Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-04-29
Letter From California.
MADEIRA, FRESNO Co.. CAL.

MADEIRA, FRESNO Co.. CAL.
April II, 1892.
MIR. EDIToR-By request Of some OF my
friends, i will try and write you letter. l
will begin by saying that We have had
very pleasant winter, We a little colder than
last winter. Several mornings the Their
mometer stood at %, which was degrees
colder than last winter was and here let
me say to my people that l was fooled more
in the cold here than anything else. Now
often heard that roses bloomed here all VIM
ter; have been here two winters. and have
not seen any roses outdoors between the 10Th
OF December and the 18th OF February. l
also have heard that strawberries could be
had ten months In the year. SO can you
back there II you can grow them. did not
see any here last year after the 18th OF May,
and the 1rst ripe strawberries saw was on
the 25th OF March. There are certain kinds
of vegetables you can have here all winter
from outdoors, such as lettuce, cabbage, rad
ishes, onions. peas and some other hardy veg
etables but tender vegetables cannot stand
without slight protection.
You will no doubt be surprised when tell
YOU that there has not been enough rain eX-
to make the roads disagreeabie or muddy.
only seven inches OF rain in thirteen months
not enough by about one inch TO insure a
good crop of grain. and now IL ia past the
.ime TO expect much rain. Yet the grain
looks well. Alfalfa Is waist high.
| often think this country would compare
with the Bible lands. for here pomegranates
figs, palms, olives and grapes grow side by
side. so every man may worship under his
own vine and fig tree unmolested. Yet not
every one does. Also the shepherd may be
seen guar ding hi tlOcks, aud the labor er
picks up his bed and walks when ont of en-
ployment. And let me say here again have
seen more men out OF employment since L
have been here than j have seen in my
whole lie before. l sometimes think hall
the population is floating around. OF course,
the Two past winters have been HUE diy er
than usual, which accounts partly lor IL.
At one Time Things looked II nttie UIue-no
rain here and but iillie IN the mountains,
Dut alter March eet IN We had one good Ia III
and several good showers, an plenty oI
snow III the mountains, which VIII insure
plenty Oh water, think Iur irrigation. We
lrrl ate from TIE FIRES o river, and II does
quenlly when there Is nut pIehly OF snow u
nLtle lower down on the mountains the
water supply gets snotL before summer is
over You would thlnk II strange II you
were here To see men irTigaIlng and IL ra IL
lug a, the saline time, yet such 10 the case.
one thing We have To boast Ul here Is the
climate, but ii Is too light diet for HE 10
ave on. Yet am pleased with the Peep e
and the country. OI course l do not ike
some OF the uncertainties in regards 10 u
man getting work, yet | nave nad al could
do since here. or rather all / want 10 do.
have had quite IL numDer of inquiries
about the john Brown co.ony. Well, sup
pose you have heard Of the failure of it, but
Will Just say so FAR as | can learn no one lost
auy money by them. | believe from what
heard that some OF the officers OF the colony
and also the bank of MADEIRA did Overstep the
limits oil Lae law little. but If | AIN allowed
10 judge think they only did it in order 10
save cOlonists.
There has been great deal OF sickness In
and around MADEIRA, mostly influenza. mea-
sizes, some little malaria and typhoid fever
very lew fatal cases. Yours, with respect,
L. l., HOFFMAN.