St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-07-30
Through California.

tho editors bid adicu to Fresno, altCl
partaking of an elegant luncheon serv-
cd in the Armory Hall by the fair and
dainty aproncd maids and matrons OF
the pretty little city, the warmth OF
whose temperature the day we spent
there was only euualed by the hospital
ity of its inhabitants.
Fresno is the county seat "a Fresno
county and has a population of over TO-
600. 1t is the center of the wine, wool,
raisin and fruit industries of the great
/ San joaquin valley, and has four banks,
three street car lines, two daily ncWSpa-
! pers and several wccklles. The busi-
ness portion is built up solidly with
| brick and stone, its streets are well
| paved, and there Is Il good system OF
water works, gas-wOrks, electric lights,
| telephones and all improvements that
| belong to Il metropolitan city. On the
western slope of the Serlas, III Fresno
county, can be found the graDdest seen
cry in the world. At the foot of Mount
Whitney, the highest mountain in the
United States $4,000 fect, are to be
seen three of the grandest canyons or
valleys on the continent. The walls OF
one of them rise at various points from
$500 to G000 feet above the base and at
vertical between 300 and G000 feet high.
We reached Stockton, our next stop
ping place, at $50 at night. After a
visit to its magnificent courthouse, Just
completed at cost Of 100000, which
was beautifully illuminated from base
ment to dome with natural gas, the Wis
itOrs sought their sleepcrs which, for
their convenience, had been left right
ont in the middle of the street near the
courthouse. The night passed off pleas
antly, notwithstanding the unseemly
familiarity OF a few mosquitoes, and the
sun had not long risen the next morning
when we We're summoned to clock
breakfast, presided over by the pretty
Stockton girls whose bright eyes, smil-
ing faces and charming CmprcsscmcW
gave additional zest to the enjoyment
of the good things spread before us. A
few blief speeches OF welcome and les
ponse were made, when President Cap
pelIar took occasion to declare, and
truly too, that we had been handsomely
entertained wherever We had stopped,
but nowhere better than here. The
route from the table to the heart is a
direct One," said he; lit has no side
tracks, no sinuOSltlcS, and the Stock
tonians have run a heavy train on it,
The repast finished, carriages were
entered and away we went to take in
the sights Of the city. The harvester
works, the gas wells, the Touring mills,
the asylum and even the brcwerles were
visited, and the morning was spentprOf-
itably by all. At noon we we've at the
trains, ready to leave for Sacramento,
and found the streets full OF people bid
ding us adieu, while the children in
several of the schools near by TUNED
out to give us final salute.
Stockton has IL population OF almost
$1,000 and is a place of great commercial
importance. 1t has the largest manu-
featuring interests Of any city in the
State in proportion to its size; and the
fine school buildings and beautiful
free library, masonic temple, |
elegant residences and stOne-paved |
streets are things Of which her pcO-
pie are justly proud. Three millions
of dollars are invested in its manufac- |
tories, which embrace agricultural ma
chinery and utensils Of all kinds, street |
cars, carriages, busglcs, wagons, turnl- |
ture, flour, paper, woOlen fabrics, leath- |
er, etc. The three flour mills turn out |
5000 barrels per day, and their product
has wide reputation. The develop
ment and use of natural gas from the |
fifteen wells at Stockton during the
industries, and the possession of this
advantage. 1t is used for both cooking
md heating in private houses. The
saving of light and fuel at flour mills is
said to be at the rate of one ton OF coal
Der day, and at the paper mills $50 per
month.
Now, these imposing public buildings,
,hese well paved streets, electric lights,
:ree library, high grade schools, &C.,
cost money and the average rate of
taxation in San Joaquin county for sew
eral years past is 67.7 cents upon each
800 vauation-44 cents upon each 500
.or county purposes alone. st. Landry
parish pays 1G cents only 10 for parish
she gives nothing to her
schools; while Opelousas, including p
,ents for schools only pays 1S3 cents to
State, parish and corporatiOn-79 to the
after. If we would raise the rate of
taxation to 10 cents, pay half
he cost of good sidewalks (requiring
We might have decent sidewalks, at
east where they would do the most
good, and still have left surplus which
Gould be devoted to a fund for u free
library, a park, a waterworks system,
'prinkled streets, or some other press
ng public need. Some of our readers
nay suppose that we have referred to
he rate of taxation in San Joaquin
county because it is higher than in most
,thers. On the contrary, the rate in
San Joaquin is among the lowest in the
State. In Sacramento, for instance, the
ate is S17, in Santa Clara S3,3. in Los
Angeles $1.10S, in Fresno 81 1876, in San
Diego S1.517. But these little cities
lOt only have good sidewalks, but we'll
,aved streets, high schools, electric
lights, waterwOrks, &c, in fact every
modern convenience. Will some of our
men make note of these
acts and figures?
Right royalty were we welcomed to
the capital, aud the second
ity in trade on the Pacific coast. Eu
cute, we were met by u committee of
these gentlemen went
hrough the trains, pinning upon the
'rcast OF each eXCursiOnlst a white
'adge as q sign of welcome and distri-
outing tickets for luncheon and dinner
It every hotel or restaurant in tie town.
The "freedom of the city" it was, to all
members of the party.
We reached the Capital City early in
he afternoon. Carriages were at the
tation to take us to the various hotels,
nd, later, for drive around the city.
The street railway car conductors had
riders, apparently, to pass" all bear
rs of the white badge and it was an
ounced (and welcomed with a shout of
Dy) that the swimming baths were also
t the service of the party.
The afternoon was delightfully."- spent,
With rides and in II visit to the State
'apital, which cost three millions of
all ,,I Li.h bnI ha.,, npapnI aud |
ecorated for the occasion. This splen-