St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-17
SANTA BARBARA.
Overland to California via the North
ern Pacific.
The Climate, Prospects and Resources of
the Santa Barbara Country.
from an Occasional Correspondent.

From an Occasional Correspondent.
SANTA BARBARA, Oct. 10.-I am in receipt
of the GLOBE, which comes now quite regu-
larly. The news in it reaches me seven
days late, nevertheless 1t is news. l like it
much as a newspaper. left your city July
9, last, on the Northern Pacific railway for
my southern California home, nearly 5000
miles away. We reached Portland, Oregon,
in ninety-two hours. A most enjoyable trip
l have now travelled on the three principal
routes-Southern Pacific, Central and North
ern, and for summer travel would prefer the
Northern Pacific. No heat, no dust. The
Central is also good route l passed over
that, the Rio Grande. and the Burlington q
Missouri road to Omaha. The scenery on
the Rio Grande is wild and interesting; no
other route in this respect equals it.
A road from New Orleans to Southern CAL
nornia and San Francisco is now in running
order, and also the Atlantic IL Pacific is
forming its connections, so that the CONT
nent will be traversed by half dozen lines
soon, to say nothing of the line being
pushed through the British possessions to
the Pacific coast in the farther north. Cal
ifornia is no longer at such an untraveled
distance as to deter the man Y from seeking
its inviting climate aud rich and productive
valleys, as refuge from the rigors of north
ern and eastern winters. In q practical
sense the distance to California from the
''States'' is reduced more than one half
by these facilities for travel;
and further, by emigrant trains,
eYnnrciOnc nd tod
rates, first class, the cost Of travel across the
continent is placed within the reach of any
one who may possess means to travel, 1900
or 5000 miles, in any direction from home.
The time necessary now is from four to
nine days. And now I understand that
''emigrant trains;' are taken through on ex-
press time on several of the roads to within
short distance Of destination. OF course
there is policy in this. The conduct of the
several roads is good, as general thing
One will feel, ere he is aware of it, sense of
obligation to the employees from the conduc-
tor to the newsboy Tor attentions. Travelling
is now science; dining cars are attached to
the trains en- route, wherever necessary, so
that no time is lost in taking meals, and
sleepers are run through without
change on most Of the routes
Oh buC CulISIduL SlGCDeTS stoves
are placed at each end of the cars adapted
to cooking purposes, or rather to tea and
coffee making. so that the passengers can
get along quite comfortably in providing for
themselves.
On these trains bedding and board are
provided by the passengers themselves. 1t
is an economical and quite comfortable ar
rangement. The immigration to this state is
large from year to year.
The fact that no cyclones have ever been
experienced here has quite an influence with
many who have suffered from them, and
others who have feared visitation of that
| character. Thunder storms are almost, if
not quite, unknown on the coast Have
| heard thunder few times in the last two
| years. We have all the climates here
that could be found anywhere in temperate
or semi-tropical ATTITUDES. Altitude, or
| proximity to ocean or mountain, have much
to do with the climate in California. The
| question, "What sort of q climate have you
in Californian may be truthfully answered,
"All sorts.'' The climate differs widely
in a short distance. On the coast, as here in
Santa Barbara, the average perature, may
be for the year say So $40 extremes 80 de-
grees and so. You see we have no freezing
on the one hand, nor extreme heat on the
other. Now in the mountains snow and
frost are annual, and almost perpetual on
the highest peaks. The whole country is
recorded as decidedly healthy. The water of
the country in many localities is not good
Cold water is almost out of question, unless
cooled by ice or the night air. The water
generally is not satisfactory, at least to a
Minnesotan. Water taken from wells from
80 to 100 feet is tepid, We have hot sui
phur springs in the foot hills and in some
lon f..1 ~l,...
the mountains. Paso-Roblez sulphur springs
and 'mudbaths,' which are also warm,
| are much patronized for rheu-
matism and imfammatory diseases and are
decidedly popular as resort for invalds.
Coal oil is also taken from wells in the noun
tains in large quantities and conveyed in
pipes TO the ocean shore, and prepared for
general use and shipped to different points
for market In short, there is nothing ne
cessary for man or beast but is found here
The soil is very productive and near the
ocean crops are raised without irrigation
This county, Santa Barbara, has fine crops
each year without water, except what falls in
winter and the fogs Of summer. The agri-
cultural fair Of this county is now being held,
and there are displayed twenty-one kinds of
fruits, from the apple to the grape Of green
home fruits, and from the fig
to the choicest persimmon Of
the tropical fruits. Then preserved fruits in
cans. Dried fruits in cans, embracing in
this list peaches, prunes, apricots, nectarines,
cherries, figs, etc. Then come nuts-Eng-
lish walnuts almonds, peanuts, che stnuts,
etc, etc. Then come vegetable and cereals
of all kinds, and then the floral department,
which is beyond my pencil to describe. And
the end is not yet.
But enough of this. Our crops were enor-
nous this year in almost every department.
But remember what is exhibited at this fair
is grown in the co1tety-Santa Barbara
county.
Los Angeles county is the banner county
for oranges, grapes, figs, peaches, apricots,
pears, etc. More anon. d. COBB