Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-15
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA,
Los AndeZos. CAL. M0q 18th.

hear from me, / beg leave for short
space in the columns of the MONITOR.
1 am now located in the city of Los
Angeles, CAL, and am engaged in
the hotel business. / will try to give
you little description of the town:
The city has experienced marvellous
growth during the past four years,
the population increasing from IL 900
to 80 900, the new accessions COM
prising class of settlers principally I
from New England. The city has
number of elegant business blocks
that would be credit to any CITY
and is lighted by sixteen electric
light masts, each about $50 feet high,
which burn a 5000 candle power
light. 1t is well differed and policed, |
and has three fire engines. A telephone /
system exists in the city, and extends
to all adjacent towns in the county.
Every town on the Pacific coast |
has its Chinese quarters, where the
Cinnamon are as thick as potato bugs |
are in New England. In the little town
of Chinatown about 5000 Cinnamon
live, eat, sleep, worship, transact
business, suffer and die. Their rooms
are small, dark, poorly ventilated,
reeking with perfumes Of opium and
filth, although there are some excep-
tons. They receive the visitor COR
daily, especially if some triflng pur-
chase is made, and are ever ready to
treat to cigars. Their tea and groc-
ry stores, and shops are marvels to
strangers. A guide can be easily
procured who will show you the Joss
house or religious temple. Opposite
the Joss house is the Chinese theater.
1t is a large framed building, with
seating capacity of one thousand.
A Chinese play usually consists of a
historical plot which takes about six
weeks to finish. The theater is worth
visiting. On October oath, 1871,
seventeen Cinnamon were massacred
here by mob. The Chinese are i'm
ported into California by six compa-
MES that receive the wages of indi-
viduals until their debt is cancelled.
The day previous to the massacre,
two of these evil Chinese companies
became involved in a quarrel that led
to an open fight. On Negro alley, the
principal thoroughfare of Chinatown,
one company held one side of the
street, while the rival company were
fortified across the alley. They be-
gan exchanging shots, when police
man attempted to interpose and was
shot dead; whether purposely or ac-
cidentally is not known. His death
was the key note for the work of de-
struction that followed. A mob as
sembled, and in few hours seven
teen Cinnamon had been executed.
The authorities were either powerless
to prevent, or participated in the riot.
The ladies escaped, a few receiving
slight punishment. l am told that
some of the rioters walk the streets
of the city to-day, secure from all
punishment save that of the last day,
when all accounts will be balanced.
The moral reputation of this quar-
ter has been none of the best. am
told it is safe to state that every
square foot of its territory represents
a murdered victim. The Mexican ell
ement is being gradually removed by
the increase of the value of property.
AS the American element is coming
in crime lessons, and this part is now
comparatively safe day or night.
The great charm of this climate IS
its evenness. Spring, summer and
winter blend imperceptibly into each
other; and all through the winter
flowers and fruits grow and flourish
luxuriantly. | am told there are days
in midsummer when the heat is great,
the thermometer getting up above 100
degrees in the shade; but the nights
are invariably cool and refreshing.
Sunstrokes are unknown, and the ex-
traordinary dryness of the atmosphere
by the rapid evaporation of perspira-
ton keeps the skin cool and prevents
appreeiable discomfort so long as the
thermometer remains below 80 de-
, grees. The coolest weather have
seen this winter was "A degrees above
zero. We had no rain from Jan. 10th
until April 18th, and every day be-
tween these two dates was warm anG
pleasant. But my letter is already
too long, so for this time adieu.
e s. T. ROWELL.