Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-08
A ACALIFORNIA LETTER.
DOwNEY. Los Angeles Co.. Cal. /
January %. 1883. !

January %, 1888.
To the Editors OF the TRAEscRIPT.
Dear Sirs: l suppose most OF your
readers have meyer been in California, so
q letter from here will scarcely be as vel
come Is the Minnesota news your paper
brings TO us every week. That reminds
me that we have been fortunate this WIN
ter in having no foods to wash out
bridges and delay mails. The rains have
been abundant, but come gently and
steadily The prospect for good crops of
all kinds could not be better than at
present. The farmers ire sowing wheat
and barley with their full force of teams.
The vineyards and orchards are being
prnned and land put in order for setting
out fruit trees and vines. There Is some
corn 10 gather yet and the bulk of the
orange crop is still on the trees. -
We had three cold nights two weeks
ago. when the thermometer got down to
80 degrees and thin ice formed. No dam
age was done except in low places where
the young twigs of lemon and lime trees
were nipped- Those trees are more tender
than the orange. Late warm rains and
sunshine have started the grass every
where. The grass covered foothills make
very pleasing contrast with the snow
capped mountains 1872
Los Angeles and the neighDoring towns
are crowded to their fullest capacity. in
spite of all the building done last year,
and the crowd of visitors keeps coming.
The railroads have not been able to sup
ply coaches enough for the people travel
ing this way, and although they raised
the fare $40. 90 On January 1st. the rush is
almost as great Is ever, ~
Very many of the new eemers purchase
farms or lots and build on them at once
to avoid the expense of living caused by
the crowded condition of the city. The
whole county is growing steadily and sub
stantiallY- Costly residences, hotels and
business blocks are being erected, fne
water systems Constructed and hundreds
of orchards and vineyards set out. Rail-
reads are being built in all, directions
through the county.
The Boom" which has been 50 much
written about. to be approved or con
demnetl. according to the opinions or
prejudices of the writer, is 4 very sub
stsniial affair. judging from the millions
of dollars pnt INTO permanent improve
rnents md the w.Y the r,ecI,ae rash ID is
otc1py tie landsss fast IS h,lildir,ss are
constructed There Is steady eontinn-
ous rise in real estate OF all kinds The
sales in this county run from $500 Ooc TO
$1,000, 600 per day. s.- a-z
The counties of Los Angeles, San Ber-
nardino and San Diego are about on par
as far as climate advantages are concern -
ed. Much of this territory is mountain
Gus or without waller The remaining
portion is capable Of supporting and at
the present rate of increase, will soon
have a population which will rival in
numbers the best orchard and vineyard
portions of France cr Italy. Canada.
Europe and the states of the union
are sending US some Of their best people
Minnesota has sent more than her share,
judging from the numbers ne meet from
there.
This letter is already too long and I viii
leave other facts which might interest
your readers, until another time.
Yours truly,
@. j. RowLEI, n. D.