Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-09-03
FRoM oA1rFoRNIA.
R. a. DaQue's fifth letter.

COAIcO u liz OOAIAoAO A4hCA ny Optn-
ing up a wide deep canal through
which the river has poured its wat
ers ever since into a low basin, or
depression, $50 feet below the level
of the sea at the lower end of the
Mojave desert The river formerly |
emptied into the Gulf of California.
Other streams of water have poured |
in till now a lake or sea has been
formed, so by 20 miles in extent. |
This large body Of water has been
named ''the Salton Sea"-taking the
name of Salton, town on the South
ern Pacific Railroad near the lake,
and about $50 miles from Los Angeles.
Railroad officials. newspaper report
ers. surveyors and others have ex-
plored the country surrounding the
sea, and the opinion generally pre-
walls from their reports that the Sal
ton Sea will be permanent, and that
the climate of Southern California
may be greatly changed by it. Since
the formation of this inland sea there
have been frequent and heavy rain
storms in that vicinity, and for the
first time the towns of San Bernardino
Redlands, Beaumont and other places
located from sixty to ninty miles east
of this city. have been treated to fire.
quent thunder storms and a great
down-pour of water. 4 cloud-burst
or water-spout at Redlands recently
did great damage. A great body of
water came down the gentle slope
from the foot hills washing away the
railroad and all movable things, and
in few minutes stood three feet in
depth in the houses. Californians
were not accustomed to such things,
and now go about looking scared and
as though they did not know what to
expect next. Horses were killed by
lightning at San-Bernardino, there
have been some sun-strokes in Los
Angeles, like catastrophes never hay
ing before been known, and all these
bad things are charged up to the
earthquake of July Both and to the
Salton Sea.
Now if a political earthquake would
strike this State and shake up the old
parties, and a cloud-burst of popular
indignation would inundate and
drown a lot of the political dema-
gogues and boodlers here it would be
a great blessing. An old time Iowa
friend whom I highly esteem, who
has resided here for ten years, and
who has held responsible positions,
tells me that the amount of official
and political corruption in California
is simply appalling. He gave me one
illustration: At late session of the
State Legislature about thirty-fve
members effected a secrete organiza-
ton will a full set of officers and COM
mIttees, with but one object in view
and that was to secure Doodle. Their
plan was, when bill was introduced
to size up importance of the meas
ure and the ability of the friends OF
the bill to pay for votes, and then
send their committee to them and say
you can have thIrty-ive votes fol
your bill for so much money paid US.
If you don't give us that we will cast
35 votes against it." That was a veri.
table band of thieves and black-mail
ers who were actuated by but one i'm.
pulse and that was to betray then
country for Doodle. This gang was
of course composed of Democrats and
Republicans.
All political parties get corrupt i
kept in power too long. The time i:
ripe for the formation of a new party
The masses of the two old parties are
patriotic and honest but the leaders
the bosses-persistentiy prevent theil
respective parties from taking up ant
inaugurating needed reforms. Tn,
country needs a new party with new
leadership party that will not b.
content with forever threshing owe
old political straw, but one that viii
champion the great reform measures
now being proposed by as brigh
minds and as patriotic souls as Cal
be found in any country.
My lively sympathies are with thu
young but healthy infant, the People
Party.
I haYe been here nearly four month";
and still have to report that the eli
mate at this point is all that can b.
desired. Every day since we cam,
here has been nearly perfect. II
former letters I stated the fact tha
the really frst-class climate is con
fined to a small area. I am assured
that the winter is fully as pleasant a
the summers. in the favored ''nooks'
heret ofore described.
After an extended observation
have to re-iterate my former state
ment that these favored spots ar,
good places for people who have
money or are established in a gooC
business but 1 cannot advise poor meI
to leave Kansas and come to South
ern California R. A. DAeUE.
Los Angeles, California, Aug. 25
We are pleased to announce tht