Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-04-10
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ABOUT OURSELVES.

The following letter we clip from
the Bloomfield (Pa.) Democrat. 1t
was written by gentleman who has
lately taken up his residence in our
city and doubtless embodies his "first
impressions" which are so generally
claimed to b- the best. If the writer
has waXed II little too enthusiastic on
the subject of fruits and flowers, we
will forgive him in consideration of
the uniformly moderate tone which
pervades the other portions of the
communication. The points given in
relation to our city and valley are con-
else and accurate in all respects and
will convey fair idea Of the subject
to our Eastern readers. The letter is
as follows:
Los ANGELES, California,
March 10th, 1875.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT: 1t may be in
teresting to some of your many read
ers to hear something about the State
of California, which has been attract
ing much attention during the past
few years, not only as mining and
agricultural district, but as a health
resort, of soft, cOngenical climate as
well in Winter as in Summer. Los
Angeles. the metropolis of Southern
California, is situated about 4UO miles
South of San Francisco, fifteen miles
from the ocean at the nearest point.
and twenty-One miles from Whining
ton harbor, which is connected by rail
with this city. The situation of Los
Angeles is natural one, with a grad
al elevation of three hundred feet
above the level of the sea; lying on
the banks or slope of the river from
which it derives it's name, and stretch
ing back to the foothills, rising more
than 200 feet the sides Of which are
terraced with streets and avenues
running in different dire ecti0ns, pre-
senting beautiful view from the
plaza beneath.
Los Angeles, originally q Spanish
city, contains within its limits thirty
six square miles, but the city proper is
confined to much smaller space. The
surplus grounds are filled up with or
ange groves and family residences,
with acres attached for lawns and gar
dens. Flowers and ornamental trees
are grown to greater extent than in
the Eastern States, owing to the fact
that they grow all seasons of the year.
Sonora, the Spanish part of the city,
has the familiar features of all Mexi-
can towns; close built, narrow streets,
and church looming above. The
buildings are adobe, one story in
height, stretching sometimes whole
lengths of blocks, seemingly con-
nected, but separated by partition
wall, each door opening out, there be-
ing no communication between rooms
as is usually the custom in American
houses.
The American element of the city
has drifted to the South and West of
Sonora, and are confined principally
to themselves. Their streets are wide
and well laid out, with evergreen
trees shading many of the sidewalks
and thOrOughfares. The buildings are
of the most modern improvement and
stylish architecture.
.isssta, Society is exceedingly s; good, not
ciCnlcut WuICu 10 uTOuSuJ tO OeaT OH
the morality of the city. Every
branch of the Protestant church Is
represented in Los Angeles. Each
church is supplied with an able and
efficient minister, who usually at
tracts good congregations. The peo-
pie of California are very hOspitable
indeed. Strangers visiting the city
are made to feel as comfortable as pos
sible. The latch string is hung out to
all who conduct themselves with a
limited amount of decorum.
Chinese labor predominates in Los
Angeles as well as in all other places
in California. The people here think
this kind of labor superior to any 9TH
er. Hired girls are Cinnamon, wait.
ers are Cinnamon, and, in fact, every
branch of labor is done by Cinnamon.
This is owing to the fact that years
ago American labor could not be had
at any price, and In that way Chinese
abor took the ascendency, and now
like slavery in the South, is hard tG
be uprooted.
The climate Of Los Angeles and vi.