Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-05-17
Interesting Letter.

The following letter from Hon. II. =
Gordon to E. II. Farnham, Esq, will
be read with interest by Mr.. Gordon's
many aelnaintanees in the vicinity lie
evidently is pleased with his California
home, and the fact that the letter was
| not intended as an immigration docu-
| ment, but as statement OF facts to {,
personal friend, gives it'added interest.
,t.5s THE LETTER, d.
II SAN JOSE, Call, May 5th, 1881
+. Fl. FARSHAH, ESQ, -. b
Friend, l have often thought of writ
ing to you since ! saw you on the cars
last May, but have been very busy with
my fruitranchcs, vineyards, winery, etc.
This is Gods country--he made il for
white men. like it more and more !;
the summers are neither too hot nor too
cool-just right. The winters are like.
your late spring May and early fall
(SeptemberJ weatl,er-yery light frosts
occasionally, not enough to injure ten
der plants Gala lilies, heliotropes,
etc., were blooming in my grounds al
winter. This is: the most wonderful
ly productive country / ever saw and as
healthy as any country on earth. Land
is high, from $50 to $500 per acre unim-
proved, according to location, etc.; first
class fruit land, within S miles Of San
Jose population IS. 000-50 miles south
of San Francisco) can be bought for $50
per acre, San Jose is q first class town
for its size-3 daily newspaper, electric
lights, street cars, electric motor line,
Normal school, 2 univer sities, splendid
hotel (Vendome, cost s300,0oD.) ETC.,
with dozen daily trains to and from
San Francisco.
Fruits produced-appIes, pears,
peaches, .plums, nectarines. apricots
French prune, silver prunes, oranges,
grapes by the hundred tons, strawber-
rles. all small fruits-almonds English
walnuts, pecans. pomegranates, chest
nuts, ETC., etc.
/ put out 200 orange trees this spring
have few older beginning to bear.
I think there arc now 1000 roses of
the finest varieties in full bloom in my
grounds-have been blooming all win
ter. If you eyer take notion TO come
out to this coast, come and see me. l
live miles from the center Of the city
on Julian Street, near Alum Mock
Avenue; splendid cement road ali the
way into town. I have all told 1865 acres
into fruit trees, 10 acres in grapes and
$50 acres in hay and grain.
San Jose pronounced San Hosay) is Il
live business town-the capital of Santa
Clara county and the trade center of the
famous Santa Clara valley and adjacent
mountains. The mountains are green
and productive to their SUBMITS (grc'.n
now-brown in sunner) We have had
very fine rains the past winter and This
spring. inches fell last night and
today.
We have had in all this season Toe
ginning in November) about Is inches
Of rain-which is ample
My barley stands ) feet high and very
heavy--it is almost ripe. My corn is 2
feet high. We have had new potatoes
for two month5-:ny early potatoes are
ripe. One can have a green, growing
garden the year round by irrigating in
the dry season. The dry season lasts
usually from middle OF May to Novem-
berthe "rainy season" is not wet ard
disagreeaLlc as you might suppose on
ly occasional showers-with fine sunny
weather betweeu-like your May and
June showers.
This valley is III my opinion the cream
Of California. There are many other
fine Valleys, but like this the brst. 1t
seems to be prosperous and is cer;a ny
healthy and very attractive.
If YOU get tired OF the ito me- into!er-
able winters of Minnesota-ccme over
and sec this Garden Of Eden.
Let me hear from you.
Yours truly,
p. @. box HE, II. J.. GORDON.