Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-21
LOVELY AS AN EDEN
Prof. Swensburg Writes Of
l. Stockton,
WHERE EDITORS ARE GREETED
With Warm and Enthusiasts Greet
ing by the Generous Clt.zrns.
The City Described.
lIKTrER ~ XVII

give Us a rest for the night and We were
allowed TO roam at will. Many went
10 the Jackson gas Understanding
baths free of charge aud most refresh
ing. The house Is lighted and heated
by natural gas, which has been discov-
cred in abundance. We rested as well
as We could, the night being very warm
and the large mosquitoes very numer-
Gus. They presented their bills IN a
most forcible. penetrating and effect
i've manner. We Will never forget the
torture of that hight. While the jour
nalists amused themselves N various
ways, listening 10 the songs OF the
nIghtingales and beating time in dark
ness TO the songs. the citizens were
hard at work beating time 10 the ack-
ling OF the chickens whose cries will
never be heard more. twas said that
about 500 of the innocent were sacrl-
ticed for the editors sake.
The Stockton band arrived at the sta
ton about a. IN. and discoursed sweet
music while many OF the party were
yet slumberng. BY o'clock We were
ordered to fall IN line. Headed by the
band We marched to the exposition
building where complimentary and
most sumptuous breakfast had been
prepared by the women of Stockton.
The floral decorations were most beau
tiful, and artistically arranged.
Happily Entertained.
About 500 of the hungry editors were
| fed at one seating, and while they were
| eating the band played It's sweetest and
| inspiring strains of California welcome.
This early entertainment proved 10 be
one of the grandest affairs. There was
nothing lacking, the hall was beautiful,
| large and airy, everything seemed to
have been planned for our special COM
! fort. Every town and city seemed to
take pains TO Guido its predecessor.
After breakfast we were driven
about the city, visiting and
viewing public institutions and
large manufacturing enterprises.
| On every side and every turn we were
greeted by the citizens; at every school
| house by the children with songs of
merry glee, waving Of flags, uncovered
| heads, tossing of bonnets and hats and
showering of flowers. Every house,
store, carriage and street was decorated
with the beautiful, and everything
| was done that could be done TO make
our stay most delightful one. The
| Weather was very warm, from go to
| 1902 in the shade, and we were told by
all that il was the warmest weather
| California had experienced for years.
| If ever.
| stockton has a beautiful court house,
located on an elevated site. occupying
a whole sqnare. The building is con-
structed of granite, nearly rs white as
Italian marble, and cost 100000. 1t
has an entrance on each side, and pre-
sents most pleasing and attractive
view from any part of the city.
| A Manufacturing City.
There are about 100000 invested
in manufacturers, giving employment
to about 1000 or more skilled workmen,
embracing machinery and all forms of
iron, steel and other metals, agrlcul-
tural machinery and utensils of all
classes and grades, reapers, threshing
machines windmlIs, street cars, car
riages and every species of vehicle
made of wood in all forms; household
furniture, paper, wooden fabrics,
leather, marine and fresh water yes
sells, -four and all kinds of cereal pro-
ducts. The Stockton flour has a wide
reputation, the three mills turn out
over 5000 barrels per day, and the
annual output runs nearly a million.
The discovery and development of
natural gas from numerous wells has
given Stockton industries a new i'm
petus and the possession of this cheap
fuel gives this section great advan-
tage IN manufacturing enterprises.
There are now some twenty deep
gas wells yielding from $4,000 10 100,-
900 cubic feet per day. A private
house with one heating and one cook
ing stove is said TO cost about 1925 per
week. 1t is claimed that the saving of
light and fuel at the flour mills is at
the rate of one ton of coal per day.
and at the paper mills from $50 TO 800
per month. The state asylum and
| court house, as well as some other
| public buildings, are supplied with ar
tesian water and gas from their own
wells.
Commerce and stock.
Stockton has direct water communi-
cation which forms an important fac
tor IN promoting the prosperity of the
city and surrounding country. There
are some twenty five TO thirty steamers
with as many barges that are kept busy
| plying between Stockton and various
points on the San Joaquin and the in
terror waters of the state. Two lines
of steamers run daily between Stock
! ton and San Francisco. We were told
that during the past year over $4,000
passengers and more than $50, 900 tons
| of freight were transferred by steamers
between these two points. During the
winter and spring months the Ssn Joa-
| qun river Is navlgahle for q
distance of $50 miles south of Stock
| ton and the traffic on that
| part of the stream IL said 90 be very
large. The leading commercial staple
| ia grain-cuiefiy whest-of which this
IL the great storehouse and market on
the coast. The storage capacity OF the
warehouses is in the aggregate $50 900
| tons. Direct railroad communication
is affaJded TO all parts OF the state.
| Stockton e known throughout the
country for its fine horses and cattle.
| Alfalfa is one OF Its important pro-
| ducts. The farmer can cut from four
| TO FIVE times q year for hay snd there
IL no better feed for stock of every
| specie. The product here is salf % be
| two tons and over 10 the acre for each
| harvest.
Minerals aud Resources
| Resides gas wells there are msnVan-
ese mInes; both hard and s0ft Goa hss
been discovered in various places, bat
there "a really no mning done IN ssn
Joaquin county. It e purely sgricul-