New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
DRIFT FROM FAR AND NEAR.
COMMENT AND GOSSIP 10Th FROM VISITORS
AND NEW-YORKERS.

! COMMENT AND GOSSIP BOTH FROM FISIIORS
AND NEW-YORKERS.
| Among the visitors in New-York from the Pacific
Coast is W. H. Hoablrd OF San Diego. He is cousin
Of General s. b. Holabird of the United
states Army. and was born on Lake Champlaln, and
his old homestead Is the country seat when Dr
Seward Webb has within few years purchased and
beautifod Although he has been on the frontier ever
since there has been frontier and IS now quite white-
haired, Mr. Holabird has lively recollection OF the
lake on which he born, and considers II the most
beautiful spot earth. In chatting about 1t he SAID
that he had always wondered why NcwYorhcrs had not
made moro of It's banks location for summer homes
Hc has spent most OF his life the Pacific Coast,
and is counted among the silful real estate operators
of Southern California He made the first sales in the
now famous OF Coronado Beach, which Is across
the bay from San Diego and IS enthusiastic about
everything touching California interest Speaking OF
San Diego yesterday he said: when went thoTe In
1883 It dull place as you can imagine. Prac-
tcally its new growth did begin until 1856, upon
the completion of the Achison, Topeka and Santa Fc
system into its limits. San Diego is not understood by
Eastern people They think that It IS in the midst
of desert land. Yet have 100000 acres OF spen-
did agricultural land in San Diego County, which IS
probably in of the agricultural acreage In any
other county in the United States. This aonc would
not make San Diego but its magnificent harbor IS all
that has ever been claimed for it, We are located on
tho highway Of nations. The channel Is remarkable.
The Government has never spent dollar on #, yet
ships of twenty-sx feet draught so into II without
pilot and at low tide the depth Is twenty-threo and
one half feet These two features have caused
growth in population from 1000 in 1886 to $1,000 at
the present time
As had curiosity to know about tho products Of
the surrounding country Mr.. Hoabrd satisfied my in
duiries by saying Back from Santiago for twenty
miles there are hills and valleys exceedingly fertile
where fruits arc grown the Ike Of which the world
around can scarcely equal Oranges grow in perfec-
ton. The olives finer than in the Santa Barbara
district In the Cajon Valley they grow rasn grapes,
the White Muscat which only the finest of their
kind, but wonderfully profitable. About 10000
acres are planted with these grapes. They pay $500
an acre profit This statement IS not idly made, but
Is the result Of careful and accurate figuring. The
grapes come into good bearing the third from
cutting But want to tell you about san Diego.
We have everything there to make great city A
blast furnace IS being erected there the only on the
Pacific coast There Is plenty of fine iron ore on the
railroad few miles away. There is limestone to
fux 1t. Tho coke Is brought in wheat vessels from
England They take out wheat and bring back the
coke at low freight rather than back in ballast
This +, something we learned from the English. They
used to send iron rails to America ballast freight free
All the shipping OF the entire North and South Pacific
coast has been obliged, heretofore to go TO san Fran
cisco for repairs. We have marine railway that
out into deep water and brings vessel easily
into position for working on it. Naval experts say
the dockage is perfect. For long time the trans
continental railroads ignored San Diego Tom Scott be-
leved in the place and made survey, and even built
embankment there. But the AtchIson. Topeka and
Santa Fe the first to come 10 us. 1he Southern
Pacific IS now pushing a branch our way The Rock !
Island has spur down into tho Pan Handle OF Texas.
II VIII certainly extend that branch across c san Diego
through Arizona the heart Of which rich In minerals
and agricultural lands They can grow everything
Coronado Beach but for the fact that I have been In
tercstcd there Upward Of S5oQO o has been paid |
day the strongest corporation on the Pacific coast
outside tho railroads.
incidentally Mr.. Holabird spoke about Lower Call
fornia follows Lower California has been greatly
abused do not believe in pulling down nelshbor
in the mistaken belief that It helps to build up your
self If Southern California IS good so IS Lower Cali
fornia The International Company grant there COM
prises millions Of acres of fine agricultural land as
have ever seen. About Ensinada there IS as fine
land for agriculture anywhere in the world I |
would not hesitate moment to recommend agrcul
turisfs 10 20 thore 10 create homes. The Inerna
tional Company BY the way has the money raised 10
build a railroad from Yuma 10 san Diego BY The old
tom Scott survey. II VIII make transcOntlnental
line, from 800 TO $50 miles shorter than any existing
route"
Uriah welch, the wcl-nown hotel man, has come
hack from Townsville, Ga, his way TO Rchfeld
SPRINGS for the summer His Southern hotel IS closed
Speaking of the season, he said 1t has been the best
winter so far, in the Southern country, that have
known The tide Of Northern winter travel seems TO
have set definitely in that direction. The opening Of
Mr. Flaglcr's hotel has had much TO do with turning
the tide toward Florida, and the Northerner gets
down into that country, he IS bound TO sec all OF H.
think next season VIII see the whole southern cOun-
try overrun with tourists
Major W H. Hancock, who, although a Democrat
was dismissed from the Appraisers Department hero
on the accession of a Administration, has many
odd poInts Of character His relations are among tbo
Did families Of tho South and bis relatives were OIL
rers in the Army and Navy before the war 1t Is told
of him that he rendered HIS services TO the Confed.
crate War Department. and given a captaincy.
When he asked for an assignment to duty, he was
asked to take the position of Paymaster in the Navy.
He was hot-bloodod felt the offer of such place as
IN insult. and flung up his commission. Then he en-
listed as private soldier I'm the Confederate Army
and rose to the position Of major 1t was a major
that he surrendered with Lee at AppOmattox.
Thomas NJ Nichol whose orstory n the resumptlon
period won him the nick name of Hard Money Ncbol
S by a queer chance, Just now engaged in exploit
ngs a nickel mine, which IS located on the Pacific
Coast Among the uses TO which nickel has recently
been applied IS that of giving durability to telegram
wires Which when plated with nickel, are said TO be-
hreefold moro durable.
There is little group Of young men growing up In the
Boston atmos phere Of literature who may be heard from
n tho future They are connected with Houghton.
hriln Co.. and have recently been taken In a. Junior
partners In that publishing house. One of them ia
On OF the senior proprietor. Another Is q lea;Ive n
ir. Mlfiln Tho third Is Thurlow Weed barnes grand
on Of Thurlow Weed, formerly Of Albany Youn1
Barnes inherited a large part Of his grandfather
wealth and married lovely and wealthy GIRL whose
ZONE in westchester County. lie had for a time q
for politics. but suddenly dropped 1t for the pub
lshlng business. In the same employment Is a son
4 william lloyd Garrison Their Boston Office is I'm |
n old private residence. The front windows look out