Daily Republican., 1885-03-19
Letter from California.


tain II
Letter from Catif0snfa.
|Specia Correspondence Of the REpUBLIoA n
| SANTA MONICA CAL March II, 1885
THE weather here IL most charming
II is like May In Delaware. Tb,
breezes We have almost con tinually ar,
the trade winds from the mighty water
Of the Pacific ocean. Some days are
little unc0m Portable In the sun, but IL Il
always cool in the shade and cool al
night, quite com Portable to sleep unde,
blankets. While pen these lines nv
door IL wide open to the bret zes from
the ocean, which, only 200 yards away
and Its emblem Of eternal motion, tn.
rolling waves, keep us entertained by
day, iull us to sleep ct night and gently
wake us In the morning ofa new day e.
70 the increasing round again.
This IL q most lovely climate for In.
valids. We have tus few here through
the winter season, but many visit 1t
through the sum Ter months. We had
green corn up to December first, when
light frost killed 1t, and tomatoes we
;aD get from the bottom of the hills,
where they thrive all winter. But we
have green peas still brought to our
doors BY those despised heather q Q
Chinese, and they also bring US other
kinds Of vegetables. Tomatoes are 8
cents a pound peas 10 cents o half
peck potatoes IL cents per pound |;
heat by the sack ~ cents per poun |;
beef III to 20 cents per pound mutton
9 to 10 cents and both first rate eggs
are IA cents per dozen never lower.
l send you the following notice from
the Los Angeles Times, Of the death of
General Phineas Banning, some weeks
ago, formerly of Christiana, Delaware,
but for the last 80 years q resident OF
Wilmington, city Of Los Angeles
County, which he founded
News Of the death at Occidental
Hotel, San Francisco, of General Phin..
cas- Banning, we'll known citizen and
pioueer Of this county, was received
mere last Sunday. The General had
been In poor health for about two years,
suffering from q combination of liver
and kidney complaints, and his disease
WAS aggravated by an accident which
he met with some time ago in San
Francisco, where he was knocked down
and run over by passing express wa
gon. de WAS pa:ive Of Wilmington,
Delaware, and fifty-four years of age at
inc Time OF his death.
He came to this coast in 1850 when
about 20 years of age, and soon after
wards settled In Los Apgelescounty. In
company with Gov. Downey and Others
be purchased a tract of 4 224 acres of
land upon the Sen Pedro ranch at the
head Of the harboi, ana laid out city
which he named Wilmington, in honor
OF his native city. A tract of about
twenty acres near the center was re-
served and decided TO the Government
Dy Gen. Banning and Hon. B. ID. VIII.
son for military post, and on the
evacuation Of the post by the govern
ment Congress passed an Act redeed-
Ing the land to the original owners.
General Banning derived his title by
General Of the National Guard OF Cali
fornia, and he was also State Senator
from this Senatorial district for one
term.
In the early days, in connection with
Don David Alexander, he maintained
an extensive commission, freight and
forwarding business at Wilmington run.
n ng at one time daily stages between
Wilmington and Los Angeles, besides q
we KY line to Yuma via this city and
San Bernardino. He was the originator
the Los Angeles and San Pedro rail-
road, which was built between this city
and Wilmington in 1858 80, and was
afterwards sold to the Southern Pacific
railroad. He took an active interest In
the improvements at the harbor of Will
mington, and the first appropriation
was mainly secured through his efforts.
OF late years he was the principal
owner Of the lighterage and wharf bust
ness at Wilmington and San Pedro, and
managed the affairs of the concern with
great skill. About year ago, feeling
that his health was falling, he transfer
red his interest to the Wilmington
Transportation Company, which con.
Germ has now charge of the business.
The General has wife and several
children living, and they were fortu
nately with him 1T the time of his death.
The remains will arrive by to-day's
south. bound train, and 1t 10 understood
that they will be inferred at Whining
ton, where several members of the Cen
erals family have been buried In time
past. General Banning was one Of the
most enterprising and energetic citizens
Los Angeles County has ever had, and
the news Of his death was received with
much sorrow by his friends and ac-
quaintances.