The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1884-04-11
DAKOTA TO CALIFORNIA.
Number Four.

Number Four.
Los Angeles, CAL, March 22i, 1854.
Hditor Hope Pioneer:
My last letter was closed as the State of Col
'lmbia with her cargo of $50 persons put to sea,
and about bed time we were under full head
OF steam and steering south. The ocean was
rough, and before daylight dawned half the
passengers were sea sick, and more nisera-
BILE looking set you never saw. My turn came
at last, when was fully able to realize the
sufferngs Of Others. TWAS Thanksgiving day,
and as sat at the dinner table over my dish
OF soup and hard-tack and being naturally in
acontemplatiye mood, my thoughts travelled
back to Hope, the people, the little church and
the turkeys upon which you were all feasting;
the stories that were being told and the Jokes
that were being cracked.
There is great monotony in sea voyage.
With tho exception of sail occasionally, we
saw nothing to attract attention until we pass
ed through the Golden Gate and into the finest
harbor on the Pacific coast-a harbor from one
to three miles wide and several miles long, and
deep enough to accommodate the largest sea-go-
ing vessels; and here you see them from fifteen
FOOT sail boats to the largest ocean steamer.
Ihey come from all foreign ports, carrying
grain and other products to the various marts
OF the world. To the right rs we entered the
Golden Gate were what are known as the
Great Seal Rocks, and we improved the oppor-
unity by viewing these animals as we passed
through into the bay and approached the
rreest and wickedest city in the United States.
1t is the Chicago of the Pacific slope, and while
1t lacks the numbers which the latter possesses,
1t contains some men of greater wealth than
Chicago can boast Of for some time to come.
The San Francisco ladies, (the ''uppers," of
course,) pride themselves upon their ability to
1ress better and neater, and more fashionably
than the ladies even of Boston or Washington
CITY, and indeed may say that the people of
Calllornla reckon themselves to be about six
inches to the foot larger than the people of the
States, however, Sullivan knocked them all out
pocketed $4,000 and gently walked off with it,
saying if they had any more spare change he
would relieve them of it If they so desired, I
sud that San Francisco was the wickedest city
i'll the Union, and it is fact. The most re-
spt ctable portion of the citizens cross over the
bay to Oakland to build their residences and
are IN the city only during business hours.
Oakland is a very quiet and pretty place, pos
sesslng fine residences, beautiful yards and
gardens, but there is little business done there,
IN San Francisco there was comparatively no
building going on, yet other business seemed
to be good, especially the restaurant, saloon
and theatre business. These are kept going
night and day, Sundays included. Still, all
things considered, was rather pleased with
the soddom of the far west and came pretty
near stopping there, but after three days So
Journ, learned that the climate was far better
in the southern part Of the state 80 on Sunday
morning at O'Clock, boarded the steamer
Los Angeles and again headed for the south,
md after voyage of 4S0 miles, we arrived at
Los Angeles. As we approached the city, the
view of the mountains which extend along the
'oast was grand. The ocean was alive with
porpoises. They swim very swiftly and easily
keepup with steamer travelling at the rate Of
fifteen miles an hour, and it is said that they
Will very often pass around vessel going at
such speed. During our voyage down the
coast we passed number Of beautiful towns
which were visible from the steamer, at q few
of which we stopped, but the sea was 80 high
that it was considered dangerous to attempt to
Lind, at many places. At last we have reached
Porte San Petro, and, valise in hand, we are
glad to step ashore again and into the waiting
cars, which carry us the balance of the journey
to Los Angeles, where I now am, and about
which I shall discourse at length in my next
j. MONTGOMERY.