Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-30

PROSPECT COI1AOh
Thirty years ago there were not more
than thirty.Hve thousand inhabitants
In the southerly third OF California, a
section OF the state which to-day con.
tains one hundred md Fifty thousand.
Al that rate bat very small portion Of
the vast area OF this extreme western
state was under cultivation; In fact
most OF II seemed only 6t for cattle
raising Who could have imagined That
such u brilliant destiny awaited this
faraway region. whose only communica-
ton with the world was by the wagon
trains OF overland routes and the sim
gle line OF coasters touching ut its prin-
cipal seaports2 And yet as far back as
1869 there was a little nucleus of town
few miles back from the coast north
OF the bay OF San Diego Hence the city
OF that name may justly claim the honor
OF being the oldest settlement on Cali.
fornian soil The bay Of San Diego Is
a superb one Twelve miles long by
two wide II not only affords necessary
anchorage for merchantmen but sufi.
cient accommodation for u squadron,
the port ranking as n naval station.
Oval In form and having narrow en-
trance opening to the west between
Island point and Iona or Corando
point the harhor Is shut in on all sides.
The off-coast gales don't reach II and
heavy seas scarcely ripple It's surface.
There's no trouble getting out or In,
there being minimum depth OF TWEEN
ty.three feet
In 1857 San Diego had a population
OF fifteen thousand, to-day II has
thirty five thousand Its first railroad
dates from 1881 Now the Atlantic q
Pacific. the southern California and
the Southern Pacific roads make II
part and parcel Of the great continental
railway system. while the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company brings IL In fire.
quent communication with San Fran.
cisco. II is handsome and agreeable
city, healthful in location and with u
climate in praise Of which language
has already been exhausted
Like most American cities, San
Diego is full Of life and activity and
very mcthodical withal in the hurry
burly Of its business affairs II move.
meut be manifestation OF life IL ex'
lists here is to as intense degree The
day Is hardly long enough for bust
ness transactions hut II this was the
case with those whose instincts and in.
clinations hurled them into this whirl-
pool, II did not apply TO those lives
which were drawn ont into intcrmin-
able rounds of leisure. When things
come to standstil time becomes a
great laggard
And this was Mrs Allaire's expert.
cnce after the sailing Of the Dread
nuught Since her marriage her hus'
bands luhors had entered more or less
into her life Even when he was not
absent on trip. Capt Johns rcla-
tions with the house Of lioliistcr 6 Co
kept him busy BESIDES the part
which he took In the business affairs Of
the firm, he had been commissioned IN
watch the construction Of the clipper
| ship Of which he was destined to DC
the commander With what zeal, yes.
almost affection did he supervise the
work even To its smallest "details II
was like the loving care Of the man
who Is engaged in building home In
| which TO end his days l.ul IL was
even more than this, for u ship Is not
only "A house, II Is not only an instru
ment Of fortune, II is fabric OF wood
and iron to which precious human
lives are to be intrustcd. Moreover
IL is not as II were, detached frag
ment of native soil, which is bornC
back home by wind and wave only t
be carried away again, and which II
the end destiny unfortunately does moi
always permit to return TO the por
aut ~ which H. first driftcd.
| RI, up fnNTtNtrTn