Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-27

Here we are in city old, strange,
with history like romance, quaint,
curious and interesting where we find,
or run onto or into the most unexpected
things in the most unexpected places;
where nearly every one speaks
language that we do not un-
derstand, and the people are
is all strange. There is Sightseeing
galore, and as good luck would have it
we ran across friends who knew Mexico
and talked Spanish, who in their SYM
pathetic spirits, for they had been in our
dilemma, kindly gave us their services
as guides and interpreters. We tried to
do some of the city ourselves and in
our wanderings got lost and could not
find our hotel. As we had devoted all
our spare time en- route studying Span
ish, we accosted a nicely dressed Mexi-
pardon, seflor, fonda de del Jardin calle
de la Independence. He shrugged his
shoulders, looked puzzled and then a
look at us, and, with a smile, said
"Where is it you wish to go? Will take
pleasure in escorting YOU" After this
we tried our best English first. The po-
liteness. and kindness of this gentleman,
in walking over two blocks to show us
to our hotel, we found to be prevalent
everywhere we went. We had learned
to say cuanto? and what their money
denominations were that dos reales
was twenty-five cents, etc. The first ar
ticle we bought, we said cuanto? the
reply came quick s'dorealis, what's
that?" I studied and again said
"cuanto?" with the same reply and
lot of Spanish besides probably saying
1915 cents, two dimes and a nickel, or
twenty-five centavas Gents, pay up
and look pleasant" for by illustrating
with % cent piece at the end of his
talk, the boy we were trading with took
our two bits and smiled at our ignor-
ance-as he went on his way to sell his
wares. Speaking of money, those who
are about to visit Mexico should buy
Mexican money at the banks at El Paso
to last them to the City of Mexico,
where they can sell their gold at the
banks for 80 per cent. premium and
their drafts on New York for 81 per
cent. 1t is well to study Spanish before
going, even if you cannot speak it; you
very coon learn how to make all your
wants known and to understand enough
to get along.
1t is not within the province of this
letter to tell your readers of the sights
we saw, but If you so desire, will tell
you more of them in another letter.
There is no doubt as to the fertility
and productiveness Of the many valleys,
and with the energy, push and industry
of our people as leaven in that coun-
! try, there is no telling what the possl-
bilities could become.
What Mexico needs most are three
things Intelligent immigration; then
schools supported by school fund that
would insure such schools as we have in
California. They have a compulsory
school law, but it is a dead letter for
want of schools. What schools they
have are as a rule almost worse than
none. Next in order and OF the greatest
necessity even today, is the breaking up
and subdividing of the large land hold
ings and selling them in small farms.
Our big California ranches, which have
always been a curse to our own state,
would only be a garden patch in many
of these ranches, or haciendas, as they
are called. Think of one man owning a
million acres, another man with 660,00O
acres, and so on. A hacienda is sup
seems these landholders own from ten to
hundred of them all in one body.
Everything that grows in California
find growing here, but for want of
intelligent culture the products are in
no instance as good in quality as those
we grow. Fruits are all seedlings
neglected. Peaches and plums from
Los Angeles sell at 81 per dozen, while
Mexican peaches sell for IL cents per
dozen. Potatoes, tomatoes, and almost
all kinds OF vegetables are very poor,
and come high. Potatoes to 8 cents
per barrel.
Oranges are seeding; grow well con-
sidering cultivation, but are not nearly
equal to ours. Their oranges are shipped
and sold before ours come into the
market. There can be no danger Of
competition from Mexico. More par
ticulars on this subject will be given
N later on.
We were astonished to meet so many
English-speaking people, mostly from
the United States, everywhere we went ;
men not there for their health
but on business bent, and all, SO far as
we could judge, making money. The
California colony is quite large, and
they are noted for their geniality. Oh
the Angelefos we were pleased to meet
} Judge Ignacio Sepulveda, so we'll known
in your city. The judge stands at the
, head of his profession at the capital
| CITY, anu lS uldhlllS lOLn VI hiOlOJs AAO
, said to us: "Hardly day passes that
do not think OF Los Angeles and
the many kind friends. My heart is at
, Los Angeles, and intend before a great
i while to remove to that city, and make
} it my home" He sent his kind regards
, to his friends.
| We also had the pleasure of meeting
/ that whole-souled rustler, H. B.Wilkins,
who has so many friends in Southern
/ California. j. w. Wilkins holds the
very important position of general
freight aud passenger agent of the
Mexican Central railroad system. All
over the republic we heard of wilkins,
the freight man we ship with" Wilkins
: has very warm spot in his big heart
for Los Angeles.
Genial Tyler Longstreet is here, en-
J gagged in business. He represents a
large New York house, and is pushing
, business in this Egypt Of the new world.
Pasteur DeCelis is in General Man
/ ager Jackson's office, and is the Span
, ish head for the great railroad corpora
tion; he is prospering also, and made
} many inquiries about Los Angeles.
: w. N. Monroe we did not meet, but
J we heard of him from those close to
t him. Monroe has big railroad con
! tract, on which he will make stack o.
money, when he will return to his frs