San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-05
LOS ANGELES.
THE ORANGE CITY OF THE SLOPE.
A Vivid Description Of Its Climate Seen
cry, Health, Etc, by the Lights
Correspondent Bert"
Los ANGELES, March 26, 1886.

Los ANGELES, March 26, 1886.
Editor San Antonio Light.
Passenger travel to and from the coast
is very great at this time, owing to the
cheap rates. Thirty-seven carloads left
the Osklamdefot for the east in one af-
ternoon, and each day has about the
same number. Am now off for the Ala
mo City; though stopped here to see the
wonder of Southern California. At
Tehachipi Pass, on the Southern Pacific,
is some fine scenery, and in going over
1t the road passes through many tunnels
through mountains. Still further down
is the largest enc, mile and quarter
in length. This is the San Fernando
tunnel, and after plunging into its utter
darkness for several minutes, our train
emerges into the San Fernando valley,
the most beautiful one in Southern Cali
fornia. 1t is mostly in an advanced
state OF cultivation; grows splendid
crops, vegetables, etc, and has the
largest vineyards on the coast. Orange
groves are yielding an enormous guam
tity Of the luscious fruit. and is one of
its greatest productions. The whole
country is lovely. The grass is from
one to two feet high, and the trees have
month. The whole valley is green and
presents striking contrast to the noun
tains on either side. There are thou
sands Of orange trees laden with their
golden fruit, great fields of wheat soon
to ripen. gorgeous flowers fragrant and
blooming their tinted sweetness grow
ing still by the warm, smiling sun and
the air in q perfect unison with soft
ness of all this valley scene. Then there
are the lesser height or foot hills
decked in the green garb of nature. with
now and then a clump Of fragrant pine
trees, while away beyond, and all at our
sight, can be seen the cold outlines of
mountains with their never ceasing
crowns Of snow against deep blue sky.
An hours run and we are at Los Angeles,
the said to be Paradise of the coast.
1t does captiyate the fancy, and
whether we judge by its splendid array
Of business structures, its elegant resi-
denees adorned BY the clambering vines
and roses that never cease to bloom, the
door yards, the very acme of taste and
perfection, always green and made life.
like by the most beautiful shru g, roses,
and flowers that ever lent their fragrance
to an oceans breezes, 1t pleases beyond
expression, and when we climb the
steep and green oarpeted hills on the
north In the midst of the finest dwell
ings and look in one direction, the great
waters OF the Pacific are seen surging 10
miles distant; In another direction
mountains dressed in green lie beneath
grander ones eternRllY capped with
snow, foothills that gently slope away
hid only by the dark green forests of
sweet-smelling pine, and then if we look
in front there is Los Angeles. (the city
of Angels), whose many church spires
rise high above the beautiful structures
all around there, too, is the Pasadena,
the new eden Of the coast, and there is
spread before the eyes the San Gabriel
Valley, with its vineyards and orange
groves, its wheat fields and flower gar
dens, and the San Gabriel river flowing
leisurely along in the sunny splendOr OF
this mountain, ocean and valley scene.
Los Angeles has little less than 10000
inhabitants, and is growing with great
rapidity. AS q winter resort 1t Is
famous. and the hotels are continually
filed with invalids and tourists.
The winters are charming, but think
the sumpers must be very warm. except
In the evening and morning. when the
oceans cool breezes make an overcoat a
necessity so I was informed. The
nights are very cool and damp in winter
or summer, and, all in all, do not think
it could be a more healthy place than
San Antonio, and does not nearly COM
pare with Western Texas, as / judge it
In point Of health. But IL Is a beauti-
full place, and ] never beheld such an
abundance Of gorgeous flowers as can be
seen here, even in winter. Our door
yard contains 100 varieties of roses alone.
There are many nice villages adj AGENT
and many lovely drives, some out to the
coast. Pasadena is the coming charm to
all the country about. 1t is eight miles
distant, and already has about 1000 pop
ulstisn, who are determined to make 1t
one OF the finest spots In the world.
Everything that refined taste can suggest
or that wealth, aided by nature and art,
can secure, will be added to the charms
Of this delightful spot. The oceans in
MIGRATING breezes, the odorous pine
groves, sweet sunshine, and air fragrant
with the perfume Of violets, heliotropes
and orange groves, ETC., is already bring
ing admirers from all parts of the CONT
nent. The Raymond hotel, in construe-
tion, is to cost half million dollars. In
the large grounds around ii is a flower
garden Of five acres. and In this they now
have 625 varieties of roses.
California has some beautiful country
and fine cities sure enough, and although
its seasons are earlier than In Texas, 1t
IS not more beautiful country than
Texas, and, in point of health, will not
average better. The good lands there
are very high, and the Chinese labor
make it not very good poor mans
country.
The Chinese question is being agitated
a great deal, but the Goodies" have not
gone" yet, and 1t is not very likely
they will. BERT.