Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-02-23
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

cate by their numerous customers.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Friend Reed-It has been some time
since addressed you. My necessary duties
are so many and cOnfning, that I do not
make very regular correspondent. Be-
sides, for the last few months every soul
mas been in a state of political anxiety
we could think of nothing or do nothing
until we knew the verdict, and we are still
waiting. In this precinct we gave ma
jority for Hayes; it was not large-only
eleven-yet it helped to make the snail
majority ne received from our State. You
might think, in our town, where the inhabi-
tants ara as rough as the country, having
no fear Of God, with an inherent love Of
whisky, that we would poll Democratic
majority.
The majority of our election board were
Democrats, and l, as one of them, can say
there was no bulldozing. We returned a
fair count; there is not much chance for
fraud a. the ballot box in this State, as
every voter has to be registered, and the
duty of the election board Is plsin-to see
that no one votes unless properly register
ed There may be deception used by the
county officials, in placing on the register
those who are not entitled 10 the elective
franchise; but this is outside Of the imme-
diate province Of the board. We of the
Redweods became considerably excited
during the campaign. The situation was
thoroughly discussed at the corner grocery,
and the voters went to the polls under
staaidiRgly. That night my Office was
crowded with an eager, excited multitude,
clamoring for news. Soon it came pouring
in from all parts of the Union. 1t was glo-
rious news for we Democrats. and read
each message with tone that plainly told
how stood. Day after day the news came,
and yet nothing decisive. Ere this reach
es you, however, the suspense will be over,
the President known-and if am among
the disappointed ones, bow cheerfully to
to the decision.
On Thanksgiving, our citizens rested
from their labors and expressed themselves
thankful that they had plenty to eat, and
drink-especially drink.
Christmas day we spent in much the
same way. In the evening we had village
gathering around large and well filed
Christmas tree, which was soon stripped Of
its fruit by a ''jOlly old Nick" dressed and
provided especially for the occasion. Al
ter this-the children's plsasure-they
were taken home, the hall cleared, and our
fair maidens, from off the hills and out the
gulches, were whirled and twisted in the
polkas and quadrilles until early dawn. We
are very particular about observing all po-
litical and religious holidays, though the
manner may not conform to the rules Of
more advanced civilization. We serve them
all alike-aH full of idleness, and some full
of whisky.
These towns along the coast are similar
to mining towns, Of mushroom growth.
They are built for present necessities, not
future permanancy. When these hills are
stripped of their timber, then our citizens
must seek for pastures new. There is plen-
ty Of good farming lands within radius
Of few miles, to support quite a pOpula-
tion, and for years to come! grocery and
post Office will flourish here; but when the
buzz of the saw is still, and the mold of
inactivity crssRs into the old mill, the
stumps along the hillsides will remain to
admonish the passsr-by that we have seen
better days,
This has been peculiar winter. From
the middle Of November to the last Of jan
uary no rain fell, Farmers were beginning
to look discouraged-as a dry winter was a
surety Of no grain harvest next season.
After the first rains in the fall. they pillow
and prepare their ground, and before the
winter is over the seed is up and knee high.
In the valleys of our State and grain grow
ing sections, the early sown grain suffered
greatly from drought. The expected De-
cember rains did not come, and much of it
was checked in its growth, if not entirely
killed. The last Of January brought US an
abundance of rain, which will in 8 great
measure benefit the wheat crop, though it
is scarcely possible to have an average crop
the coming season. The greatest benefit
to be derived from these late rains to our
agricultural interests will be in giving an
abundance of feed to stock. In the south
ern counties Of our State, cattle and sheep
we're dying by hundreds, and this deYasta-
tlon was only checked by proVidential
supply of rain. These droughts and cereal
failures produce general stsgnation in all
branches of industry; they bring people to
a realization that the farmers prosperity is
the prosperity Of all; it breaks up land
monOpoliss and thFpYs thousands Of acres
into market, thus increasing the agrieul-
tural wealth Of our State. venture to say,
that to-day, California Is the most prosper
Gus State in the Union. From the East
comes up the wall Of hard times; thous-
ands out of employment, and a severe win
ter has blocked the wheels Of trade.
This State is the great warehouse of this
coast; into her lisp pours the productions
of the Pacific slope, which ''white winged
commerce" distributes throughout the
known world. Manufacturing, in its diff
ferent branches, is becoming more and
more developed each year; and its hands
are forming iAta convenient ne mHch Of
the prodactionsaf ouF coasti al this makes
to the outsider an exhibit Of prosperity.
The State is rapidly increasing in popula-
tion, and necessity compels our people to
advance the lines of civilization within our
borders; as a consequence, thousands Of
acres each year are being brought into
utility which have heretofore been of no
use. It's climate has 50 often been sxtolled