The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-01
CALIFORNIA.

An Interesting Letter from a Citizen o
Dallas, Now In San Fransisco-A Desorip
ton OF the Country, Climate, Prodrc
tions, Etc.
The following is An extract taken from I
private personal letter to the editor OF this
journal. 1t is so replete with entertaining
and instructive data for our people, now
more than ever interested in California
that we have taken the liberty of thus re.
producing some selections;
SAN FRANCISCO, June "a, lSS2.-MY DEAF
FRIEND:
We left Dallas, as you know, on the 9th
inst. at night. BY next morning we were
in the comparatively uninhabited portion
of Texas, and from there to Ell Paso the
country gradually becomes more desolate
and bare until the latter portion of it-some
hundreds of miles--was almost a bowling
desert, and scarcely sprig OF grass or shrub
of any kind and apparently unfit for hui
| man habitation, or the sustenance of ami
nal life, and / confess that my pride in
| west Texas lands is not so arrogant as il
was before made this trip. This sterile
country, however, may be redeemed in
course of time and be converted into the
fruitful homes of prosperous people, as
has been the case in country exactly SIM
| liar in appearance in Arizona, New Mexi.
co, and southern California.
In III Paso was disappointed. The town
is not so large or well built as l had ex-
pected, though the numerous trunk roads
| concentrating there will, no doubt, make
Of it great distributing centre at no very
| distant day, | had the curiosity to enquire
the price Of unimproved lots, and found
that they ranged for business purposes in
eligible localities at from $50 to $3.50 per
| front foot. This is higher than for the best
business lots on Elm street, Dallas, or the
| Strand, Galveston,
From FL Paso, through New Mexico, Ari.
iona and southern California, to near Los
| Angeles, the country is alternately barren
mountain and desert. and except in few
| localities, under irrigation, seeming totally
unfit for human habitation In fact, !
would not give Dallas or Ellis county for
the whole 500 miles. After passing through
this sterile region, in which a goat could
scarcely. lind sustenance, we suddenly
emerge into the most beautiful and highly
cultivated region on earth-the country
surrounding Los Angeles, indeed, the city
of the angels-with its vast orange groves
and vineyards, its limpid waters, lordly
residences and exquisitely lovely city. |
cannot do justice to its many attractions
and will not attempt it, We remained
there about ten days and were received with
the utmost cordially by the large colony
of southeners who have settled there, aud
whose influence In the politics of that sec.
ton has already become omnipotent. The
city and county of Los Angeles are thor.
oughly democratic. | met there many old
Texas friends, and our stay was made most
delightful.
From Los Angeles here over the South.
ern Pacific railroad with which We con.
nected at Ell Paso) the country is very well
settled and generally very fertile where wa.
ter can be had for purposes of irrigation,
on which the people of the country wholly
rely. We arrived here last Monday, lust
six days ago, and our time has been wholly
occupied since in viewing the city and we
have not yet seen half of it. Surely it is
one OF the greatest of the great cities of the
word-nOt so much in population (Which
is about 800 900 as in the elegance of its
public and private edifices, its grand thor
oughfares, its immense wealth, and its edu.
Gated, intelligent, enterprising and cos
mopolitan population. was last here Just
twenty'six years ago, and its growth has
been.so marvellous that have not yet found
one house which could recognize. If its
grown III IHe next quarter OF q century IL
IN the same ratio It will then have popu-
lation as large as the present city Of New
York.
The climate ispeculiar. While you are
sweltering in the torrid heat of midsummer
we are revealing in heavy overcoats during
the day, and need several blankets at
night. had intended spending part of the
summer in Oregon, Washington territory
and Alaska, but find it quite cool enough
here for comfort, and will, probably aban.
don that portion of my trip and remain
here and in the vicinity until fall.
Health of wife and self has greatly i'm
proved, and we hope to return in the fall
thoroughly recovered. G.F.A.