Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1885-07-16
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Correspondence Of the Ledger.

of the Ledger.
WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA, July G.
1t has been my intention to give a
description Of this part of the state
to your many readers, aad SO I have
endeavored to collect some data On
which to construct letter. AS is
we'll known the population here con,
sists of people of many races and
nationalities. The majority of the
older residents came from the
"states," and Missouri has furnished
greater part of the citizens of Yolo
county. The basis of the wealth of
this county is agriculture and Mis-
sourians, with their usual propensity
for that avocation came into posses
sion of most of the valuable land.
Woodland, the county seat, is
near the Sacramento river in the
midst of fertile plane. Its popula-
ton is 1900; its assessment foots up
50, 100000, equal to $500 per capita,
yet it is claimed that residents of the
town represent more wealth than any
other town of equal size in the Uni
ted States. This claims perhaps may
be true, as large number of its
inhabitants own valuable ranches
throughout the county and state.
The family residences of the town
are usually on large lots, always sur
rounded by trees, native oaks, and
almost the whole line of trees that
will flourish in this climate. Many
of the fences around the yards are
composed of evergreens and being
kept trimmed in an artistic manner,
present beautiful and striking ap
pearance. The yards are ornamented
with shrubbery and flowers of almost
every conceivable variety, growing
with the luxuriance of a tropica
climate. Grass is possible only by
constant irrigation Except during thu
rainy season) and in the yards of thu
more wealthy fountains of watel
glisten and sparkle in the sunshine
land one needs to have q care while
walking the streets lest he should b.
enveloped in the descending spray Al
1 have been ON more than one occa
sion. An opera house at cost o
$4,000 and a hotel valued at $50, ,00'
are among the recent erections. Id
not think the business houses, as
rule, compare favorably with those o
T Mexico. Its churches are quite nu
merous, but the attendance seen ther
does not indicate to a stranger that
very refined religious feeling existe'
in the city. Hesperian College, I'LL
der the control of the Christia
church, Catholic Convent recent
: erected, three public and many pr
vate schools, represent it's educations
facilities. Over scope of countr
surrounding Woodland and extendin
ten or twelve miles in either diret
, ton, one can not purchase an acre
land for less than S100, and for muc
Y of it, $125 per acre would be refused
e The farm houses are generally larg
and handsome, situated in the mid;
+ of q grove of trees; q windmill, a
almost indispensable article in th
, country, stands near. The usual al
sence of grass in most of the yard
otherwise beautiful and picturesqu
|, gives to them to say the least, ratl
er unpoetical appearance. Irrigatin
bitches, extending through mar
T. farms, water the vast fields of alfal
d. clover, keeping them green all IL
= year. The principal product,
course, is wheat, but many large az
well-kept vineyards add beauty al
value to this section.
/ What shall we do with our win,
(: is the great question of Californ
viniculturists. proposition is nc
on foot to erect wine distillery
0. Woodland at a cost of 100000
and, if accomplished, will give
Il. marked impetus to this already gro'
ing industry. Orchards of apricot
figs, cherries, olives, oranges al
almonds dot the country. Mu'
I fruit has been shipped this year
/ eastern markets, especially to Chic
go and New York, realizing the ow
ers handsome profit. Fruit raisil
}. must eventually be the great sour
J, of profit in this state, and an unres
n enable charge in freight is alone t
g lgreat drawback at present. Berri
d are produced in great abundanc
one gentleman raising this year oy
~ thirty tons of strawberries. Garde
do well here, especially in the vi
leys. 1t may seem a little strange