The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-03-10
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

Euu0F <teytstT
When I left Kansas for the Pacific
Coast it was my intention to give the
readers of The REGISTER my impressions
Of California through series of letters,
but for the first six months after arriv-
ing here l was travelling and changing
locations so often, and was 80 undecided
what to say of the country that con-
cluded that the best thing l could do
was to keep silent, as everything here is
so different from the eastern States that
one cannot tell much about it by a short
visit. Having been here now however
nearly two years, and visited nearly every
town of any size in the State, besides
'doing the great Yosemite and the big
trees" l think l can give more correct
idea of this coast than would be possible
to do by simple visit of few days
or weeks.
As it will be impossible to more than
touch on few points in short letter
will endeavor to speak of the most no.
ticeable as compared with the country
east of the Rocky Mountains. The first
and most acceptable is the climate which
is so much preferable to that in the
eastern States, especially during the win
ter months, that there is really no COM
parison. In fact there is no winter here
as eastern people understand the term.
During the whole time have lived here
l have never seen snow or ice and have
not put on glove or overcOat all
through the winter months. Our rainy
season is Just about the same as your
spring and fall rains and only just cool
enough to be pleasant, while the flowers
are in bloom and the grass rank and
green and everything growing more rap
idly than at any other season of the year.
The manner of doing business here is
necessarily different from the eastern
States for the reason that the land is
mostly owned in large tracts and the
farm work such as putting in crops is
done during the winter months or rainy
season. A farmer that has less than a
thousand acres into wheat in this valley
is considered "small potatoes" and as
this land is considered worth from 500
800 per acre it is impossible for a man
with an ordinary amount of money to
expect to do much in this branch of bus
mess. In some parts of the State how
ever there is disposition to cut these
large tracts up into small farms which I
believe will he great benefit to the
future of California.
The mercantile business also requires
a large capital, for the reason that farm
ers get years tine on their purchases
and stranger starting in business if he
has sufficient capital would be likely to
make great many bad debts until he
became acquainted with the people. for
everybody is not rich or honest in Cali
fornia any more than the people in the
eastern States. There are great MANY
renters and adventures besides a large
floating population that is continually
changing.
The society here is not of the best rs
there are great many foreigners that
have acquired wealth by mining or get
ting hold of tracts of land and holding
them until they have become valuable,
which of course makes kind of shoddy
that is anything but agreea
BILE to new corners. Again majority of
the merchants are wealthy Jews which
added to the above class leaves only
about one-half of most communities of
American born citizens.
1t will be seen from the above that |
do not consider this good place for PEG
with a small amount of capital to immi-
CRATE to at the present time, and yet
without doubt the Pacific Coast is one
of the most desirable and attractive spots
on the American continent and if one
can get start here he is all right.
Everything grows in great abundance
from raisin vineyard or orange grove
to the big trees and what is of almost
equal importance our markets are never
overstocked so that everything raised or
grown brings good price. The reason
for this is because ships load at San
Francisco for all parts of the world while
the non-prOducing classes in the mines
make demand for all kinds of produce
raised in the poultry yards and on the
dairy farm. For instance, eggs never
sell for less than % cents per dozen and
often go to 60 cents; while butter ranges
from 30 to 80 cents per pound.
From what have said above | trust
your readers will not understand me As
saying all the land in California is ralu-
able and held at high figures. 1t is only
the rich valley lands that are 50 desira
bic and valuable. There are thousands
and thousands of acres of mountainous
lands that are only used for sheep graz
ing and still belong to government. much
of it. but no one coming here would de-
sire to go on these.
Woodland, the place where l have
located is eighteen miles west of Sacre-
mento and about four hours ride from
San Francisco. The city contains a
population of about $500. 1t is supplied
with gas and water works and has sever.
al as fine residences as can be found in
Lawrence or Topeka, while the yards
at this time (middle of winter) look like
the yards in the east in June. Flowers
and roses in bloom and the peach trees
all white with blossoms while the birds
are singing as sweetly as they do in
l can't close this letter without tell
ing you what pleasure the weekly visit
of The REGISTER gives all the family.
1t revives old associations and keeps us
posted as to the constant changes taking
place in lola. Respectfully,
/. WALKER.