The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-01-11
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Los ANGELES, Cal, Dec. 81, 1898.

EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-With your per-
mission | will try to describe some of the
many beauties OF California and Les An
geles. You may insert in the columns OF
the GOLD LEAF if you can find space
therefor 1t may be of interest to some
of your many readers.
We reached Los Angeles November
21st, feeling rather tired, but otherwise
full of expectancy. A trip across the
continent is full of interest and variety
to one who beholds this vast eXpanse of
territory for the first time. Nothing can
give such a vivid impression of the great
ness of this land, nor is there a journey
which can be taken in North America
which presents so much of interest to the
tourist. Our trip through Louisiana
and Texas was very interesting. We
saw large sugar plantations and i'm
mense herds of cattle on every hand
Through Mexico and Arizona, along the
line of the Southern Pacific Railroad is
mostly mountain scenery and rather un-
interesting until we commenced the de-
scent of the Sierra mountains in Califor-
MIA. Here the scenes instantly change
and we see on every hand beautiful val
leys in a high state OF cultivation; i'm
mense fields OF grain and thousands of
acres of oranges, lemons and grapes, the
orange and lemon trees being loaded
with fruit. AS we approach Los Angeles
we gaze upon a scene of entrancing
beauty; mountain grdled, garden dotted
city, we gratefully decide that we have
arrived at point where we would be
pleased to stop, and while we bask in the
sunshine, gaze at the mountain peaks,
breathe the fragrance of the flowers or
listen to the mocking birds, we unite in
thanks to the kindly fate which led our
steps to Southern California; and the
"City of Angels" No city in the United
States can boast of such rapid growth
and improvement. Within the last 8
years it has grown from town of TO- 900
to a most beautiful city of 70, 900 people.
Thousands have come to Los Angeles
and California simply to pay a visit, but
soon become charmed with it's wonderful
climate and beautiful surroundings to
such degree that they conclude to re
main in this land of sunshine and flowers.
A days ride over the lovely country sur
rounding Los Angeles, through miles of
long, straight avenues of orange trees
and thousands of acres OF vineyards see
ing every kind of semi-trOpical fruit
growing side by side with the more hardy
variety, both being in the greatest pro-
fusion and OF the finest quality will con-
vince the traveller from almost any part
of the earth that here is surely the para
disc of America if not the world. There
are beautiful parks within the city and
the ocean can be reached in an hours
drive 1t is difficult for one accustomed
to the varying seasons OF the lands
across the mountains to comprehend the
fact that this land with its luXuriant
vegetation, it's delicate and vari-tinted
flowers, is never less verdant, less beau
tiful Or less attractive than it is now.
Nor is it easy to understand that it is
equally as comfortable on the first day
of December as on the first of June, the
thermometer not varying over fifteen
degrees during the entire year. Since we
have been here the thermometer has av-
eraged 80 degrees in the day and 65
during the night We spent the first and
second days at Santa Monica, one of the
famous bathing resorts on the Pacific
coast, and q town of 5000 inhabitants.
There are four trains to the beach each
day, and on Sunday the number OF peO-
pie who go to this resort is something
extraordinary. One can sport among
the billows that come rolling in across
the blue serene Pacific, engage in fishing,
boating, serf bathing, which are the chief
delights. The trip to this point is not
only justifiable by what one finds at the
end of his journey, but also by the pleas
ures enjoyed en- route.
This is a very attractive farming cOun-
try. Imagine my surprise on being in
formed that 125 bushels of corn were
raised to the acre, 40 to 60 bushels of
wheat, Is to 100 bushels OF oats. After
seeing the evidences Of the corn crop
concluded that such yields were very
probable. 1t was planted very close, six
stalks to the hill. Improved lands are
selling for 500 an acre; unimproved
from $25 to SIS per acre.
| will state that the word climate has
been powerful factor in inducing people
to come to California. Furthermore,
the fact that hundreds Of those who
were deemed hopeless invalids on their
arrival here are to-day enterprising
citizens.
1t is estimated that there are 10000
visitors in the city of Los Angeles who
come to spend the winter and [ presume
that about half of those are health seek
ers There are forty-nine hotels here
besides numerous lodging houses, and
ample facilities for the accommodation
of many thousands of people.
With kindest greetings to my friends,
| remain, Very sincerely,
J. E. BEACON.