Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-20
CALIFORNIA.
A Climate Not Surpassed by tina,
Of Italy,
ImPFesaiOny Of = Former Mem.
phian.
CAMnRrA. OAL.. september 9.

CAMBRIA, CAL, September 8.
EDITOR LEDoER-On leaving Memphis
for California / promised 10 lay before
the many intelligent readers Of the LED
GER my views Of California, in regard to
its climate, It's agricultural, commercial
and social peculiarities. The scope Of the
question TO be considered and the breadth
Of the field to be surveyed cannot we'll be
brought within the limits Of single let
ter. will, therefore, only deal in this
communication with such topics as have
come more Immediately under my own
observation.
In passing through country by the
present rapid means Of transit one has
comparatively, no opportunity Of making
observations that may be free from that
prejudice which arises from first impress
sions |, therefore. thought 1t advisable 10
wait until these impressions were more
fully the result of investigation and in
quiry. In point of climate California is
all that has been claimed for it by its most
ardent admirers. With breadth of lati-
tude Of ten degrees from seuth to north,
divided by two parallel chains Of noun
tsins, and traversed from north to south by
the great valleys of Sacramento and San
Joaquin, ii has variety of climate such
as no other State in the Union presents.
The interior presents almost tropical
climate, where nearly all kinds of semi
tropical fruits are produced, including, in
a few recent experiments, cotton, jute and
sugar cane. On the Pacific coast slope,
lying between the summit Of the Coast
| Range and the ocean, are numerous beau
tiful fertile valleys fanked by vast ex-
tent Of table land admirably adapted to
the production Of all the cereals, fruits
and dairy products. The climate of this
section deem the most desirable in Cali
fornia and not even surpassed by that Of
sunny Italy. 1t is within this belt that
am now temporarily located San Luis
Obespo county, lies, as will be seen by
the map of California, about midway be-
tween the northern and the southern
boundary Of the State, and is intersected
from north TO south by the coast range,
embracing an area of between three and
four thousand square miles, and popula-
tion not exceeding 10000.
The county throughout its entire length
along coast is devoted principally TO dali
rying and stock raising, being the second
county in the State both in the quantity
| uAu HuhilbJ VI lta uhllg pIOuuClhs
Till recently the lands of this section
have been held in large tracts by stock
men and those claiming under Mexican
grants. These are now being rapidly di-
vided into smaller tracts and sold to actual
settlers on favorable terms. A large emil
grafton is now coming into this section
and diversified system of agriculture is
springing up, and in wealth, population,
and commercial facilities this is one Of the
most promising counties for the farmer In
the State. In the older and more closely
settled portions Of the State, and especially
within a certain radius of San Francisco,
lands are held at such exorbitant prices as
TO utterly preclude the man of moderate
means, but here lands Of excellent quality
can be had at prices and upon terms with
in the reach Of the average immigrant
No man with reasonable amount of en-
terprise and industry need fail here in
building up q fine home and surroundings
in few years. Crops seldom fail in this
section, and lying as 1t does along the Pa
cihc coast comparatively cheap transpor-
tation Is offered to the producer and COM
sumner. am well pleased with the out
look and will write you again, touching
upon other topics. /. M. CANS.