The Portland daily press., 1890-01-04

PiiooS, do 1hoy so0Heu W US, nlgn. On every
side we heard of new towns and cities grow
ing up as if by magic, and were offered
chances to make our fortunes which we
dared not accept. We got the impression
that booming is a regular business and that
the whole atmosphere of the West is favora.
able to boomers. We saw, however. some
thing of the opposite side of the picture; of
towns built up in day, now almost
abandoned; of citieslaid out for QUAR-
ter of million of inhabitants which
have shrunk into fair-sized villages.
The boom is decidedly off in South
ern California, although Los Angeles has
got start which makes 1t city of perma
nent Importance. We saw something of the
orange belt Of Southern California. of its
vines and fig trees, and the rich variety of
its floral and vegetable products These.
added to the charms of its mild and health
full climate. with its dry air and sunny skies,
appealed to our sense of pleasurable existence
In the fullness of out door life. Orange
groves in Southern California seemed TO us
a good thing as we looked upon the long
lines of thrifty trees laden with maturing
fruit How safe an investment orange lands
may be at 500 to $1,000 an acre is another
question, and one which we were not quite
so sure we could answer.
We visited one of the large vineyards and
saw how California wines are made. Much
can be said in their favor and of their future,
but as rule they are fortified wines as pre-
pared for the Eastern market. Natural fer
mentation does not produce in the grapes of
California sixteen to twenty per cent of al
cohol which is often found in these wines.
If the public demands SWEET wines,
with the arrested fermentation which they
require, they can only be kept sweet by the
addition of spirits and that means strong
wines, which we found most of the Califor-
mia wines to be. The famous Zinfandel
grape has not yet produced claret which
equals the red wines of Bordeaux. There is
a crude, strong flavor in the red wines of
California which render them inferior to the
better grades of French wine. Perhaps this
may be overcome In time and California pro-
duce for this country what is so much
needed, variety of light and heathful wines
which may enter into general consumption
without danger to the public health.
From Los Angeles we went to New Or
leans by the Southern Pacific route, ride of
three days and half, which carried us
through the arid plains Of Arizona, across a
corner of New Mexico and then through the
broad expanse of Texas.
The latter State has great future before
it and is now attracting the attention Of cap
italists and immigrants by the favorable OPP
portunities it offers for investments. Its
climate and fertility of soil are favorable to
great variety of crops, including cotton, in
the production of which it will soon rank as
the first State. With the prospect of deep
water harhor to be constructed by the gene
raj government at some favorable point on
the Gulf, the great products of the West are
likely to follow the laws of gravity and seek
tide water by the easy grades of railroads
through Texas rather than by the old routes.
When this change comes Chicago and other
shipping points in the West will be likely to
feel its effects.
The Southern Pacific Route we found very
comfortable and satisfactory. The road bed
is good, the alignment easy and the rolling
stock satisfactory. Modern Pullman buffet
sleeping cars run through from San Francis
CO to New Orleans and all who have Travelled
upon these cars know how much of comfort
and luxury they add to journey.
After visiting such cities as Denver, San
Francisco and Los Angeles, New Orleans
seemed behind the times. There was an air
of neglect about its streets and buildings and
a general appearance of untidiness about
everything, which was in marked contrast
with the freshness and thrift of the other
cities. New Orleans has not yet felt the quick
ening Of new blood which is doing SO much
for the New South" 1t is still under the
new South is, however, rapidly growing up
which does not look down on manufactures
and trade, but welcomes the advent of fresh
capital and brains. The numerous cotton
mills and iron establishments which we saw
in the South indicate where the source of
her strength lies, and the importance which
she is to assume as competitor in these
lines of industry. The unsolved race prob
lem is the great drawback to the rapid devel-
opment and prosperity of the Southern
States. That it is an unsolved problem ac-
companied with many difficulties and serious
dangers is also apparent. The late Mr..
Grady has attempted to defend the Southern
method of dealing with this question, but to
the Northern mind it is unsatisfactory, as it
involves the practical suppression of the
political rights OF large portion OF the pop
ulation which are guaranteed by the Con-
stiitution. Patience is undoubtedly needed
for its successful solution, but revolutionary
methods win in the end be condemned.
You ask me about the business prospects
of the West and the advantages they offer to
young men. They are unquestionably great.
1t is new country and the resources are
large and but partially developed, but the
same energy and intelligence which are es-
sential to success in the West, will win sue
cess in the East, and so far as the comforts
and pleasures of living are concerned. the
advantage undoubtedly lies with the East
over those sections of the West which have
the most to offer in the way of rapid growth.
There is no reason why young man should
leave the State of Maine. Its natural ad-
vantages are great and its undeveloped re-
sources are but partially appreciated Its
water power is superior to that of any state
in the Union. 1t is bound to become a great
manufacturing state. With half of the push
and vigor that is put into western booms we
should have boom today in real estate all
along our coast. 1t is well occasionally to
60 away from home in order to appreciate
at their just value the blessings one has left
behind. The good old State of Maine does
not suffer by comparison with the rest of the
Union, and the result of my journey has
been to make me more contented than ever
to live and woik in the state in which was
born.
OUR BOYS,