Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-15
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Hon. r. N. Simpson Of he executive
council i enjoying with his family winter
in Southern California. He is feeling bet
~ than shen b went there The Afst of The
siases. They visited San Diego and spent
one day in Tia Juana, Mexico. but came
to Los Angeles about four weeks ago. They
leave there in about two weeks going mp
toward San Francisco. He and his family
have rented furnished house % that they
can enjoy within doors the comforts Of =
Msine household and without doofs the
beauties Of the glorious climate Of Califor-
mia. In letter to Ex-Governor Burleigh
Mr.. Simpson says:
1.-The house il surrounded with lawn in
which the grass Is a. verdant - you ever
saw it in Maine. There are also palm, pep
per aud walnut trees, rose bushes and callx
lilies in full bloom, and orange trees from
which we can pluck the fruit when we de-
sire. The electric cars pass our door and
it is only one block to the horse-car line and
two blocks to the cable car line, therefore
We can get over town without much trouble
we have been toPasadena twice, once by
rail and once by team.
There are msny fine residences there and
the gardens and lawns are very beautiful
indeed. There are many orange and lemon
groves in the town and large portion Of
the trees are yellow with fruit, and these
combined with the elegant residences With
grt en- lawns and gardens filled with roses
and other flowers, and for background
Echo mountain and Mount Lowe eastward
about four miles, with its summit G000 feet
above the sea, and 90 miles in a north
east direction Old Badly mountain
with its summit covered with snow,
forms a picture that is grand to be-
hold. l could hardly realize for a mo-
ment, when / stood in the town, in the
warm air and bright sunshine and viewed
the scene before me, that vegetation was 80
soundly sleeping under huge drifts of snow
down home in Maine.' We have visited
quite q number of other places in thi. vi
Unity, and were much pleased with visit
to San Gabriel Valley and the Rubio Can
yon. In the valley Lucky Baldwins ranch
is situated and is about eight miles from
this city.
The owners name is E. J. Baldwin but
he is called Lucky Baldwin from the
fact that good luck has always followed
him. In early life he was poor boy but
is now considered to be worth $50, 900, 900.
He commenced business in the mines and
used the pick AMI shovel. He now owns
So 900 acres of land and has immense
orange and lemon groves. He has one
vineyard of 1000 acres and large fields
of many thousand acres sowed to grain
II nj. bod 70 nQonbcs
apricots, English walnuts, olives, &c.
.sHis wine cellar contains 400, 900 gallons
of wine, quite sight for person from 9
prohibition state to look at. 1t is put up in
casks containing 600 or 700 gallons each.
His home and the grounds around the build
ings are a perfect "earthly paradise F" There
is large artificial lake on the grounds upon
one side of which the house is located
There are large quantities of mountain
trout 10 the lake and wild ducks, swan, &C.,
can be seen swimming on the water. Ferns,
rose bushes, pond lilies are growing
in and about the lake, ard the grounds OF
200 to 800 acres are covered with tropical
and eemi-tropical trees and vines of almost
an endless variety. There is also on the
grounds the first house he ever owned, which
is the old log camp he occupied
while lab oling in the mines. 1t IS ABOUT
6xs feet, and large rose bush almost COM
pletely covers the roof and walls. We were
informed that Mr.. Baldwin takes more
pleasure in showing his first house to
visitors than anything else on his fine estate.
We have had but little rain since we came
into the state, and large portion of which
has come 10 the night. The days as rule
have been therefore very pleasant and warm.
The sunshade is seen upon the streets in all
directions and the streets in general have the
appearance of a summer day. Snow never
falls in San Diego or this town and | have
seen people who have always resi- led here,
20 and 80 years old, who have never seen
snow only in the distance on the mountain
tops. All of such whom I have seen, l
have invited to spend the winter ' 18th me
in Maine"