Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-05-03
NO. 2O93
@fPOT POURRI''
From the Golden Gate State.
Special Corresnondence

GPSCiti correspondence.
Los ANGELES, Cal, April 18th, 'sS-
The weather since the last of February.
has been pleasant, and now is warm
and balmy; heliotropes, callas, roses.
verbenas, and other flowers in full
bloom; the great festival of Flora will
commence next week, when every
town in the county will vie in amicable
rivalry, in designing Natures beauties
into graceful and intricate forms to
please the eye. There will be amateur
acting, tableau and music each even
ing on the spacious stage of Hazards
great Pavilion. 1t is estimated that
$500 will be realized from this fes-
tival.
There is not quite so much of a
boom in the real estate market as
there was one year ago, yet everything
is firm, and even lively, much property
changing hands for business purposes
and improvement, which is more
healthy than speculation. Our 81, ,OOO.:
600 was the amount of real estate ex-
changed for March There are many
expensive and elegant blocks in
course OF erection, many of the stores
which will rent for from $500 to $500
Per month, likewise two elegant and
commodious opera houses under con-
struction, and a monster hotel to con-
tain $50 rooms, the latter being over
looked by an architect from Boston.
1t is true we had a very slight tremor
OF earthquake couple of months ago,
| but even this was more than has been
experienced for many years, SO the
builders have taken courage, and in
stead of the ancient Mexican one story
houses, the "blocks" being erected are
from three to six stories in height
with trimmings of granite, terracotta,
sand stone, galvenized iron and flint
glass.
l see that the King of Siam has
recently visited the brick hospital, at
Petchabure, founded by DIR. Ernest
Surge, with his own means, and SO
satisfied was this Autocrat with it's
usefulness, that he handed in $1,4OO
to its managers, he also donated 5000
1 to the boarding and day school at this
romantic place which is conducted
under Presbyterian auspicies
Old Ben Butler the enormous seal
with only one eye and name, off the
Cliff House rocks at San Francisco,
has turned up again after the tremen-
dous explosion of dynamite FROM a
vessel about a year ago, he disappeared
jumping into deep water, and has only
recently got over his scare and re-
turned to his old haunts; he roars
about as loud as lion, and is said to
weigh 1900 pounds; all of the other
seals are in awe of him, and make way
as though he were royal parsonage.
The moneyed men here have much
| forceful energy, and no difficulty ap-
pears to stand in the way of their car
rying out their designs; still it is the
impression of many, that the mighty
dollar is not only hunted down by day,
but haunts the souls of the restless
ones by night also. The laws here are
very stringent on borrowers, and they
have TO pay the penalty of loaning
money to its fullest extent. l think
there is less subdivision of lands into
lots than there was some way back, as
several of the new towns are not MAX
ing much headway, yet within the city
limits C miles square) every rything is
very firm, and with slightly advanc-
ing tendency. Not a day passes with
out parade of brass bands and pic
torial devise, as to some future sale of
tract" at auction, with very low
railway fare, and in most cases, free
lunch. The population of Los Angeles
is now supposed to be 10000, Ga very
rapid increase since years ago, that of
San Diego has been keeping step, and is
now about $4,000. A complete system
of paving and sewerage is underway,
and hundreds of fine private residences
are under construction. Coal and
firewood are exceedingly dear, and
living may be stated as high, all things
considered Beef is not equal in quail
| ity to mutton here, which latter has
the Southdown flavor. Strawberries
are likewise inferior, but the grape is
superior, and the peach equal to yours,
while apricots are most excellent.
Owing to the copious rains of the
past Winter, barley is now headed out,
and the hay, fruit and wheat crops will
be large. The vineyards are also
promising we'll. A. STURGE.
Delaware shad are the ruling staple
now on fish stands, but, notwithstand-