The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-12-29
Correspondence Of the News.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAY BERNARpno. Cal. Dec. 6, 1881.

part of the world may be of interest.
This county is one Of the largest
in the Union, containing 23,472
square miles, of which the larger
portion is desert and mountains. In
1851 this valley was purchased by
the Mormons, with a view of estab-
fishing a colony, and an outftting
depot for emigrants en- route to
the promised land. The Mormon
war of 81, however, caused Brigham
to change his programme, and to
centralize his powers in Utah. He
called in his outstanding settlements,
and San Bernardino was abandoned
to the wicked.
The advent of the railroad and a
large influx of Eastern population
have changed the face of affairs. The
old box houses have given place to
tasty wooden cottages, the unculti-
vated fields to neatly-kept farms and
thriving orchards.
The climate of the county is as
varied as are its physical features.
The spring and fall months are the
most enjoyable. The temperature
is steady, the nights cool, the days
cloudless, and a pleasant sea-breeze,
which reaches the valley every day
from eleven to two o'clock, cOntin-
uing till sunset, greatly mOdifes the
heat, even of midsummer. In mid
summer the thermometer ranges
from 95 to 11O degrees. The heat,
however, is dry, and not at all ener-
waiting or oppressive, and work can
be carried on in the sun with more
pleasure than when the thermometer
records IS or so degrees in the East
Sun-stroke is a thing entirely IN
known in this valley. A change Of
climate may be had by a drive up the
mountains, requiring but a few
hours time, where cool and refresh
ing valleys are found, abOunding
| in forests, streams and game, and
where the weather, even in the hot
test season of the year, is spring like
and balmy.
One of the great advantages en-
Iioyed by San BernardinO is its abun-
dance of water. Almost surrounded
by mountains, numerous streams
pour into it from all directions, while
/ Artesian we'll water can be obtained
almost anywhere in the valley by
sinking from 80 to 300 feet.
The principal resources Of this
county are agricultural products,
semi-tropioal and deciduOus fruits,
lumber, wool, cattle, gold, silver, Lead,
tin and honey. The staple cereal Is
barley. which IS winter crop, and
in ordinary good seasons produces a
heavy yield.
After the barley is harvested, on
damp or irrigable lands, it is succeed.
ed by crop of corn. Alfalfa, which
is the principal hay crop, yields very
heavily, and is cut from four to seven
times in the season, yielding at eacE
cutting about two tons per acre.
The cultivation of semi-tropica
fruits has, of late years, received
large share Of attention. The prin
eipal fruit section is in and around
Riverside, where there is a stretcE
of country, some sixteen miles II
IIsngth by about two miles in width
devoted almost entirely to semi
F tropical fruits. Riverside is nov
boxing and shipping large quantitie
of raisins and oranges, which are pro
nounced by judges the best in Cali
fornia, and unsurpassed in the world
Figs. almonds, English walnuts, anc
= in short, all kinds Of fruits and nuts
l do we'll here,
Several very rich mines are bein
worked, while new ones are almos
D., daily being discovered. One of th
e largest deposits of tin in the wOrI
It is found at Temescal, in the south
: ern part Of this county.
c In price, lands vary according t
= location, improvements and other &C
It vantages. Good lands can be haC
L with water for irrigation, at $50
a $1,000 per acre. Land without wI
h ter is comparatively worthless, a
Is though in ordinary seasons a crop
grain can be raised on dry land.
The land of the valley is mainl
d black, sandy loan, getting more sal
dv as we advance towards the moul
, tains. while the foothills are OF
,. gravely nature. The soil Of Rive
n side is a heavy red clay, with a ligE
admixture of sand, formed evident
from the washes of the mountain
- Ii is especially adapted to fruit, an
. trees of all kinds make astonishln
- growth in it.
i This part of the valley is settle
q almost entirely by Eastern peopl
mostly of some means, many
whom have located here for the
# health. It has an air Of newnes
the houses are all neat, many
them fine, orchards well kept, an
y everything shows enterprise al
ID thrift. If it does not experience
,e drawback for want of water, it is de
ofI tined ere long to become one Of Il
most beautiful and delightful lOca
II ties in the State.
to I had thought of saying somethi1
concerning oranges, Taisins and apl
cot culture; also schools, teacher
examinations, &c, but this letter
r; already long enough, and l will clot
Il bv savino that we are enjoying gOt