Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-02

From Southern California.
AxAnrIM, Los Angeles, Dec. IL, 1879.
To the Editor OF the Free Press and Times:
An article copied in your paper from the
atlantic Monthly on the condition of farm
crs in Kansas led me TO think, perhaps your
readers might be interested in knowing some
thing of the condition of that class of people
in Southern California. The Atlantic
writer said the State officials of Kansas were
consulting as TO The hest means of providing
for the support of the destitute families the
coming Winter. But in this State none suf-
fer for food, and the mildness Of the climate
precludcs all idea Of suffering from cold
The population IS made up of persons from
every State in the Union, and from nearly all
quarters of the globe, and from all classes
and conditions of society. The Ncrmonter
is living neighbor to Russian, and the re-
duced banker, from IN Eastern city, next
door TO a Swiss peasant, a Swcde or perhaps
a native Californian of the ''greaser' persua-
sion. OF course from such a Heterogeneous
mass ii is hard TO lay the foundations Of law,
order and good society. \ large proportion
are here for health, very few brought much
capital with them, and many, especially from
the Southwestern States of Texas and Ar
kansas had nothing, being stripped by the
ravages Of war and We're in the condition of
refugees upon reaching this State. But near
ly all came with high hopes, not of being
contented with comfortable living, but of
amassing fortune hy SOME lucky stroke.
This is partly the fault of the local papers
which mainly paint only the fair side Of the
picture. and chronicle the successes, hut are
very rc;icent upon the subject Of
failures. The day for amassing wealth
speedily il past, and nearly all
who expect it are doomed TO disappointment.
And from this fact, that class who lack the
elasticity to recover from i'll luck, as they
call it, join the great army of chronic grum-
bers, to be found everywhere, and settle
down in board boxes on the plains, a la Kan
homes with nothing pleasant or attractive
about them, and apparently determined that
there never Shall be.
But large class profit by experience and
learn to adapt their wants to the capabilities
of the country, and nowhere in the United
States, | verify believe, can family live
with less expense, 50 comfortably, and in a
measure, luxurously even if they will divcst
themselves of the idea of becoming rich,
ami be content with moderate hut steadily
increasing income.
Trees grow very rapidly, and place five
years old has the appearance of an old set
tied country, with large shade trees, an
abundance Of fruit and all the home com
forts. With two or three cows, a few pigs
and chickens Il vegetable garden and ecOno-
my, man may support family of six per
soas Ten acres of good lind with water
will enable him to do this, and live with
comparative ease On the a5th OF last June
stood under the trees in fruit orchard and
picked ripe peaches, apricots, figs, apples and
pears we can have strawberries for the
table nine months Of the year; peaches are
not gone before we have apples, pears and
grapes, and these are succeeded by the
ciiric fruits, such as oranges, lemons,
etc There WAS an exceedingly fine
exhibit Of the so-called Northern fruits
at the Los Angeles horticultural fair
1 ,i.,tt- nc n,t,
be grown anywhere, along with fruits sur
posed II he especially adapted TO the climate
A succession Of fresh vegetables can be sup
piled from your own garden, the entire year,
or if Won do not choose to take the trouble
10 raise them the Chinese vegetable peddler,
for half dozen egg, will give you peas
enough for dinner, with head OF lettuce, II
bunch of radshcs and II few tufnps thrown
in.
Blu: do not think you can purchase your
land, plant your trees. and build y0nr house
and then sit on the porch in the shade, and
the fruit Of the land will lie poured into
your lap BY no means. Industry, ccono-
nv, patience, and perseverance, and an
intelligent mind 10 direct the hands
are AS necessary 10 success ~ fertile
soil, water and IL favorable climate. Farm
| well. for several reasons labor is from so
To SD per month, the nearest market is san
| Francisco, and that for many things Is only
II shipping point, aud freight IL high, beng
controlled mainly by the Southern Pacific
| Railroad. For the last two years tins sec
! tian has felt the pressure ni hard tunes, anu
/ the disturbance produced by the adoption ol
| the ncw State constitution COR cuniusi"n)
has given an uncertain feeling in business
circles But it has also taught the people
! To be cautious and moi stake all upon a
| single experiment. and the present outlook IS
| more he, ,cful. The wine interests never looked
! 20 encouraging OF brought such large returns
/ Thousands of acres will this year lie planlcd
| 10 vines | heard two intelligent men rsi-
mate the profits from II hearing vineyard
| either for rasins OF wine. 1t so per acre
and say it was a moderate estimate. Wheat
raising bids fair to he profitable, and other
/ enterprises await the careful business man,
| who has the elements at success III himself.
| The prcscn, public school systcmi Is excellent,
] and the teachers NJ ii GAS, are cultivated.
middle agcd men and women, such Us 10
| Vermont are found in the academies AMI
/ seminarics. Iou can seek your own spciriy
/ if YOU wish good company 1t Is To- lie i"und,
and If Won prefer | w ussuci;icS there IS II"
| hck II is too true iIic saloon keeps cont
| pany, and sometimes Ifcccdcs ihc ch'lr'h
and school house. But rs the country grows
| older ii is to he hoped p'lhl" sentiment anu
education will correct this One G.rt ari
CRYING need ui the country Is good sutslail-
| tinl men and women, with sufficient rrln-
ciple and stamina 10 build up comfortable
Christian hGmca and help conntcrari The
banefu influence OF the loose immoral cie-
mcnt to I've found in all comparatively new
countries where tberc lisa considerable iloat-
ing population. To such persons there are
as great inducements, am sure, to he found
here, in Los Angeles county, as in any pait
| Of the so. called Western States. j., {.