River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-08
CALIFORNIA LETTER.

| like California now? You have been
there two years and you ought to be
able to decide" The above question
and remark are often heard and are
natural; but it is easier asking than
| answering. Although we have been
here two years it is difficult to say
| how we like it. The climate, soil,
scenery, etc., are SO different from the
Fast that it takes q person a long time
to decide and say positively that he
likes it better here than in the East.
There are many pleasant things
here. Fresh fruit and vegetables in
abundance. To-day we had fresh
strawberries and green peas. Next
month and through the winter we
shall have fresh oranges in abundance
| and there is not month in the year
| that we cannot secure fresh fruit and
| vegetables of some kind Tue winter
| climate cannot be exCslled. Balmy
sunshine nearly every dsy throughout
the winter, aud in addition fruit,
blossoms and flowers on every hand.
The summer in Redlands and inland
towns is hot and dry. No rain at all.
But the past summer has been very
mild compared with other summers
and even with your own. While it
was so hot with you it was not unbear-
able here and when we read of your
floods, your wind and rain storms we
were glad we were here.
Still with all these advantages one
turns longing eye eastward. Knight
say home. for find that most of the
people speak of the East as home. They
do not seem to be settled but are un.
easy and restless and think that soms-
time they can return home. Again
this is new country and in many
places affairs are in crude state, con.
se1uently the spec ulators, real estate
men and town site boomers are every
where. One often gets tired of con-
stantly reading of the remarkable
country, and the real estate literature
that fill our papers.
A great many invalids are here
seeking restoration of health from the
mild, balmy climate. 1t is saying
that southern California is made up of
''sick men and home-sick wives
The man seeking health, the wives
nursing the sick away from home and
friends, fearing death, with little
chance Of making acquaintance, one
does not wonder that they are home.
sick.
1t is expensive to live here.
southern California is no place for a
poor man. 1t is said, and one is in.
clined to believe it. To-day l paid 40
cents for dozen eggs. They have
been that price for some time and
will be the same during the winter,
and perhaps higher. They have
never been less than 20 cents since we
have lived in Redlands. Butter dur
ing the winter sells for 90cts. to $I.0O
roll for the best. roll never ex.
ceeds two pounds in weight. 1t is a
question which impresses the new
conner the most, the climate, fruit and
and flowers, or the high prices. If
one has money he is all right, but the
poor man thinks he could get along
with less climate If he could secure
more money.
Taxes are high and exacting. No
man is exempt from anything. The
watch he carries and the clothes he
wears are all assessed and taxed. In
Redlands we pay two poll taxes.
Two dollars to the state and two to
the city, and Redlands is only a
sample of the towns of Southern Cal.
So you see poor man naturally longs
for the East where in most states he
is exempt from taxes until he acquires
certain amount either in money or
utensils.
On the other hand there are some
things to offset the above. There
seems to be plenty of work most of
the year. The wages are also good.
A laboring man is paid $500 per day
and mechanic $500 and upward per
day, and day in California is only
nine hours work. Again one can
tynrk hnrn tho Nuhnln ra,,n1
Buildings are going up during the
winter as well as the summer. At
present in Redlands there is more
building going on than at any time
during the summer. So you see while
it costs man more to live here than
in the East he has here the opportun-
ity to earn more than he can East.
And so it evens up until one can hard
ly tell which is the better the East or
Southern California. My experience
of two years here enables me to give
this advice and the advice tells how
| like it here. 1t is this: If yoa are
in good situation or business and are
making fair living You are very I'M
wise to leave and come to Southern
California. If you are in California
and own a good paying fruit ranch
you are very foolish if you sell out to
go lack East. Now you know how we
like it here.
We are just entering our most pleas
ant part of the year. Our winters are
delightful. Warm sunny days, beau
tlful flowers. especially roses, and
above all ripe oranges in abundance.
Come and spend winter with US and
then you can answer for yourself the
the question, "How do you like it in
Southern California"
JOHN ID. RUMsEY.
Now Try This.
I