Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-31

THE VERMONT pIGNIN IRATTLEBORO

! said in one of my previous letters that
could not describe. A day of rest and
night of refreshing sleep had prepared me
for the fullest enjoyment of my last day IN
California. The party arrived at Los An
geles at an early hour, and we soon found
them riding about the city in the happiest
Of moods So much has been said and
written about Los Angeles that any extend
ed description of the city in this letter is
unnecessary Suffice 1t o. say that in ma
NY respects its beauties have not been ex-
aggerated, but the city was Doomed 20
death yet 10 didn't die and never will so
long as It's wonderful soil aud climate re
main.
TIM BOOM AND DESERTED HOUSES
1t is amazing To hear the residents tell of
the boom times how train lOads of PEG
pile arrived every day seeking health and
fortune. but more especially the latter no
tells were running over with guests board
was extremely high. rents doubled and
quadrupled, buildings of all kinds went up
as If 10y magic, the orange groves IN the
vicinity of the city were divided and sub
divided into city lots aud sold at fabulous
| prices; everything prospered everybody
was making money but the inevitable re
action came as it always will after a sea
D
many people vanished like dew before the
morning sun The deserted houses and
lots for sale ia Los Angeles are by far more
numerou, than the deserted farms in New
| England. But uotv outstanding these draw
! backs, Los Angeles is q beautiful, thriving
/ city with present population of about So,
! 900, and ID she doesn't have another boom
this number will be largely increased in
the near future The city has some fine
public buildings and contains many mag
uihceut private residences whose beautiful
surroundings can scarcely bee portrayed
An informal reception was given to the
National grange at the new Simpson NJ. h
church. which has Just been completed.
| Bishop Fowler was present and introduced
10 the delegates. speaking a kindly word 10
each. Beautiful bouquets and boutonueres
were presented TO the delegates by the la
dies of the church The edifce is one OF
the finest and most commodious church
buildings on the Pacific coast, with a seat
ing capacity of 5000 After the reception
and an hours ride about the city, the party
took the train for Alhambra and its orange
groves. which are about eight miles from
Los Angeles Friends took me in buggy
and ] had delightful ride across the coun-
try, meeting the party at the hotel for
lunch.
ALEXANDRIA
Alhambra Is little quiet town. mostly
on paper, but 1t seemed to me very pleas
ant place tolve. There is an enchantment
about a thrifty orange grove whore the
trees are covered with the luscious. yellow
fruit, that sometimes makes man wish that
he was the owner of like property. But
growing oranges isn't all pleasure and prof
It. An orange grove requires thorough
cultivation. constant care and iudlcious
management to make IL profitable business.
In this section of the state thousands of
trees are dead and dying for want of care
and proper fertilizers. The oldest orange
groves are calling for manure and on some
their owners are using all the stable ma
nure they can get. The scale bug is
most serious insect pest and Is destroying
thousands of trees lu all parts of the state
The remedies are spraying and counter
parasite, which Is said to destroy the for
mer insect aud leave the tree entirely free
from disease. But at all events orange
growing has It, drawbacks as well a, other
kin's OF farming, aud no one need think
of purchasing AN orange grove aud picking
a fortune without some effort Orange
groves with good water rights are held at
ID very high figure here. The owner of one
20 acre grove through which we passed
said he had refused 81. 500 per acre for it,
including a good house and few out build
ugs
After a ride through these fine groves
we reluctantly hade go1d-by to the main
party. who were to return 20 Los Angeles
10y train and take a two days trip To- san
Diego county and the extreme southern
portion of the state before starting East
several of the party, besides myself, were
Obliged 10 start for home the next morning.
IN order to attend the meeting of our state
grange Leaving the party in the Alham-
bra orange groves we started for ride
through
PASADENA.
the famous winter resort, which is few