The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-04-12
KANSAs am CtIIT0kNIt

under the caption kansas ". Cali
f0rnia, n fair impartial opinion, ''etc
etc, and signed fd ASDcrU.
! have no wish to engage in con
trOversy but the general drift Of that
article il misleading, and evidently
framed to pander to real
or iancied sentiment hostile to tall
fOrnia.
Any one who aspires to enlighten
the public mind should AT least pos
sess the qualification OF candOr, and
be willing to state the whole truth.
! The truth will help a good cause.
aud fairness is more effective and
far-Teaching weapon than niisrepre-
sentatiOu.
IL is a mistake TO co mpdre CalifOr-
mia with Kansas. They possess lew
| If any points Of resemblance in
scenery, soil, climate aud products.
/ They are wholly dIssi milar. Which
are Of most value and of most bene-
tit to mankind may afford room for
| discussion, but the conclusion must
be that both have a vocation. Every
patriotic citizen will rejoice i'm the
comprehensive diversity of our own
country, in which every want and
condition may be met. That nd
4 sperG" Is q careless and superficial
observer, take his own words in
evidence: when you get into Color
ado the formation changes To white
and red sandstone elevations with q
valley Of shiny gravel bet .reen the
elevations You may sleep now till
you get to Arizona for you can see
nothing new. There are some hills
covered with scraggy pine through
Arizona, then close your eyes again
till you get TO California
This is his passing notice Of his
| journey OF about twelve hundred
miles, through some OF the most
striking scenery In the world from
which reverent and Obssrvant
mind would gather matter for pleas
ureable reflection for life time.
One more quotation is necessary,
~ had a belief that the valleys OF
California were numerous and broad,
verdant and dotted with roaming
herds, peach orchards aud lovely
houses. Ie gods! It is a barren
gravel bed from one side to the
other on this route, except where
expensive irrigation and close at
tentiOn To business, have secured
grove Of trees. Aud about the vine
Yards and fruit orchards and alfalfa
belts the whole vegetation south of
the centre of the state would not
outweigh the grass crop of one sea
son in Saline county"
Reading the above the wish arises
strongly ia Iuy mind, Oh that I'D
ASperd" We're here that / might
convert him from the error Of his
words aud give him new views and
thoughts Of California. ! live in
valley broad and verdant,' the
hOIhe Of thousands of cattle, sheep,
and horses. Within sight is dairy
uf one hundred cows operating the
year through and producing the fin
est butter Within sight also IL a
tract Of eight hundred acres Of
wheat and barley, conveying the al
most absolute promise oil an album
dant harvest in May. Before us,
also, stretch out miles of orchards,
groves aud vineyards. All engages
in their gracious aud heneiicieut
labor which We must look upon with
continuous admiration. The bloom
Of the peach aud apricot i long past
aud the fruit l. set. Upon hundreds
OF acres the vines are breaking Out
and covering the ground with prOdi
gal luXurlanee. Here also are some
hundreds Of families, not ~pecula-
tors, or land agents, or with any
thought of fraud or self
seeking. but settlers a. intrlli gent,
industrious aud neighbOrly a. any
in the world, the beautiful homes
are here, and the cOuveniences Of
civilized life, and health and com
fort in a high degree and To speak of
minor matters, we have for months
past been supplied with fresh vege-
tables, Of excellent quality and very
cheap. CauliflOwers four for ten
cents, large heads Of cabbage for i've
cents, peas, onions, lettuce, etc. in
proportion. In visiting southern
California ID should be kept i'm mind
that il is 3 new cOuntry:-tO develop
orange groves, vineyards aud orch
ards requires time, il is therefore too
soon to expect large returns, but
they will surely come. Those who
have secured footing here are truly
fortunate. Every new country IL
more or less misunderstood. Soil
that will produce four tons of mus
catelle grapes to the acre with no
more labor then would be needed
for corn In Kansas Irrigation in
cluded) Is not barren bed" The
same soil and climate will produce
the choicest navel oranges; Ia its
perfection one Of the finest prOduc-
tons OF nature. Not much land in
America, or the world will do this.
will find any number of men and
women Of credit. who will sine srely
affirm that potatoes aud butter pro-
duced here Rre rs good a. can be
found. The potatoes, especially, are
quickly grown, they seem native to
the soil. One remark as 70 the eli
mate. / have spent many summers
and winters in central Kansas.
have also snmmered in southern
California, which lad aspera" has
not, or he would never, never say,
-four months OF rain and mud, eight
months without rain and q fine white
dust flying over everything, Their
mOmeteT ~ lis some days, and the
very dogs shaking with ague,n etc
All this Is 90 wide Of mark that l
have nothing TO say, except, that In
our part OF the state malaria does not
exist, and cannot, what is brought
here IL soon and completely cured.
The intention Of writing up south
ern California Is far from my design,
Il is not In my power to do so, and
do not consider IL necessary. There
need De no contention; In q few years
II will be well-known, and is repu-
tatiOD will rest upon 3 secure and
lasting basis.
might write Of the healthiness,
Of the prOfusion Of flowers, wild and !
cultivated, Through March we had !
camelias, verbeuas, roses and many
others in charming abundance and |
variety OF the rare and exquisite |
fruits. - figs, olives, nectarines and |
apTicOts. to say nothing OF the mighty |
avalanche Of grapes. Not raised |
with care and difficulty, but with |
ease and certainty. Upon these and |
kindred topics much might be said, |
but fOrbear.
II lad aspera" had avoided the /
towns and given q fair proportion OF /
his time 70 the country, II be had |
Stunned the real estate agents and /
mingled with the people am salts
fied he would have had very differ
ent account to give OF southern Cali
fornia. r. s. !