The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1884-05-02
DAKOTA TO CALIFORNIA.
Number Five.
1OS AEnEroo NoI Mc,oI, oekt roc

Los Angeles, CAL, March 26tl, 1854.
Editor Hope Pioneer:
The train brought usspeedily to this southern
city which lies distant from the coast about Is
miles, over rather level tract Of country called
the valley Of the Los Angeles. It was once the
Roman Catholic mission of Pueblo, ard the
old mission church built by Spanish priest
over one hundred years ago, is still standing in
the center almost Of the old town, and it is
still well preserved. Services are held in it
regularly, and strangers rarely ever fail to visit
1t while sojourning here, suppose from curl
osity as well as from desire to see structure
of such ancient character. It is peculiar in
style and architecture, resembling more what
we have been accustomed to see in pictures Of
edihces built two or three hundred years ago.
The general features Of the country through
which we passed from San Pedro to the modern
CITY OF Los Angeles, are not on first view at all
prepossessing. The land is generally low and
level, and looks as though were big wave to
break over the shore that it would roll a good
way over the land before it would finally come
to rest. The soil seems to be made of wash
lngs from the mountains and has the appear
ahce OF ground stones mixed with clay, little
sand, some boulders and gravel, and pieces Of
granite, and it is said to be remarkably rich, and
the evidences that have seen prove it to he
so. gentleman on the train who was ac-
qualnted with the country, said that 40 bushels
of wheat was often realized, and lie pointed
out fields where hundred bushels of corn in
the ear had been raised to the acre. saw,
in many of the fields, squashes as large as
flour barrel, and gentleman from Pennsyl-
Vanla told me to-day that he raised Oh his farm
IS miles from Los Angeles, squashes which
weighed 25O pounds each, and I am sure
never saw finer cabbages than are brought in
here every morning.
AS we approached the city, the Sierra Madre
mountains lay ahead of US aud to the north,
They appeared to he distant couple of miles,
but although the train kept Oh moving, we did
not seem to draw any nearer to them. First
we would pass through farm, then vine
yard, and next an orange grove, and the sight
was good for sore eyes. The trees were bend
ing beneath the fruit the ground beneath being
clean and free OF weeds. It was not one grove,
but out OF one and into another right along for
miles, and the first thing I knew, the train
stopped In the middle of all orchard, and on
looking out found that we were in the city,
WhicA nestles at the foot of the noun
tains as cozily as as bird in its nest. It's site
Is 293 feet above the level of the sea, and it is
blessed with one Of the most delightful cliS,>
mates in the world. The three months that
have been here ms shown no difference Of tel-
pera!iire except during few rainy spellr,
when 1t seemed generally little cooler, but
never SO cold as to freeze hard enough to pro-
duce any effect upon vegetation, and the sta
tistics show me that there are only Is degrees
difference between the winter and summer
temperature, but will describe the climate at
greater length farther on. The leading indus
tries are, of course, Embarrassing, and farming
generally. There are at present q, 600 inhabi-
tants in the city, composed Of foreigners, Mex
leans, eastern and northern people, sprinkled
largely with Chinese, with but few negroes, SO
that in point of activity and industry they
average with the people of the eastern states.
Los Angeles is pleasantly located and from the
submits of some Of the foot hills, the finest
landscapes and sea views present themselves
to the eye. Like Minneapolis 1t is inclined to
spread over large area, hence it takes within
Its limits great many orange groves, vine
yards and beautiful lawns. Many Of the yards
in the city are filled with trees bearing ucious
fruit. Los Angeles is fine city and well built
up with substantial brick and stone business
blocks, and Is fast becoming rival of San
Fr0nniSpO rof; ;ko
ing large enough to ever materially damage
the latter place, but from the fact that San
Francisco mortally hates to see it taking away
any of its trade, and its wholesale trade is as
suming no mean proportions. The manufac-
ture Of wine is carried on to great extent
there being several very large wineries in this
vicinity. The canning Of fruit is also being
done on alarge scale, and the flavor and quality
Of their fruit is we'll known to dealers ali over
the states. There are also several furniture
factories, but believe they make no preten-
slons as a manufacturing city. The dwellings,
as q rule, would be considered in Minneapolis
shabby and cheap. On the exterior they look
neat enough, and on the interior pleasant and
cheerful, but they are built on stills and board
oA up WIN DCVCIou anu UOdTuS, UGTH
they call it rustic. 1t is rare thing to see a
foundation under house, except under those
OF the very best class. As to the churches there
is good supply, and they will average with
such structures In any young city Of its size.
The schools are good being established on the
same basis as the schools in other cities. In
addition to the graded schools we have very
fine normal school here, and also the Univer-
sity, of Southern California, which is not very
pretentious in its appearance. Street cars are
to be seen running Oh all the principal streets
every ten minutes, and they do a thriving bus
iness. They are jnSt now completing the new
opera house, as fine one as any OH the Pacific
slope. 1t will be finished by the 26th of May,
when it will be formally opened by the Rhea
Combination, Of San Francisco. There are
also number Of large brick blocks nearly
finished and some new ones being started, and
it is thought everything will be booming in
another month. A job worth $66, 900 has just
been let out, and new Methodist church will
be begun in few days. Directly opposite my
boarding house is an old brick dwelling, which
was built, believe, by Governor Downer for
General Hancock's residence when he was
stationed here about the opening Of the war.
1t is being torn down and the owner is now
erecting other dwellings on these premises