Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-05-28
FRoM OAL1FoRNIA
Letter From R. 4 Dague
Ed. HERALD

Ed HERALD:
Before leaving Phillipsburg. promised segera
friends that ! would send letter 10 the HERALD
for publication giving my impressions OF Cali
fornia- have been in Los Angeles but i've days
and in the state bet six. have not seen much
in so short a time. IN this letter l will not a.
tempt 10 write more aboRt California than the
average newspaper reporter would who had just
made 4 flying visit through the country
Our trip from Phinipsburg TO Los Angeles, Was
a pleasant one. We went by that splendid road
the Rock Island-to Denver and from that city TO
this over the Santa Fe. From Phinipsburg To Los
Angeles requires 20 hours The fare is Ss5 and
an additional charge OF 50 Is for a double berth
IN tourist sleeping car from La Junta, Colo, 10
Les Angeles.
Our trip, while pleasant, was an uReventful one.
The country from the lower pant OF Colorado 10
the centre OF South California Is very mountain
Gus and presents a barren aud unInyiting appear
anee- When within sixty-Gye or seventy miles Of
this city down into a beautiful country
which became more and stll more attractive iii
We came 10 Los Angeles The country looks
/ Ike nicely cultivated garden
We delighted with this city. The priueipal
streets are paved with stone. and tie whole town
is neat and clean, and looks as bright as a new
pin. II now has 0O,OOO inhabitants The lawns
are the finest have ever seen. Beautiful aow-
ere are seen everywhere, and there il q sweet
/ perfume from them in the air. There are many
varieties OF trees TO be seen on all sides but do
not know the names OF but few OF them; some
are very handsome and are what you would ex-
Feet 70 Ind IN Africa or near the equator Orange
trees are very numerous. Unquestionably south
California is one Of the most pleasant spots on
earth, but while that is true I am Of the opinion
that there is much truth in the Oft repeated state
nent that it is hard place for poor man TO make
living in, and equally as hard for those Of N oder
ate means 70 catch on 70 business Today an
ELglizhman said TO me that he came here four
years ago with Sl2OOO; he had lost nearly all OF il
in one business venture after another. He said
''yes this is the best climate On earth, bat there
are more liars and swinders here TO the square
acre, than in any country on the globe. The
| country is full OF men who want 10 live here;
there is not legitimate business for all, SO thew
make money by their wits" Perhaps our Eng,
| lish friend was sore over his misfortunes
We are now keeping house at 633, Montreal ST.,
| at which number all old HERALD patrons are cor
daily invited TO call. We find living cheap. I
have bought large round loayes of bread for 6H
cents each, butter 25 cents. honey 10 cents granu
lated sugar cents, oranges cents per dozen,
splendid Strawberries at cents per quart and
nice milk for cents per quart. With rent Of
house al Ss.I5 per month, We are living cheaply
and faring sumpiuously every day.
hear OF the John Brown Colony Scheme -
| the san Fernando Fruit Colony Investment
Scheme" the '.Alessandro Scheme" and other Ian
schemes, which hold out great inducements to iu-
Yestors, but have not had time 10 inyestig lte
them. Remembering wildly what my English
friend said about the big acreage OF lars out here
1 shall not be in great haste 10 invest nor advise
my friends 10 plant their money in Cactus lands.
That Southern California is destined 10 be 1
great and prosperous country, fully con
WINGED. The late legislature Of this state appro
pIiated s800OOJ 10 be expended at the Worlds
Fair 10 exhibit the products Of the state, and
am informed that the cities and private indiyidu
ale will, By their contributions, swell the amOun
10 a million Of dollars.
Property is comparatively low, but is begin
ming 10 slowly advance.
We are here for an eight TO twelve months test
of California climate. At the end of that time
we may like it well enough to make our perma
nent home here.
Ny earnest desire is that old HERALD readers
and every other plueky Kansan may this yea
have glorious crop, and go through 1881 with
flying eolors. viii write again when 1 know
more about California r. a. DAGUE.