The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-24
THE ORIGINAL GARDEN OF EDEN.
g.seremina Description OF Los Anscics--tts
Vineyards, Oranse.tsroves. Eneiish.Wai'
nat Orchards, Observation-Disclosures, &c.
rcorrcspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l

Los ANGELES, CAL, June 10, 1882.
Nv last letter was written upon the eve OF
nv departure for Los Angeles, city estab-
bshed as mission-siation by the Spaniards
In 17Si. and which Is now considered by
its inhabitants as the paradise not only OF
California. but OF all America. Indeed,
some Of them profess belief that Il was
the original Garden OF Eden, and that
Adam and Eve were buried within its sa-
cred precincts. The city Of Los Angeles
Is 4S0 miles south OF San Francisco, and
but for It's peculiarly favorable situation
would he exceedingly hot during the sum-
mer months in this dry climate. The Val
ley, including San Gabriel, Santa Barbara,
&C., Is enclosed in pretty basin made by
the Sierra Madre mountains on one side
and the Coast range on the other, and
Is Just far enough inland TO get modi-
fcation Of the sea-breeze, that pro-
duccs temperature which, i ain told,
rarely rises above $50 or gets lower than
600. The soil is very fertile when irri-
gated, and the Los Angeles river, which Is
fed by the SHOWS Of the Sierras, gives Il
good supply of water. The Valley, taken
rs a whole. is far from being level plain,
but il diversified with hill and dale. Some
portions OF the city are built upon hills as
Il
though the most OF il is quite level. There
arc GOOD many old Spanish adobe build
ings still standing, but the most of the city
is built in modern American style, and
contains some very pretty buildings that
are shaded by the pepper-tree and the eu-
calyptus. The vineyards, orchards,
oranges groves, and suburban residences
make up the pretty picture that is so much
admired by strangers and so prided in by
the citizens. The vineyards, orange
groves. and English-walnut orchards are
very extensive, and YOU may add TO the
catalogue almost any other semi-tropical
fruit you can think OF, and then let your
imagination go a-dancing among the flow
ers. The orange-groves are rs pretty and
more carefully cultivated than those Of
Florida, but there is no sort of comparison
in the quality Of the fruit--the Florida
orange being Infinitely superior.
l visited some OF the wine manufacto-
ries-or cellars a. they are caled-and TO
give you IN idea OF the amount OF grapes
raised in that vicinity | will state that one
Of the factories claims TO express one hum
drcd thousand gallons OF grapc-iuice in
one day. | counted in one cellar forty
butts, or tanks, that were said to hold 1000
gallons each. and twenty butts that held
1000 gallons each. besides scores of ordina-
ry-sized barrels. l am one Of those who
think that il YOU give Old Virginia n fair
chance she will produce rs many comforts
for man or beast as any country in the
world, and | too dearly love her noun
tains, her valleys, plains, and flowing
streams 10 ever wish to make my home
elsewhere; but il had TO leave her, and
was privileged to make my choice OF 4
foreign residence, J think | would choose
Los Angeles or its vicinity. The pOpula-
tion OF this whole Pacific coast is made up
of people from every quarter Of the globe,
but in the Los Angeles Valley you
will see more MeXicans and half-breeds than
anywhere else. Some OF their adobe huts
look like miserable apologies for human
habitations, and the inmates seem suited
to the dwelling. Much OF the country be-
tween San Francisco and Los Angeles is
destitute OF water, and OF course is barren
of timber, and owing to an usual dry
winter there is no grass upon it, but a little
line dry stuff that does not hold the sand
well enough to keep you from being well
busted. When / leave here l shall 20 TO
see the big trees of Mariposa and the won
derful Valley of the Yosemite, OF which |
shall tell you something in my next.
{. NJ. Il.