Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-08-06
FROM CALIFORNIA.
R. A. Dague's Fourth Letter.

I have now been In California near
" three months. During that time I
have visited every important town and
city in Southern California, except
San Diego. One of the Justly cele-
brated towns of the coast is Santa
Barbara, one hundred and ten miles
northwest-ward from Los Angeles.
Hero I visited the old Catholic Mis-
sion church which was erected by
Spanish priests 112 years ago. It has
often been infinitely described by
writers of national reputation. visi-
ted the ruins of the ancient water
works constructed more than century
ago up IN the mountains three or four
miles from the town The dam across
the mountain stream Is still well pre-
served.
Santa Barbara has 5000 population,
large number being Spanish. but
distinguished and wealthy people
from all parts of the world reside there.
The climate is nearly perfect. The
town has no "back country" worth
mentioning. Great rugged untillable
mountains surround the town In the
shape of q horseshoe, and the ocean
is in front. The little valley I esti-
mate, is not more than three by seven
miles in extent 1t is a poor business
town but nice place to live for those
who have money.
Five miles down the coast is Sum
merland, colony of Spirltuallsts es-
tablished two years ago. Like Santa
| Barbara, it has but little level ground
on which to spread. The town has
now about 200 population, newspa-
per, a well-filled public library, a
nice ''meeting-house," and seems to
be building up quite rapidly. Its
light and fuel comes out of the earth
IN the shape of natural gas. Here I
met Ex-senator 9. G. Vance and Mr..
Cole, both of the northwestern part of
Phillips county, who seem to be de-
lighted with their new location.
! Ihave also recently visited Ventura,
Santa Panla, Santa Houica, Redlands.
San Bernardino, Ontario, Pomona,
Riverside and other places. I have
diligently sought out and talked with
well informed parties, have patiently
read everything recommended to me
to read, have Travelled by sail, by team
and on foot, and inspected ranches
and orchards, and posted myself pref
ty thoroughly as to soil, water, eli
mate, and business, and have come to
conclusions as follows:
LIST. Not One-hundreth part of South
ern CALIFORNIA is susceptible to Guilt
walton.
I'd. There are all sorts of climates
here-good, bad and Indifferent.
Sd The climate of Santa Barbara,
SummeTland, Carpenteria, Los An
geles and San Diego, is probably as
perfect as any IN the world. The
really fine climate is confined to little
"'nooks" protected by neighborIng
mountains, and all grouped together,
would not be as large IN area as
Phillips county Kansas. Los An
geles Is especially fortunate in loca-
ton Not many miles cut from this
city may be discerned the track of VIC
lent winds, which at intervals come
. rolling down the canons, carrying
, great clouds of dust and sand. The
most noted and disagreeable OF these
periodical storms are known as San
tamas." Occasionally I can get an
= old citizen to admit that these spring
and fall sand-stoTms are full brothers
, of the sand billiards of Kansas.
4th. Except in the little hooks
mentioned, 1t is not only frequently
windy, but during summer months
very hot, the mercury often indica-
ting 100 to 120 degrees.
9Th. Occasionally some fruit grower
raises a great crop of oranges or other
fruit and sells the product for a big
price and his success is published to
, the world. These great successes are
rare exceptions and not the rule. Not
long ago an orange orchard neal
Riverside consisting of ten acres, sold
for S25, 900. or g, 500 per acre. The
2 purchaser will doubtless find in due
? time that he has more experience than
, he had and the seller more cash.
Yesterday while taking dinner at q
hotel when a nice dish or apricOts
We're handed around an old Californ
la fruit raiser remarked that the trees
from which those apricots were pick
2 ed bore q cron only once in four years
a l find that prunes bear only every
two years. Some varieties of oranges
are worthless. Pests continually
make war on all fruit trees and vines
i, and each year the fruit raiser is near
S ly as anxious to know IF his tree
= will bear this season." as a KansaI
farmer is to know if the hot wind viii
kill his corn.
( 9Th. Certain localities of limited
s area are very desirable places in which
a to live If one has plenty of money o
a prosperous business; but I can no
conscientiously advise any eastern
man of family. especially those no
D '-well-heeled" to come to Southern
> California, unless he has reliable
friends here who can advise and as
sist him in catching on" But
: small portion of Southern CalIfornli
e can ever be watered and cultivated
4 That which can be will be densell
: populated, and be like a beautiful gar
den. but to make it such millions o.
money Will have to be brought in anC
invested. The man who owns ten o.
more acres of good land on which b.
can put plenty of water if it is in
o good location, and if he himself is al
d intelligent student a careful manage
f and an industrious worker, is in fai
+ way to make living for himself ant
: in time lay up snug surplus for OLE
L age.
S When I first came here, and befor
b I arrived, reliable friends told me T.
''go Slow" to buy nothing for from
three to SIX months, till after I ha,
l thoroughly informed myself as to eli
:, mate, soil, location, business pros
;. poets, etc. I now know that the ad
n vice was good, and I in turn offer tn
same suggestions to all my friends
California is a great state and ha
IL 4. > l.