds of horses aud cattle, An lrishman
told me sheep were kept here for wool,
pigs and poultry, sir, for mutton.
This village has two hotels The first
not attracting me though most preten.
tious, we went on to the second poor per.
haps, but honest, well conducted, It,
partitions are Of rough boards, the i'm.
provements not finished, but the people
hospitable aud intelligent, prepared to
entertain a stranger if not fully to keep a
hotel The man is from Illinois, his vii,
from New Jersey. found large fire
in an open eplace, several men aoout il
among them an Arizona stage-driver, who
proved the very man was looking for tc
give me information about the way. He
thinks can get through without trouble
by connecting myself with parties who ar,
properly provided, aud are watcbful il
certain places 1ho two hotels, two
blacksmiths shops, aud school house
make up the sum total OF Santa Paula
There are cabins and few houses in tn,
ueighborhood. To-day, am stopping
over to attend a dance to be held here to
night, and 10 rest up. j. b.