Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-01
CALIFORNIA.
Prom WIImiBEtOR 10 LOS AngeIes-The
old n1sHfODs and New settle
menIs-Ihe Fruits OF the
Land OF the Sun.
From an Occasional Correspondent.l

From an Occasional Correspondent
ORANGE, CAL, April 5, 1875.-My
last letter left me at San Pedro, and,
having failed to make the connection
for Anaheim, we stopped over all night
at Wilmington with Mr.. Frank Buster,
who keeps the clearinghouse at Wilson
college for the students of the institu-
ton, and who knows how to make a
party OF Tennesseans feel at
home either with or with
out the wine. This college is fast
growing into popular favor, aud is now
ranking among the first institutions Of
this kind in the State. Leaving this de-
lightful place on the Los Angeles rail-
road we pass through rich agricultural
valley. interspersed with numerous al
kali beds, and mostly OF the n1eSid land,
which means dry and worthless, without
water; but q stranger land all are such
at first coming to California must first
procure water, then procure land TO run
it on, but with water these lands are not
TO be beaten in the world. The lands
ara held at high figures, seemingly, but
there are many new farms being settled
through here. We near Los Angeles,
and Degin to come to orange groves and
vineyards, the Orange-trees all heavily
loaded with their golden fruit, that
would almost tempt an eastern man to
violate the tenth commandment. But
we are now in the city, changing cars
for Anaheim All aboard, and we are
off down on the other side of the Los
Angeles valley. Soon We cross the old
San Gabriel river and come to Los Me
tas, which has grown to be almost a
young city since l was here in Septem-
saloon, one harness shop, one drug store,
and one clearinghouse. Now there is
a fine hotel, kept by Mr.. J. 7. Carney,
five dry goods stores, two drug stores,
one furniture store, one large livery
stable, two blscksmith-shOps one meat
shop, two saloons, and many other
buildings of different kinds to be erected
at an early day. It does not take long
to build q nice sized town in this rich
country, when il is so thickly settled as
it is through this county. Three miles
further, and q town called Artesia has
been laid out and sold off in lots to suit.
Since l was over the ground last fall,
lands that might have been purchased
then at from fifteen to twenty-five dol
lars per acre, are quick sale at double
that rate. But this is the artesian coun-
try, where there are large number Of
ever flowing wells. 1t is rich country,
but has alkah. The Southern Pacific
railroad has been completed from Los
Nietas, q distance of fifteen miles, to
Anaheim, since left here last Septem-
Der, and is taking q large number Of
land-hunters down this valley. Ana
helm is a thriving town, of some i'm
poTtance, has many large business
houses, and is growing rapidly. 1t has
three hotels, and all crowded to their
utmost capacity at all times. 1t
is in the midst of orange groves,
and vineyards, and when you pass this
way don't fail 10 ask for the best wines,
such as editors are used to, and you will
get them, as they are said to be made
bere. Here we met our friends from
Orange with wagons, teams, etc, to take
US five miles to our long looked for
homes, through an unsettled portion OF
the valley, filled with cactus, sage, elder
and willow, to the Santa Anna river,
which we find to be about five or six
hundred yards Of white sand, with not
q drop OF water, or even a moist spot,
and almost impossible for loaded wagons
to pass through. Now we are in sight
of Orange in the distance, presenting
the loveliest valley the eye can rest
upon, our party exclaimiDg as they
come in full view, what lovely sight,
and look at the snow on yOnder mOdn-
tain; see the coast range OF mountains
beneath their white caps OF snow, covered
with carpet OF green. What sight!
But as there is much to see yet, and be
said, OF this valley, silence must prevail
until you hear from me again.
ORANGE, CAL, April l2.-My last let
ter left me on my arrival at Orange,
which town is situated in Los Angeles
valley, between the Santa Anna and
Santa Argus rivers, three miles from the
foot hills on the east and ten from the
Pacific ocean on the west, and is laid off
in ten and twenty acre lots, with sixty
feet and siXty-six feet avenues running
east and west and north and south for
miles each way over the gravelly streets
perfectly level, and finer travelling on
them than you have on your celebrated
boulevard. These lots, or
streets, are bOrdered with English wal
nut, orange, lemon, lime, and in some
places with the Australian gum; the
latter used for ornament and wood, the
former for their fruits. The trees are set /
out straight and regular, and for miles
they can be seen in q line as straight
and perfect as can be. They will, at no
distant day, afford the finest drives amid
the tropical fruit-grOve that can be found
on earth, and be food for poets
and painters for all time to come.
From where l now sit to write |
this letter l see the CocumungO |
thirty-five or forty miles to
the northeast, with their lofty peaks, 1
said TO be eight thousand feet above the |
sea level, and the San Bernardine |
beyond the San Bernardine |
valley, in the east, covered with snow,
overlooking this great valley. Then /.
come lower aud nearer, and find the |
coast range, or foothills mountains, with !,
its carpet Of growing green; and then .
come lower and find yourself on the /
level plains, among the Strawberries, to-
matoes, peas, and other vegetables that 1
grow the year round, and surrounded on /
every side by the mountains, except on /
the sesshoTe side, fOrming an smphithe- .
ater Of unsurpassed mountain scenery. .
Ten miles TO the west | seq the cid Pa .
cific ocean, as far as the eye can reach,
in al her majestic grandeur. Will
write Vou again soon