Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-16
correspondence to the Herald.


trip to Los Angeles and sojourned for
few days at Redondo. The memory OF
that sunny visit to this sunny south,
followed me all through the summer
months, which generated such intoler-
able heat in the inland valleys OF mid
land California and the desire to return
to the genial Oriental" climate OF the
semi-tropics eliminated in this autumn
nal return to the Angelic vale.
From Los Angeles to the sea find
much improvement in the way of new
dwelling houses and the number of
acres in cultivation, and in Redondo
there is large number of structures
which have been put up during the sum-
mer and in process of erection. Busi-
ness is brisk and the columns of the
Compass show creditable list OF ship
ping arrivals and departures, coastwise,
while occasionally is noted consign-
ment from foreign ports direct. In other
localities Redondo as a shipping port
for Los Angeles valley, is being talked
about to such an extent that this gem
of the coast is attracting much attention
in commercial, as well as social way.
As every one is aware, sojourn at the
seaside during the sad November month
is not fashionable. The froth and gilt
ter OF social life has vanished with the
advent of the Indian summer, and the
aftermath is composed of those who
like the quiet and peaceful repose which
follows the ebb tide atthe close of the
season. Consequently there are but few
permanent guests at the hotels, at this
writing, while the transient visitors are
about the average. Among the former
may mention General McCook and wife
of the department of Arizona, who have
taken rooms at the Redondo until after
the holidays, and Mrs. V. W. Beecroft,
editor OF the Sutter City Enterprise, who
is here in search of health. 1 also no.
ticed Mr.. Peck of Marysville and his
mother at dinner the other day. The
young gentleman is assistant cashier in
the bank of Decker, SWEET & Co. of the
above city and is much esteemed socially
and personally.
The gardens and conservatories are
Just now looking their best, and the vast
beds of chrysanthemums are something
wonderful to behold. 1t is idle to go to
the floral fair to behold the gorgeous
howers-the glory OF Japan-when they
can be seen in all their prodigality with
in few steps Of the hotel doors. A
stalk was presented to my notice, which
had been plucked with large basketful
for adornment of the hotel tables, which
by actual count had lis perfect bios
SONS upon it, besides innumerable buds.
The florist, when he desires to grow per-
feet blossoms for show flowers, carefully
of oil o,,rv>l,,o h1,Is
formed, leaving only one to mature. By
this procedure the entire strength OF the
plant concentrates in one bloom. Had
the gardener thus treated the plant an
der discussion what monstrous and as
tonishing flower would have resulted
from those 11S and more separate iden-
titles. The chrysanthemums here are
of all colors and families, and since the
genus is capable of much admixture,
there are grades and hues innumerable.
The beds of Redondo carnations are be-
ginning to put forth their wealth of bios
som and will soon scent the air with
their abundant and spicy sweets.
But started in to tell about the oil
we'll, not the tangles in old Capistrano's
grizzled beard. 1t is well-known fact
that out from shore is an oil well, which
constantly gives forth an abundance OF
crude petroleum or green asphaltum,
which floats ashore with high tide. The
location of this singula. deposit is
clearly marked by the surface OF the
water assuming a CLASSY appearance.
The substance which eXudes is verysim-
liar to the exudation from of the oil wells
Of Kern county which throw up mounds
of this material, until in that region for
leagues, the country is full Of black pot
holes, and the water which emanates
srom them is totally unfit for man or
beast to drink. When such marked in
dications of oil was manifest near shore,
as now at Redondo, it was reasoned
that its subterranean flow must run
landward, and acting upon this theory
Capt. George Ainsworth has commenced
sinking well where groupings of oil
were most favorable on shore, as men
toned above. At the time of my visit
the we'll was down about 24l feet, with
strong indications of good flow Of oil.
In fact the unctuous fluid was freely
floating on this surface OF the water
which comes up with the debris from
the drill hole.
Redondo possesses many natural ad
vantages, and when to these is added
living oil well she will take step for
ward which will amaze even her most
sanguine admirers. There is no reason
to doubt that under the valley OF Los
Angeles lie hidden vast quantities of
Qil and gas which, when discovered,
would work such revolution in COM
mercial activity in this section as would
relegate the palmiest days of her late
boom to the shade. What was the dark
ness of Pennsylvania and Ohio until the
British OIL" found floating on the
creeks and being peddled about the
country by quacks as cure for rheuma-
tism, caught fire from the torch of sci
ence to give light to the round world
To come nearer home--how obscure was
the name of Stockton until the reservoir
OF gas which for ages untold underlaid
the fertile San Joaquin valley, was
tapped and from its seventeen subter-
ranean hues escaped the power which
is harnessed to the miller's wheel and
turns a thousand spindles for manufac-
tories. 1t lights the dwelling and cooks
the food for the private citizen, illumi-
mates the handsome granite courthouse,
and, outshining the now obsolete man.
ufactured gas, will soon be shedding it's
effulgent light along her we'll kept and
we'll paved streets. Truly, natural
gas and oil are great auxiliaries to
community's progress. All signs point
to their existence here, and, instead OF
signing for the lares and penates OF our
neighbors, let us dig for the unctuous
and inhammable wealth which lies be-
meath our feet, V. w, B,