The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-11
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Some Of the Points of Interest on the Pacific
COaSt--Tisit to San Bernardin0.

Correspondence of the Indianapo is Journal
RIVERSIDE, Cal, Feb. 4-Since the date Of
my last letter ] have seen a considerable part Of
southern Californian many respects a very
interesting country. 1 had read and heard of
the delightful climate, but it must be seen and
enjoyed in order to be appreciated. While
your thermometers in Indiana have been below
zero, ours have ranged from 40o to 60o. My
first view of the Pacific was obtained on a trip to
San Diego a few weeks since, when 1 saw a clear
sunset in its glittering waves. From the Flor
ence Hotel on the mesa, which overlooks San
Diego, we have a grand view of the city and
bay. My friend, Mr.. Smith, of San Diego,
showed me the city. The Chinese quarters were
to me especially interesting, having never before
seen the interior of their dwellings. The occu-
pants gave us a cordial greeting. An old
Chinaman, whose name 1 cannot recall, who had
assisted Prof. Jordan a few years since in col
lecting fishes, seemed highly pleased to hear
from the Professor. In several Chinese houses L
noticed small lighted lamps standing on their
beds or hunks. As it was in broad daylight |
was at a loss to know for what purpose they
were intended. They were probably used for
burning opium in order TO fill the houses with
an agreeable perfume.
A week or two since I visited the gold mine at
Pinieate, three miles west of the California
Southern railroad, and twenty miles from River
side. The process of crushing the quartz and
separating the gold was politely explained to us
and we were shown a lump of gold said to b
worth $500. Miners are paid 50 per day and board,
Another place or interest visited is the old
Spanish town of San Bernardino, three miles
month of C0Ifon nn tho SOuthor,, poaiHo rail-
road. Many of the original adobe houses are
still st-anding-some, however, in a dilapidated
condition. 1t will be remembered that when the
Mormons abandoned Nauvoo, some forty years
since, a part Of their number separated from the
Utah colony and continued their journey to San
Bernardino, where they or their descendants
may still be found. -Four miles north of this
city, near the base of the San Bernardino
mountains, but at an elevation of 2, 900 feet,
are the Arrowhead Hot Springs, now owned
by Messrs. Darby 81 Lyman, who have estab-
lished a sanitarium, with baths, etc, adapted
to patients of various classes. The water Of
these springs contains magnesia, iron and sui
phur, with traces of other minerals. The tenn
~perature of the hottest exceeds 1000; and the
hotel is heated, when necessary, by water from
this subterranean source. l had the curiosity
to test this spring by cooking several eggs in it.
They were well done in five minutes.
To the generous kindness of 0. 7. Johnson,
of Riverside, who not only furnished us with his
private carriage, but also, together with his wife
and daughter, accompanied us, we are indebted
for a most interesting excursion to Ontario, Po-
mona, San Gabriel, Pasadena. Sierra Madre
Villa, the celebrated Baldwin ranch, said to con-
tain so. 900 acres, the ranch and winery of Mr..
Rose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Tus-
ton, etc. During our stay in Los Angeles / had
the unexpected pleasure of meeting a number of
my former students, among whom were Mr..
Eshman, lately of Terre Haute. and Mr.. Frank
Cunningham. who, some twenty-five years
since, resided in Lafayette. Mr.. c.. | was sorry
to find in very feeble health, though apparently
convalescent. DANIEL KIRKwooD.