The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-02-27
Los Angeles Letter.
Los ANGELES, CAL, Dec. 90, 80


DAYS, for our mail facilities have been
cut off from the north and east for
more than a week by extensive wash
outs and loss of bridges on all the
roads leading from the city, except
the Santa Monica branch of the S.
P. The usual winter rains began IN
September, and kept up with inter
walls of fair weather, to Thanksgiv-
ing, since which time there has been
almost a steady downpour. The
damage to the city and individual,
except in a few cases, has not been
severe Many streets are badly
washed and torn up and the APP
proach to some of the bridges car
ried away and others damaged. A
few houses were made uninhabitable
and some washed away; also a num-
Der of head of cattle and several
stacks of alfalfa. The heaviest loss
falls on the railroads. The Santa Fe
lost its two bridges crossing the riv-
er and the Southern Pacific the same
number, and the rapid transit to
Pasadena its only bridge. The rail
roads are by the river and they have
to keep up most CT the levee, which
is badly damaged. The estimated
loss to the Santa Fe is $780, 900, and
of the S. P. $4,000 in and about
the city. There have been no
trains moving freight or passengers,
except the Santa Monica, for week,
and travellers and tourists are stuck
fast all along the lines of the road in
many unpleasant places, and many
lost the Christmas dinner they ex-
pected to enjoy at home with their
families. The celebrated Nadeau
Vineyard is badly washed and torn
to pieces and the winery and wine
carried into the ocean; the loss is
estimated at 100000. There was
no loss of life, but many narrow es-
capes The mounted police were on
duty day and night and many times
rode into rushing torrents and car
ried helpless women to a place of
safety. Let me state one circum-
stance as an illustration. After the
bridges were gone and the water had
fallen some, people that had to cross
the river did SO by fording; this was
dangerous owing to washouts and
quicksand. A party with horse and
carriage and with wife and two chill
dren drove into the river. Deep wa
ter was struck in a washout, the har-
ness gave way, and the horse came
ashore, leaving the occupants in the
buggy, which was sinking into the
quicksand and liable to be carried
down in the rushing torrent. A
mounted officer rode in and carried
the whole family ashore, one to a
time; he then lassoed the buggy and
drew that ashore.
The holiday trade in the city has
been paralyzed and most all kinds of
business at standstill. Most all
kinds of mechanics are out of en-
ployment and will be for many
months, though there is work for
many repairing damages to railroad
bridge and streets. The cable line
suffered the most. By some unac-
countable blunder the three power
houses have a deep basement, in
which all the costly and heavy ma
chinery is placed; every heavy rain
the Easements fill, sometimes the
water has been II feet deep and the
machinery buried in sand and mud,
which has cut it and the cables to
pieces, endangering the foundations
on which the engines and machinery
are placed, as we'll as of that of the
buildings. The result was when the
cable cars were most in requisition
they were unable to run. The track
in many places is faulty and the
whole thing is fair weather child
There are not the number of Win
ter visitors the land agents and
house renters looked for, and there
are any number of houses to rent at
one quarter the price asked two
years ago.
James Quinn and family, we'll
known to many in Kenosha County,
are spending the winter here.
The winter races commence this
week, and as there is some fast stock
here, big time is anticipated if the
rain gods are proportions.
Robert Bonner, of New York, has
been out here and captured the
highest priced and most promising
fast horse in the country.
The City Council have seen fit to
let police matters take their course
for longer time than usual The
result has been police regulations.
But the Council have their hands
full endeavoring to formulate an
other sewer scheme, and it is nearly
ready to submit it to the people.
They sent east after noted sanitary
sewer expert to help them out, and
together they have brought up the
same old route, the report of which