Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-15
Another GrowIer.


published letter is as follows:
ENIIGRATIN WEsT.-A CAUTION
Mr. Editor: There has been a system
atic and continued advertising in the
East of wonderful and grand opportu-
mites in California, especially by rail-
road companies and other parties in
terested in lands. Then to confirm the
truth of their representations they tell
us of large and intelligent emigration
from the New England States. They
spice these advertisements with gold
and silver mines, fertility of soil, un-
equaled tropical climate where tropi.
cal frnits and plants and flowers grow
out of doors all the year round. They
tell of health and wealth so charm
ingly and easily gained that it would
seem that any man was a fool, or
a brute to his sickly family to stay at
home when California would cure our
loved ones sure and at once. Then
i've. No more ills orails when once in
the lend of gold and eternal spring,
where roses bloom all the year, etc.,
just like Heaven.
1t has been my fortune or misfor-
tune-I can't tell which-to have seen
much of this emigration, both on the
railroad and after they have reached
California. Not only have / talked
with the emigrant but with numbers
of the truest and best men in the Sac
ramento valley. 1t is no place for q
poor man. It is the biggest impos-
ton on humanity to induce the emil
grafton now pouring into this country.
1t is fact that in the city of Sacra-
mento hundreds are living too desti-
thte to describe. Many are living ouk
of the slop-barrels of the hotels, and far
better than many others who appear
more respectable, for the reason that
you cannot see how they live. Scores
are driven to steal to keep body and
soul together. Begging in California
is met with very little sympathy. It
makes my heart ache to see the emil
grant train come in every morning
with from three to ten ears crammed
full of men, women and children, who
have perhaps barely money enough to
! bring them here, and now that their
journey is over feel so happy to find
themselves at last in California. I
know the bitter disappointment that
awaits them. When landed from the
boat at San Francisco they are turned
loose without any home or agency to
aid or guide them in any way. They
land there in the night and go ashore
in the meanest, darkest and most
dangerous parts of the city, where the
chances are they will be robbed or
wronged before morning.
The rates so confidently expected
to the Centennial this year will be
taken advantage of by thousands and
thousands, who will leave this coast
forever. Such a getting out of Cali
fornia will surpass the rush that has
existed to get here. / enter protest
in the name of humanity and COM
mon decency against the lying that is
being done to induce people to come
to this coast. There are too many
here now. California is over repre-
sented. These are facts that can and
will be confirmed by nine out of every
ten who have come on to this coast
during the last year; besides half the
well-informed men of the State. If
any feel like knowing moro of this
matter, address me, Brighton, Macou-
pin county, Illinois.
r. NJ. BELL.
Elko, Nevada, Jan. Sd, 1876.
Our correspondent, though strang-
er to California, refutes all the malic-
ious untruths expressed in the above
communication and writes as follows:
EDITOR HERALD-DEAR SIR Il
have long been an admirer of the
"Golden State;" have read with in
terest all that came in my way con-
corning California and her great re-
sources. Having carefully read "Cal-
ifornia for Health, Pleasure and Pro-
tito by Chas. Nordhoff, and several
other works on the same subject, L can
hardly give credit to the article en-
closed, that | have clipped from the
Philadelphia Germantown Telegraph
of Jan. 10. Either Mr.. Nordhoff mis-
represents California, or Mr.. Bell does
her great injustice. | know that Cal
ifornia has n large population but 1
was not aware that her people were so
rich that they would not tolerate
poor man, or are they so poor that
they do not want any more poor to
share their misery. 1t is certainly
cruel to land passengers during the
night in strange city, to gropc their
way in the dark and dangerous parts
of the city to be plundered of what
they do not possess, by thieves that
must infest the streets of San Fran
cisco. Mr.. Bell speaks of "such get
ting out of California" during the Cen
tennial. Will they not all buy eXcur-
sion tickets and "get" back again? 1t
has been my intention to emigrate TO
California. Will you please inform
me if such state of affairs exists in
Southern California?
will not come with the expecta-
tion of getting suddenly rich or get
ting gold merely for the STOPPING
down TO pick it from the surface of the
ground, but to make good citizen,
follow respectable business, and en-
joy your genial climate.
Please tell me if l arrive with short
| allowance of the needful, but with
plenty of energy, will be compelled
to beg, or live from the slop.barrei of
some charitable hotel.
Having read many articles inserted
in the Philadelphia Times, for which
they give you credit, and not knowing
any one else in your State, take the
liberty to address you. If you will
favor me with an answer you will sat-
isfy great many of my neighbors as
well as Your humble servant,
GEORGE w. WILLS,
21 Harvey ST., Germantown, Phila. Pa.
Jan. 2Sth, 1876.
The select party last Friday evening