Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-22
TRONTON NO Y. 22,
NUMBER 81.

1
answer a large number of letters
through the columns of your paper.
We left Ironton about the 10Th OF
May, 1887, and after mixed journey oi
five days and nights. we landed in the
city of San Francisco, California. We
/ passed through the cotton fields and
swamps of Arkansas, and the same in
Texas for some distance, and the city
of Dallas. We saw some as fine farms
as one would wish to look at. We
passed on rapidly to the cattle ranges
near FIT. Worth, and from there on un-
til We came to Ell Paso, where we could
farm oyer into the land of the greasers.
known as Old Mexico, and there We saw
farming carried on by irrigation, wood
to burn conveyed on donkeys' backs,
fiat roofs, and on leaving Ell Paso there
is continued sand bar-except in a
few places where water could be had.
and at such places the settlers had small
gardens that gave the eye some needed
rest. and all along the line nature
seemed to have eXerted herself in
growing different kinds and shapes of
eactuses, which were wonderful. We
passed by some grand views, after
night, so we were told. Finally we
came to Ft. Yuma, on the Colorado
river, which is on the line between
Arizona and California. At Ft. Yuma
we saw the In'iians of the same name.
and the style of their dress was enough
to cause one to blush; even a Missou-
rian would blush behind the ears.
After crossing the Colorado river we
were safely in California, and the first
thing looked for was chunk of gold,
but l had to be contented. to look on
continued hot sand bar, ,and as the road
bed is good and level here the train
made fast time and the sand came In
the car at every chance, and for long
distance the ride was anything but
pleasant. At last we were tranferred,
so it seemed, from torment to the Gard
en- of Eden. We then came to orange
groves and gardens-in fact, we saw
California in all of its glory. Finally
we landed safely in San Francisco and
for the first time saw the Pacific Ocean.
We left the city the following day and
came up here to Sonoma county and
have located here. We find good wat
er, good soil and timber, a splendid
climate-not too hot nor too cold-yet
people die here the same as in old Mis-
souri, and in the same way: by not get
ting their breath. However, we have
our health much better than we did
back there, and I am pleased to be
able to say we are doing much better.
Ny mothers health never was better,
and she is now located on 100 acres of
good land with fine springs, timber
and enough open land for farming; has
good house and home and is con-
tented.
There is plenty of grass now green
kinds are as fresh as in Missouri in
June, and there is an abundance of
fruit of all kinds. One here can see
snow on the mountain and at the same
time see all kinds of vegetation grow
ing in the valleys; even the Chinaman
is seen to grow in all places, and is the
only drawback to this splendid coun-
try. In conclusion will say would
not encourage any poor man to come
to this country to obtain employment,
as the ChInaman controls all the
wages. But it is an easy place to live
in, as fruits and vegetables are cheap
and one does not have to wear heavy
clothes. Hoping this will find my
friends all well, [ remain
Yours respectfully,
CHAS. G. ST. JOHN.