The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-14
THE HAPPY VALLEYS
OF THE FAR OFF GOLDEN STATE.
The II Dorado OF CosIunp:irts and the Parable
OF Asthmstlcs-A Saw AHd Sovsl War oftlaT.
IeStizg WhsAt-ChIueEs HsIp and Their
Value OTer Their nhite BrotAers.

Correspondence Qr The INtsltgHesr.
OAK GLEN CoTrAoE, NoRDHoFF, CAL
September. Santa Barbara 10
this place early one beautiful morning, on
route lay through the lovely Carpenterii
Valley, a portion OF Monticeto Valley
Along the road were scattered here ant
and there some neat and cosy little cot
tages, with orchards Of peaches, apples ant
apricots surrounding them. A large por
tion OF the road was through the whea
fields, and fields Of as nico corn as 20,
have at home, which had never seen {
dropoi water ,with"nary"a fence near them
Fences are scarce here. thought soml
OF the people put them up for ornament
In one place I saw about twenty feet o.
rather shabby sort OF fence in front OF 8
small house, standing alone. Whether Oh
not the builder got tired and quit when he
got that much done | don't know, bul
there it was, without any brother fence to
keep 1t company. After ascending loH
spur Of the Coast range OF mountains
Il gay Coast Range because, ii you don't
know the name OF range and ask what
they are the answer is almost always sure
to be "part Of the Coast Range" we came
upon real little "poem" of valley, con-
tanning perhaps 100 acres, nestled down
between the mountains, green with fields
OF Alfalfa grass. Thence we entered Chsi-
tas Pass road over the mountains and
down the canon TO the road from San
Buenaventura. Along the first named we
followed the wire fence OF the Calkins'
rancho eight or nine miles, with
plenty of dust and fine shade
The road then leads up the valley Of a
small creek. Alter crossing tho latter u
number OF times We ascended 10 plateau,
where we entered the lower 0jai (pro.
nounced O.hi) Valley, where the ground is
nearly as level as floor, having just sutli
cient slope to drain it. This level spot or
park is eraced with most charming
growth Of evergreen oaks. These grand
old trees--2aid to DO 600 years old-grow
singly or, in gr0ups, and are shaped like
round-headed apple Ees s, and each one
covers hundreds Of feet with shade: Their
heighth Is perhaps from thirty to fortyfeet,
and although tnuy shade the ground 30
thoroughly, the wheat seems to grow and
mature as well In the ehade as out OF 1t, and
the s.ubble was Just as heavy. The park
stands some 300 rect abovp the ocean, and
(tiiteen mites distant from iD surrounded
by mountsins ranging from 2.5C0 10 5000
feet high, with SONS peaks tha! rise as
high az 4, SOD feet. Those on the north are
naked aud rocky and are filled with Rul'
lies; while those on the south (.he valley
running east and wts') are covered with
growth Of trees and bushes
THE TOWN OF N>RpH IF.
At the hosiery named at the head Of this
letter We were welcomed By the prfprie-
tore, Messra. Mckee 4 GAulIy. The senior
being Penusylvapian and the junior
"our" B. W. .Gaully, late teller OF the Gem.
mercial Bank, who has found himself a
home and business in this lovely spot. The
town OF NordaOf (uatued for the gentle
man who wrote book Oh California; con.
sists OF several dwellings ecattered along
the main road through the valley, q gen.
eral store, postoiiiCe, blacksmith shop aud
a real beauty OF church (Preabyteriap) !,
built In @ leen Anne style. 1 Imention this
particularly, as churches outside OF Roman
Catholic missions, In this section Of the
country, are scarce. Here wespeut week
very pleasantly, making excursions to the
surrounding country.
Just cast OF and 800 feet above the town,
is the upper Ojai, aud, like the lower, il
another lake-bed set down between the
mountains. Mr.. Fl. J. Smith in writing OF
this valley draws the following pen picture:
"Tbis is an idylIic picture OF happy
picture OF a happy valley into which man
has intruded with wire fences, wind milla,
orchards, hay.pre2ses, llower.beds, gang
plows and other modern appliances. These
stand out in strong contrast with the con.
tiguous ma .sive bulk and roughnsss OF tho
mountains, in whcse fastnesses small game,
wild game, deer, and even California lions
and bears still rove" ....,
THE HAPPY VALLEYS.
These two valleys appear to be secure
against the intrusion Of most, il no. all the
the rough ocean wiads, the distance from
the ocean being 80 great that being tenn
pered By the land over which they travel,
are by the time they reach hare poss .ssed
Of remarkable sslubrity and balminss1
and have agreater variety OF temperature,
are drier, and have freedom from the
marshine.s that is almost enevitahle in
places not so well protected. For invalids
suffering from any pulmonary complaints
this may be eaid TO be little heaven.
Aa!hmatics who cannot endure the seR9ide
Get their breath here with perfect ease.
ConsuRptive3 get we'll and those s1tur.
ated with malarid bid adieu to shakes and
ieyers. Fogs, are not uncommon. They
are driven away early by the sun-Thich
pours down pointedly till noan-When the
breeze sets in and keeps going until ann
set, which occuIs rather early, ay the noun.
tains ara high, alter which 1t be:omel
quite cool and In doors little wood fire
on the hearth Is pleasant and almost es3en.
tial-while out doors alight over coat Is
comfortable. This is not htful--hut ss ]
renat ked -oi the weather at San Francisco
You always know what the weather Of
tomorrow will be like, aud when an invi.
tstion to visit is extended, the condition OF
acceptance "ll 1t don't rain" Is not Inserted
and people don't lug umbrellas with them
when they travel.
The supply OF water is good and may be
had at depth OF thirty feet. A new well
having been dug hero TO that depth dis.
closed rock, drilling which gave depth
Of fifteen feet Of wafer, and 1t Is expected
that 1t willoyerhow in winter. Il
IoSCnEAT IS nARvEsTEn.
There isa great deal Of wheat raised
here. They don't harveet 1t as we do. It
is cut by-sG;,maChine called a header, fol.
lowed by,a large box on wheels, into which
the heads are thrown and the most oi the
straw left standing. It is then thIashed
out, sacked up and the sscks piled up in
the feld-and left there sometimes for
months before beipgrhauled to mirket, l
was struck with the smallness Of the farm.
houses aud scarcity OF barns.
The hefp here is mainly Chinese. The