Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-02-25
FROM CALIFORNIA.
A WELL-WRITTEN AN INTERESTING LET
TER FROM CALIFORNIA.

A ELL.WRITTEN AN INTERESTING LET
TER FROM CALIFORNIA.
FRESNO, GAIL, Feb'y 10Th, '91.
Editor Spectator: My childhood's home
is in the grand old State of Virginia within
an hours ride of Staunton. Ever since my
infancy the Spectator has been freside
companion at my Fathers hearth. 1t has
been several years since l had the pleasure
of reading it regularly. but whenever l do
spend an hour with it, feel that have
met an old friend. If you will give me a
small space in your columns, I will try to
write you few lines concerning my West
ern home, though can give but feeble
description. 1t would take a ready pen and
q ready writer to do justice to this glowing
country. If my pen were plucked from
some beautiful bird of paradise and dipped
in the most gorgeous hue of the rainbow,
I could do no more than describe this ooun-
try truthfully, but if the critics eye should
rest upon these liues, trust he will deal
gently with them, for my pen is but a dull
lead. pencil without the inspiration CT a
glorious past or the hope of famous TO-
ture.
I left my native State in the spring of
1887, and have been quite wanderer since
then. have spent most of the time in
Missouri, and think that very fine coun-
try. About the middle of last December, l
decided to go to California aud try my fort
u e there for time. l left Mexico. Mo-,
December 16, arrived at Kansas City the
next day where I missed connection and
lay over several hours. When I again
found myself en- route to Las Vegas, New
Mexico, and saw the last glimpse of the
fertile prairie of old Missouri fade away
like a cloud in the horizon, I felt that was
cut loose from the secure anchorage of set
tied life and cast adrift upon doubtful
world.
stopped over in Las Vegas twenty four
hours, and was delighted with the country
grow we'll there. After leaving that quaint
little adobe city, the country was very
mountainous for long distance. Most of
Arizona, near the railroad, is nothing but
a sandy desert. No vegetation of any
kind except the cactus. Sometimes soil.
tsry mountain away off in the distance on
the edge Of the great sandy plains, would
be a new theme for id'e speculation. One
of the grandest sights I saw was Spanish
Peak. We came in sight of it early one
morning. The sun gliding its snow-cover-
ed crest, gave it look of ethereal grand
eur that lifted us, as it we're, for the time
being, far above our common level, "from
nature, up to natures God" The peak is
about sixty miles from the railroad, but the
atmosphere is 80 clear and pure that it does
not look to be more than three or four
miles distant.
Ali of Southern California near the rail-
road is desert until you get thirty miles
north of Mo Jave junction which Is right
in the centre of the desert and the most
desolate and forsaken-looking country
ever saw. We lay over here twelve hours,
but did not greatly enjoy the visit. There
are many grand sights to be seen in cross
ing the Sierra Nevada mountains. The
railroad is a wonderful display of engineer
ing skill. We counted eighteen tunnels,
one right sfeer the other, but do not know
that we counted all through which we
passed. After we crossed the mountains
there was great change in the appearance
of the country. As we neared Fresno, one
of the finest counties in California, there
was a marked Improvement. Fresno city,
the county seat. is located in the centre of
the great San Joaquin Valley, and on the
main line of the Central Pacific R. R., 296
miles from Los Angeles, and 206 miles from
San Francisco. The city is yet in it's in
fancy, but has 5000 inhabitants, several
street-car lines, five banking institutions,
with capital stock ranging from 5000 600 to
IS, 900, 900, thirteen church organic atoms,
aud the second best business houses on the
Pacific coast. There are three Wholesale
umber-yards, several factories, four pack
ing houses, and the "Barton Grande," the
finest opera house west of Denver.
Fresno county is the raisin centre of the
world, Last year it sent out $500 carloads
of green aud dried fruits, besides supplying
the local markets with 1900 carloads. One
Of the county's greatest attractions is her
lumber mills located in the Sierra Nevada
Mts. Wages are very good at the mills in
the Summer, ranging from $40 to 1926 per
month.
Wheat raising in this country, as we'll as
barley and oats, was very profitable bust
ness few years ago. The vast plains
that were oLce waving their golden heads
of wheat and barley in the beautiful sun-
shine awaiting the coming of the harvester,
are now almost one solid orchard of tropi-
cal fruits.
Sheep raising was fer long time good
business here, but farming has increased SO
rapidly, and the country settled up 30 fast
that the sheep business is on the decline.
Most of the sheep are now owned by Portu-
yuese, who herd Gheir focks on the foot
hills in the winter, and take them to the
mountains in the Summer. But l must re-
turn to Fresno and its pleasant climate. I
am writing IN my room without Ire and in
my shirt sleeves. There are plenty of
grapes on the vines now, and oranges,
lemons, lines and bananas are growing
nicely here the whole year. The varieties
of people here are es numerous as the
varieties of fruit, but not SO pleasant to
look upon. Que sees every class and con-
d.tion of mankind from the highest to the
lowest. But AN growing too prolix and
must draw this letter to close.
/ would not advise Virginia boys to come
here seeking their fortunes unless they are
willing to endure many hardships and
climb very slowly to success, for while
wages are far above the average there are
opposing disadvantages that almost over
balance the extra dollars. He who has a
fair means of livelihood, would be more
than foolish to give up the genial home
life of the Sunny South with her valiant
men aud virtuous women for even the best
opportunities in the far-famed golden west.
With best wishes for the success of your
paper and an ali hail to the progress and
prosperity of the Old Dominion,
am,
Respectfully Yours,
W. W. HANGER.
Cx,oor rnr