Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-09
AS SEEN ABROAD.
EASTERN G.. A. r. STATEMENTS
ABOUT CALIFORNIA.
How the Encampment May Benefit
California-Many Anti-Chi-
nese Converts Made.
special Correspondence RnoonD-Usros.


Grand Army Encampment held in Sar
Francisco in August, said a fellow-travelel
to your correspondent on the train from
Chicago to Washington not many days
g
"You extended your visit to California
longer than did many of your comrades
Eyes, l wanted to get a good idea of the
country. So l spent several weeks in visit
ing different points of interest on tn,
coast"
How did California and its people i'm
press you?"
Every favorably, indeed
"They tell some wonderful stories abour
California products, its climate, and it
future possibilities. Are these not highly
colored and exaggerated?
There are many things to be told about
California which, when listened to by thost
who have never been there, appear like
exaggerated fairy-tales, and can hardly b.
believed unless seen. For instance, in go
ing to Yosemite Valley, l rode through the
hollow of a tree in a stage coach drawn BY
six horses a meeting was held on thu
stump of another tree and at the Biz
Trees in Santa Cruz county | saw trees il
the hollow of which families have lived
Now, when | shall repeat these thing:
10 my friends at home l fear i
will ruin my hitherto fair reputa
ton fer veracity, and no doubt l will be
looked upon by many of my neighbors a:
d man who has become demoralized by the
peculiar climate of California and who ha:
degenerated into an internal liar
rs California a State in which you
would care to live?"
YES, indeed. IF l could dispose TO fail
advantage of my property and business in
Pittsburg, Pa, where I have lived for many
years, l should make a Decline for Califor.
MIA at once. 1t is the garden spot of thi:
continent, and those who are fortunate
enough to live within its boundaries should
esteem it a high privilege"
What do you think of the California
people"
q have a great regard for them, As s
rule they are generous to a fault, liberal
minded, intelligent, enterprising and hos.
pitable beyond measure. The visiting
members of the Grand Army were royalty
treated. Wherever we went we received
The most hearty, cordial and generous recep.
o Such an encampment was never before
held and never will be seen again
The recollections of the event will forever
remain a monument in the hearts of those
who were there; and if kindly feelings
hearty good wishes and a pleasant word for
California at every opportunity may be re-
garded as any sort of return for the gener-
JUS hospitality shown us, the people OF
California will find themselves more than
richly repaid"
did many of the visiting comrades re-
main in California permanently.
Judging from the number. of Grand
Army return tickets that were floating
about seeking purchasers, | should say
yes but not near so many remained as in
ten to return to California so soon as they
can dispose of their affairs in the East"
Is it true that trade, manufactures and
agriculture is largely %overdone in Califor-
MIA ?n
Yes, and no. In certain branches of
trade and manufacture it would seem as if
they have capacities considerably beyond
present needs. This is no doubt due to the
fact that within recent years, owing to in
creased railroad facilities, Eastern COMPETE
ton has been enabled to make large in
roads into territorial trade formerly con-
trolled by California manufacturers and
merchants. This condition of things is
bringing about rapid changes in fact, such
changes as free trade always carries with it.
While il is depressing certain branches that
can be conducted better. and cheaper east
of the Rocky Mountains, it is forcing a de-
Yelopment of such and of such
industries as California excels in. Trade
and manufacture in California is therefore
n a transitory state, and a state of transit
lion is most always one of temporary de-
preston and inconvenience. But soon
these matters will adjust themselves, and
then there will be nj power on earth
unless it be complete annihilation-that
can stop the rapid advancement of Califor-
MIA, in agriculture, horticulture, manu-
facture. mining and commerce. California,
with its wonderful productive soil and its
peculiarly favorable climate, is destined to
be to this country what France is to Europe
the producer of luxurieS-Thich means
for California accumulations of vast wealth,
Leading in time to learning, culture and re-
6nement."
"How does the cost of living in Califor-
MA compar with the East?"
"Wonderfully' in favor of California.
That is one of the things l cannot under
stand. Some of my Grand Army friends,
who are better off than myself, stopped al
one of the leading hotels in San Francisco.
They had ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS rooms,
the best attention, q splendid table, sup
piled with the best the market afforded
frst-claSs service in all departments of the
house, and were charged but three dollars
a day. The same accommodations in any
other large Eastern city canno be had fer
less than five dollars a day. As for myself,
my means being limited, l stopped for
some weeks in one of the very many ex.
cellent boarding houses which abound in
San Francisco. l had 4 cosily-furnished
room, pleasant surroundings and an excel.
lent table, all at the rate of one dollar pei
day. How it can be done with profit to the
proprietor is to me q mystery. Then the
restaurants and markets of San Francisco
they are marvels of neatness, excellence
and c%heapness. No other city in the world
can surpass them, and | doubt if any can
equal them. Most excellent meals are
served in many restaurants at twenty-five
cents and frst-class lunches, such as !
have frequently paid a dollar for in New
York and other Eastern cities, are served in
San Francisco for fifty cents. This price
also includes as much good claret as one
cares to drink"
els the weather warm in San Francisco
during the summer months 2"
ION the contrary, at times it is quite
cold. This vas the first time in my life
that I found myself obliged to buy an over.
coat and heavy flannel underwear in the
month of August. As | had come prepared
only for warm weather, Unjust either buy a
supply of heavy clothing or suffer from the
cold and chilling winds that spring up in
San Francisco during the summer after.
Moons and evenings"
"What about the Chinese that the people
Of California are making so much fuss
about9 Are they not really an advantage
TO the country, and does not this outcry
against them come from a few agitators and
politicians ~
"Whileiti is true that the Chinese question
has been made q pretext for much political
agitation by d~emagogues aud others, it is
equally true that the Chinese are a serious
evil and a great detriment to the prosperity
and progress of the State. We certainly
want no more admitted to our shores, and
we're it possible to honorably transpor;
those now here, it would be a great benefit
70 the Pacific coast. My own views on the
Chinese question have undergone a COM
plete change since l haye visited California.
Previous to that time l was indifferent in
rho matter. in fart my svnnafhias