Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1891-03-26
Communicated.

out there last summer TO remain TO
several years, perhaps. She Is
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. John Bell
of Westville, a lady of admirable
qualities and rare accomplishments
was former student of the writer
and having a large circle of relative:
and friends IN this county, we viii
indite a few of the most interesting
facts relative to the location and de
scription of the Santa Maria valley,
Santa Barbara county, and surround
ing country as she portrays them In
her misslve, and which she desires
us to furnish the COURIER for publ
cation. She is a reader of the CoU-
R1ER and after sending it and its
obliglDg editors her sincere regards
and best wishes she proceeds as fol-
lows:
"The city of Santa Maria is situa-
ted about twelve miles from the Pa
cifc coast, twenty-nlne miles from
San Luis Obispo and eighty-four
| from Santa Barbara.
The present population of the
town is something over 1000, while
the surrounding country is densely
populated.
The town is neatly laid out in
squares and the principal streets
running from east to west are 100
feet wide, which are crossed by 9TH
ers from 60 to 80 feet wide. Quite
q number of them are beautifully
decorated with shade trees, while
the approaches to the town affoid
picturesque driveways. The streets
are crowned with white gravel and
concrete.
The principal thoroughfare or
main street is 120 feet wide, on
which are many substantial business
buildings
Water is supplied from wells and
two water companies, there being
two large reservoirs, with fifty feet
altitude, and which are kept sup
piled by steam power pumps.
They have three large assembly
halls, Presbyterian, Christian and
Methodist church. Also a fine
brick school-house with four teach
ers and as many departments
Fraternal societies are represent
ed by organizations of Masons, Odd
Fellows, Good Templars, Knights of
Pythias, Chosen Friends, Native
Sons, Grand Army and Womans'
Christian Temperance Union.
We have three physicians, two at
torneys, one dentist, two drug stores,
three large houses of general mer
chandise, one grocery store, one
hardware store, one jeweler, one
stationer, one harness and saddler,
one shoe store, two bakeries. three
confectionery and fruit stores, five
real estate offices, three butcher
shops, two barber shops, four paint
ers, one lumber yard, two furniture
stores, one large patent roller flour
mill, one bank, two newspapers,
& he Graphic and 7f"'cS), four milli-
merry stores, four blacksmlth shops,
one photograph and art gallery, one
merchant tailor, one toy and notion
s,ore, one steam barley crushing
mill, three large hotels, four res
taurants, one boarding house, three
livery stables, five saloons, one ex-
press office and two nurseries.
Within one half mile of the town
there is fine mile race track and
Il beautifully arranged park, contain
ing ten acres.
Santa Maria is the distributing
point for an area of country reach
ing fifty miles eastward, twenty to
ward the south and ten toward the
north and west to the coast line.
1t is also shipping point for min
ing districts, seventy-fve miles dis
tant.
We are needing q through rail
way and the people are snxlously
waiting for The completion of the
Southern Pacific Coast line.
The principal industries of the
Santa Maria valley are dairying and
stock raising in the hills and lands
toward the coast and about the Gau
da!upe regions,
Wheat, barley, oats and corn in
the central and upper parts of the
valley and the mesas. La the west
ern part the potato, bean and other
summer crops are steadily encroach
ing on the dairy business.
The valley proper Is situated in
the northern part of Barbara county,
extending from the Pacific coast to
Sisquoc range, to the east, thirty five
miles distant, and from the San