Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-10-19
CALIFORNIA LETTER.

Editor Press:
A midsummer trip to Los Angeles
loses none of its discomforts as time ad-
vances. Improvements in the censtruc-
ton of modernized cars, however re-
lieves it some extent. The cars traverse
the rich valley of the Willamette in the
night, and after scaling the picturesque
Siskyou mountains, we dine at Sissons,
near the foot of Mt. Shasta. For 10
cents We are enabled to view through a
large telescope, the rugged peaks of the
mountain, priest-robed with the SHOWS
of eternal winter. Leagues of the land
are to all appearances owned by the
same parties as of yore, and maintained
as sacred heritage-for sheep and cat
tie pasturage. Both the towns and coun-
try show considerable improvement but
not tithe of what they will show when
these land barons are gathered to Abra-
hams bosom or some other good place,
and are released from the cares of man
aging an estate which ought to be in the
hands of many hundreds of men. In
the southern part of the state the mailed
Harvesting has hardly ceased, when the
plows are set in motion, and miles Of
summer fallow may be seen from the
car window. 1t makes no difference,
whether 1t is winter or summer, the |
gang plow runs nicely and the soil turns |
easily.
San Francisco has been treated to |
thunder shower, almost every day for |
week. The lightning and thunder re-
minds one of Camas prairie. The city |
is progressing and possesses as many at
fractions and fakirs as ever. 1t is indeed |
a manufacturing city and her shops aud
mills are receiving much attention, man
everything from a tack to a
steel cruiser. We desired to see Grover
Clevelands new steel cruiser, the
now in process of construc-
ton at the Union Iron works, but were
politely informed that we must get a
pass. naming a place in the city, three
miles distant.
The ypolitical cauldron is boiling
meetings are held nightly, and good
speakers are entertaining big audiences.
Good feeling prevailed everywhere un-
Ill the republican primaries when bad
blood was shown by the different re-
publican bosses and considerable of it
spilled. The efforts of Mr.. Grady, ofl
New York, and the ratification of the
chinese exclusion bill, make California
/ Cleveland state.
The 33rd annual fair of the Mechan-
c's institute was success. 1t would
AXE many hours to get down to an in
,elligent study of the valuable and we'll
arranged exhibits. The vast array of
articles contributed by the skilled me.
;hanics and artists of the city speak well
Tor the inventive genius of the Ameri-'l
;an people. The average daily attend
ance we were Informed reached about
1000. Among the attractive features of
he fair was silk-weaving machine.
This curious apparatus was weaving
Cleveland and Harrison campaign
badges from the native California silk.
The San Joaquin valley has made fine
progress since our last visit. The towns
1f Modesto, Merced, Fresno, Visalia and
rulare all show gratifying prosperity.
Zen years ago the lands near Fresno
were held at 81 per acre, now they
Gould not be purchased for 500 per
icre. These are light sandy lands, es-
oeclally adapted to the culture of the
'aisin grape, and pays handsome in
crest.
The heat is something terrific; a
'himmer;o heated air covers the ground
md one longs for fans, ices and cooling
irlnks, in short. thinks of reforming"
/ there is any place hotter than this,
md on the other hand, is apt to say inn
polite things as he swe!ters along under
IN almost tropical sun. After the Te-
lachipe pass is crossed we pass over the
Mojove desert, and here is the winter of
'ur discomfort made glorious summer
'y the arrival from Los Angeles of a
'arload of flowers, fruits and wine, des-
ined for the Odd Fellows on board. The
lowers we turned over to the Rebek abs,
ne other fellows" went for the remain
Ter. VIsIroR.
Los Angeles, Sept, 1888.