The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-12-20
FROM CALIFORNIA.
san BERNARDINO, CAL.


December 6, 1871
DEAR CHIEF:-Permt me, through the columns of
your paper, to comply with the request of many of
your readers, by giving them impartial description
of Southern California, far as l have been able
to learn and see The shortncss of the time since my
arrival here, does not admit of perfect knowledge
of all the objections and advantages; nevertheless,
have, through reliable friends obtained facts that
will be of interest to your readers. hope and trust
that the facts here set FORTH may satisfactory
information to those that unsettled in their minds
about emigrating to California.
The land is composed of mountains and deserts.
Along the streams and watercourses, this land is not
worth anything, except for grazing of cattle and
sheep; and hardly that, unless you irrigate it.
To do that, you must oSn waterright with your
land. To irrgate and till five acres, costs about the
same effort that it does to till forty in Kansas where
nature waters it. The lands that are good for any
thing owned by grantholders, originally from the
Spanish Government, under the treaty between the
United States aud Mexico. If there are any lands
that are not owned by true grant, they gobbled
up under pretenee and held by large capitalists
in Los Angeles or San Francisco. II there is any
water of any Importance that is also claimed. The
largest part of this land huge mountains and deserts
Some of the mountains have pine. cedar, fur-oak,
anu Ou TOP lHtbc mountalns nave some ara
BILE land top too steep for cultivation. steep
to take mp supplies, to deliver the lumber pronet
down to the valley, without great deal of danger,
hard work, and cost of time.
This valley is rather exception. The land that
is titled could be all laid in square of twelve miles,
This spot settled about twenty-five years ago. by
the Joseph Smithites, Mormons-a number that had
a hand in the Mountain Meadow massacre, some of
whom living here now, with the crime of murder
weighing as heavily upon them that of John D.
Lee, according to his book of confession. There
large number of artesian wells in this valley but
twoinch pipe of water will irrigate but small gar
den-spot. This land seomposed of decomposed granite
and sand. The land produces beyond imagination. /
saw a sweet potato weighing 10 pounds ouuces one
pumpkin, 1888 pounds Grapes grow very large
in fact, all vegetables grow unreasonably large,
The farms in this valley very small, from one
to forty in piece, and laid out like
city. Every road is called street, and has living
water and trees each sile giving it beautiful ap
pea-anee and great many have, by hara labor. pa
tienee, and strict fidelity to their business
INFLATED very attractive property. This valley is
solid orchar-apples, pears, peaches, oranges lines,
lemons, figs, grapes, and all kinds of tropical fruits.
To own any of this land. you will pay from two to
seven hundred dollars, and upward per acre to rent
it, pay thirty dollars per and for every
of this land you find, you will hundred that
will not give food to either or beast-prickly-
pear, sage-brusl Sc. There are large deserts, and
on these you will hear, almost every week, of some
perishng from Thirst coming going from the
mines.
There several mining camps that get their sup
plies from this town, where I have hung up for the
winter-or rather my family have huve been rusti-
eating the most of the tme-part of the time in the
mountains, where the black brown, and grizzly bears
are found, and which to be stunned, feared and
despised. 1 saw that made me make tracks If
it was not for taking up too much space, would give
my history in the mountains.
The people of all kinds, mostly Spanish Indians
and Greasers, outside of this valley. The population
Ofthis town is about 4000 with Catholic church,
two Protestant churches, North and South Methodist
one Mormon church, Tor Latter Day Saints,) a fine
court house, good free school, spiritual hall,
where they hold spiritual gatherings, and lectures
tending to that belief What is called liberal dane
ing carried by the mixed multitudes of society
There is not much regard paid to the Sabbath-it is
more like holiday than holy day. Horse riding
and buggy riding are the pastimes. Every laborer
has to furnish his own lodging bv carrying with him
pair of blankets, and chooses his bed the ground
The climate is good, so far as have seen. 1t seems
like perpetual summer to me- to see gardens planted
every month in the year. We get fresh vegetables
and fruits of all kinds brought to our door every
morning, by the Chinese pedlers. This is no place
for poor folks, there full supply here If one
has money to live on this is good place. They sell
dom ice, am told in the valley. but the the tops
of the mountains white three months of the year.
The silver and gold mines things that no man.
unless experienced in mining, should touch. There
,,,S
near here. Gold, in small quantities. is diused through
all the land of this coast but seldom can any money
be made, only by large capital invested in mills and
working men.
Our ladies here send their washing to the Chinese
washhouses which are as thick or thicker than the
lagerbeer saloons i'm st. Joseph For family of four
they charge one dollar, washing and ironing. One
sack of rice will keep Chnaman month. 1t costs
him dollars. That is about the allotment allowed
for food for one Chinaman. A white man has very
little chance to live by work this coast. Enter
prises of all kinds to be overlone, no matter
what his business faculties At present. it would be
hard to do anything here.
will say word here to the boys of Doniphan
County. You had better stay at home with the girl
You love much, than be running around here in
the sand and dust. If yoa are diseased with the
asthma, think this place Is a cure, as know
several who came here that are entirely WELL
to be. 1t is dry and healthy place, though the
country is no such country As your State or sister
States All kinds of diseases are as common here as
in any place ever lived. This last year has been
extremely dry and the sheep have died by the thou
sand Stock raising is played out here. Most of the
stock is driven to Arizona. There is great deal Of
silver and lead shipped from this station. 1t is
so miles south of San Francisco, on the Southern
Pacific Railroad, 50 miles from Los Angeles, E0 miles
from San Diego 1 have been to several different
towns, mountains, deserts warm springs, hunting
grounds, &C. THERE'S company here that is going to
the Sandwich Islands. am going with them, to hunt
on the beach, and fish, and look at those Islands, and
will give description of them, when return If de-
sired shall take particular pains to investigate
Dave Badgley, and give you the facts in the case.
have spoken of every subject of Importance, be
ieve will close my remarks, believing that the
length of my letter will satisfy your readers, if the
docs not. Hoping to hear from some of
them, remain. as ever,
Respectfully yours,
W. J.R.
An Appeal I'm Behalf Of the Captain.