West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-08-14
From the Golden State.
SANTA BARBARA, CAL.

EDITOR ARGUs:-Your papers,
two in number, reached me yester-
day, having been forwarded to me
from Los Angeles. Lspent a good
part of the forenoon perusing their
columns which were filed with in
tersting news from all parts Of
Preston county. The proceedings
of the Fourth and primary election
was marked with interest. | am
glad the Preston people are coming
to the front in commemorative the
glorious Fourth.
i, with you, Mr.. Editor, predict
ed the result Of the Primary as it
turned out. The Republicans al
ways put great stress upon our brave
soldiers and want to rally to the
Stars and Stripes just before the e.
lection, but you must not have any
office, you have not the talent or
brain; we Republicans will do the
following and you soldiers can do
the fighting. / have found it so all
my life and wonder that people
can't see after repeated efforts that
such are the facts. | am clear out
of the political fight, but / am COM
PEELED to say it because truth de-
mands it.
am much pleased with your pa
per since it has come out impatient
ed. 1t gives new interest to the
paper that is better felt than told.
| trust that the people of Preston
will do their duty in sustaining
your paper.
In my last letter ] gave you the
dark side of California and | re-
marked that | would try and give
your readers the bright side the next
time.
When one has determined to a.
bandon all the allurements (Which
were referred to in my last letter.
with Gods help he can live almost
any where; then you are ready for
California with all her fair prospects
before you.
California is fast falling into rank
with other states in regard to more
economical mode of living. l can
see great difference in the last five
years: men are beginning to take
hold of labor that Cinnamon, Ital-
ians, etc., were called here to do.
have heard old miners say that at
one time they did not mind spend
ing s400 or $500 in one night, but
now 81 or IS is big item.
This place is beautiful sea coast
town, one hundred miles north of
Los Angeles, with breeze that is
always refreshing, making the eli
mate neither too hot nor too cold.
There is a great deal of sickness
from some cause or other. You
have to bo constantly on your guard
as to dress as the slightest change
will give you cold; an over-coat
or wrap inverably used when out at
even in summer.
The principal and most profitable
products are English walnuts, figs
almonds, fruits and grains of all
kinds. A few men in this locality
have large olive orchards from which
they are making immense fortunes
out of the oil.
The town has about 5000 inhab-
itants. 1t sprang up very rapidly
during the boom three years ago.
but since has been on a stand-still
like other towns all over the State.
California has been over-done in
the kinds of people immigrating
here-men seeking fortunes without
working. These fortunes are as
scarce here as in any state in the
Union.
The Southern Pacific r. r. is
built up this far along the coast
with the expectation of extending it
to San Francisco to intersect the
line on the east side Of the Coast
Range. If this road is completed,
Santa Barbara will soon be ahead Of
Los Angeles.
Yours sincerely,
S. g. SHAW.
July 10 1890.