Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-08-12

10 any such Territory, nay, when she
asks for admission as a State later
Ocean.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.
July 24rn, 1885.
have been in Southern California and
must write you how it seemed to me. You
know San Diego was the place you want
cd me 10 strike for, and now let me tell
you what know of it.
1t was just daylight when we rounded
a sharp projection and came into the har-
Dor. far-famed for its beauty, quietness
and spaciousness, San Diego. There lay
the pretty little city. The haze that papa
once told me about. hung over the place,
and not until ten o'clock did it lift and
show the sun. This will doubtless recall
to your mind what you once told me of
San Diego.
Two young ladies and myself took a
double seated carriage and started in the
haze Of the morning to see the city and
the surrounding country. The Mexican
line was eighteen miles away, and just
the other side was little Mexican village.
Toward this place we turned our horses
heads, and drove through the country
they have been telling us such wonderful
stories about. lam not much of farmer
or judge of land, yet can tell straight
story.
We rode along quite near to the beach,
so that the ocean was in sight most of the
time, and there spread that glorious har-
Dor. No question. it is magnificent. Ten
miles in extent. and as quiet as one of our
wheat-tields at home. So large that it
could float the navles Of the world, and so
quiet and safe that they would hardly
rock. When people talk about the San
Diego harbor they refer to harbor of
which any town or state may boast
Though it was in July that visited this
place, rode all day with my cloak and
veil on and felt comfortable and cool. If
saw specimen of their summer it is
above reproach. The air was not the dull,
heavy atmosphere which suggests indo-
lence and the tropics. but of that bracins
softness which we have sometimes in the
spring and sometimes in the fall. Do not
listen to her climate being traduced, for,
for those who want an even. mild climate
the year around, San Diego is the place
doubt not that in time San Diego will
be one of Americas most beautiful cities.
The things I have mentioned must, in
time. count in It's favor. AS the East be-
comes more thickly populated, and peo-
pie must go somewhere, they will choose
place where climate and harbor are per-
lection, even if they cultivate an ash
heap. In all the 10 miles l rode out and
10 back, on different road, the country
looked almost a desolation-sand, sage.
brush and forests of cactus. Along the
beds of some of the rivers we saw beauti.
full ranches, but at this time the river
beds were oil dry, and we only knew that
they had been rivers by the reference OF
our driver to the border of green that fol.
lowed the streams as raven would fol.
low a caravan. If they irrigate, they say,
and believe, that this soil is productive,
and will raise nearly everything in almost
fabulous quantities. If they get the PEG,
pie over here as thick as they are in Ger.
many for instance, and they be al willing
to work here as there, each man could
take little patch of San Diego county,
irrigate to his hearts content, and make
the country blossom like the rose. A few
sharpers will get hold Of the fertile spots
but by far the greater portion of the
country must be coaxed and cultivated
by the great plodding class. Papa, you
don't want San Diego. I would rather
have your 40 acres east of the house than
all San Diego county that saw, excepting
few ranches. This for example was one
place we visited: The Higgins orange
orchard. 1t is one of the noted place,
about San Diego. This is a ranch OF
about 80 acres, set out entirely to oranges
and lemons. The proprietor, who showed
US about, told US the place had cost him
100000. On this place there is over
ten miles of irrigating pipe. of which
each tree has section by itself. In one
corner is reservoir to supply these pipes
holding 10000 gallons. The water in
tins reservoir has to be pumped from the
Sweetwater river by steam engine, and
at this time of year the river is dried up,
and they have to bore into the bed to get
the water to carry to the reservoir, to
| supply the pipes, to water the trees, te
raise the oranges which we eat. Now il
there is economy in this kind of farming
am greatly mistaken. One thing more
they can do here-make honey; but SO
many have gone into this work, and the
practice Of making artificial honey is be-
coming so common, that taking it all il
all, as two or three of the bee raisers said
to US. there has been profit in it, but
that day is past" We saw only now and
then cow, and though I do not spea
for the whole of the county, the part
saw either would not or could not raise
stock. 1t is quite surprise to me. how
ever, how many Jerseys have gotten into
| the state.
I just imagine you. taken from YOU
green pastures and still waters in Mime
sofa, and transported to one of these
cactus beds! To be sure you would gel
q fine harbor. and good climate, but NJ
farm.