News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-29
Letter fro m California.
SAN DIEGO, Cal. Feb. Is,

, Co. VT, whom / remember with pleas
: ure, 1 will give, with your permission,
, a brief description Of the extreme
r southern portion of California and the
city of San Diego, the former termin =
| US OF the old overland stage line across
T the deserts of Arizona and New Mex
leo. San Diego Co. has until within
t the last two or three years been but
sparsely settled, and that by a class
|. of people who have done scarcely
+ ANYTHING to develop the of
the country. But first through the
/ enterprise of real-estate spectators,
and then for its beautiful scenery and
: excellent climate, and also its pro-
J ductive lands, it being speedily set
/ tied by energetic Eastern people,
who are planting immense vineyards
/ and fruit orchards of all kinds, and
|. are making extensive preparations for
t the manufacture of wines, olive oil
and packing ofcanned and dried fruits,
and in fact there are several of these
!, industries already in operation, and
!, MANY and extensive are the stock
ranches of various kinds in this Co.
Both the soil and climate are peculiar
" adapted to the culture of oranges,
lemons, grapes, figs, bananas, and
MANY other kinds of fruit. But in
one particular Vermont can far ex-
coed, and that is in the excellence and
keeping qualities of its apples, they
not being of the first quality in this
State, although raised in large guam
titles. The county is being rapidly
traversed by railroads, which together
with it's excellent coast harbors are of
great Importance in the development
of the country. The Santa Fe rail
road now has it's terminus here in San
Diego, completing a through line of
railroad to the Atlantic coast, as we'll
as being connected by steam lines with
all harbor cities. The city of San
Diego lies in the southwestern part
Of the county at the head ofSan Diego
Bay and distant only 20 miles from
the line of Mexico. San Diego Bay
is an inlet of the Pacific ocean partially
enclosed by a cape called Point Iona,
and also by the peninsula of Coronado,
and between these two pieces of land
lies a deep channel capable of floating
the largest ships, and therefore form.
ing n of the finest harbors in the
world, only equaled on the Pacific
coast by the San Francisco and Val
paraizo, in Chilli, South America.
Here . be seen the largest ships and
steamers, gun-boats, man-of-war ships,
merchant vessels, from all countries.
All American harbor cities of any note,
together with English, French, Dutch,
Chinese, and japanese vessels are we'll
represented here. Large and elegant
ocean steamers for the accommodation
of passengers, mail and express ply
between here and all points on the
Pacific coast. Ferry boats are pass
ing every ten minutes between the
city and Coronado Beach, while the
foreign vessels with their flags thrown
to tie breeze, present a grand as well
as a busy appearance. At San Diego
was located the first Spanish mission
station, as well as the first settlement
IN the State of California. 1t remained
but a small town, however, until
about three years ago, when the
country began to be developed, and
the then small town of 1900 inhab-
itants sprang quickly forward to the
enterprising city with its present popu-
lation of owe 10000 people. When
you consider this rapid growth you
find it tc be one of the greatest booms
on record.
Real estate is very high in value,
lots on business streets selling from
$4,000 to $4,000. The city and
SUBURBS are fast becoming one of the
most celebrated watering places in
the world, and are called modern
Naples from having a like position
and climate to that famous city. /
have heard tourists say that it sur
passes Naples as a summer resort,
the climate being cooler and the beach
much finer for a watering place, and
we a imagine that Naples shows
nothing grander or more beautiful in
the way of mountain scenery. The
city slopes gradually TO the bay, over
looking the rugged promontory of
Point Iona. extending into the ocean
and forming the western enclosure of
the bay. Upon the highest bluff Of
this rugged cape is situated the light.
house, its base being $50 feet above
the ocean and guiding the ships to
the channel entering the bay. On the
other side of the channel, and forming
the southern enclosure of the bav, is
the broad peninsula of Coronado
Beach with its beautiful parks and
one OF the finest beaches in the world,
fast becoming world famed as a water
ing place, both summer and winter,
Here has just been completed the
Hotel Del Coronado, surprising all
the others in beauty and grandeur,
claimed to be the finest of its kind 10
the world. This hotel built at a cost
of over 81 600, 900 is 600 x 600 feet ,
and encIoses an open court where can
be seen the most beautiful tropical
plants in bloom the year around. The
hotel grounds are shaded by the most
beautiful tropical trees and shrubbery. !
This grand hotel and grounds, with
its elegant accommodation and beauti-
full view of wide spreading ocean
beach, and the broad Pacific, where
in the distance can be seen the
Coronado Islands, rugged mountain .
peaks rising out ofthe ocean to a vast
height, doubtless volcanic eruptions
of some remote period, and the city
of San Diego across the hay to the
north, with its beautiful back ground
of mountain scenery, is doubtless as s
fine, if not the finest, resort for tourists |
and visitors in the world. The lovers '
of boating and sea-bathing, have here L
most excellent accommodation, and l
the climate is such that one can en- [
joy either any day in the year, the /
weather here being about like that of $
June in Vermont for nearly all the 9
year around, it never being very hot /
and never cold. There has not been a
over two weeks rainy weather during 9
The winter, and that mostly in the |
In the morning it would be 2
sunny and pleasant, a peculiar feature i
Of the rainy season here l am told, u
and something of a wonder to visitors .
lnacquainted with the climate in this II
part of the State. 1t is with pleasure .
hat | recollect associations of old .