The herald., 1894-01-01
TEMPLE BLOCK.

state in the union, including the Pacific
coast and Northern California. Prob
ably the largest number came from
Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, although
Washington and Oregon furnieh great
number. The appearance in several
Calcutta newspapers of articles by the
American consul on Southern California
has brought out some inquiry from that
source, chiefly from retired officers on
half pay, who have saved up some
money and propose to spend their latter
years in the raising of fruit. Occasion
ally letters come from New Zealand,
South America, Mexico, South Africa
and the continent OF Europe. A very
satisfactory class of letters come from
England, showing nearly always some
degree of culture in addition to good
business sense.
These let.erH are of every imaginable
sortckind and variety. Some are in
broken English, badly spelled, badly
written and almost unintelligible. A
few contain postage, usually or 2cent
stamps,5 while the printed matter which
ws,send, calls for from 5 to cents in
postage and costs us from 10 to 10 cents
besides Many are written on postal
cards, or after asking questions enough
toill a book enclose postal card. One
who is, engaged in this business feels
tempted at times to fling all postal card
Communications in the waste basket, on
the principle that man who
is not enough in earnest
to write g respectable letter
and inclose postage, is hardly worth at
tention; but it is rule of the Office to
return some answer to every communi-
cation, and the postal card fend is not
neglected. There is one variety of him,
however, on whom we wresk a mild re-
venge that is the inhabitant of Southern
California who writes up postal card
asking for copy OF the Land of Sum
shine for his own use and enjoyment,
and expects us even to pay the postage
Oh the came. To him we send very
respectful, but mildly satirical message
printed on postal card, to the effect
that the chamber of commerce is not
here for that purpose and advising him
to try the book stores. In one case this
retort courteous brought out the reproof
valiant, from man who chided US for
our Nrsimony, and wanted to know
what good on earth the chamber OF
commerce WAS, any way.
The great bulk of the letters of in
quiry are bona 6de intelligent measageu
from people who either intend to come
to this country and want information
of various sorts before they start, or from
people who are inclined 10 come, but
who feel that they need little more
Mrt inf -
request is from peopls who have decided
to come, but who want literature to use
in inducing their neighbors to come
along with them. Through this means
sometimes half dozen families will
come at once from one town.
Nearly one-half the letters could be
answered satisfactorily by sending liter
ature. In ell canes, however, where
there are specific questions, special
answer is sent and the printed matter
besides. Printed matter is cent TO
every who asks quegtiona, whether it is
demanded on not. The most discou.ag-
ing individual in the whole list, how
ever, ie the man who writes to say that
he has received and read the following
books, giving q liet OF everything we
have, and asks for still more informa-
tlOn. fnIn1 W6 huNls6 W huDsCrlU6
for the daily papers. This latter
piece OF advice we put in all our litera-
ture, and often repeat and enforce it
by letter. If man wishes to become
thoroughly informed about country,
he can certainly find no more detailed
or complete source OF information than
the daily papers published there. More
over, ii the paper is languishlng,
sickly affair, with few advertisements
and a small amount of matter, it is a
pretty good country to keep out of, Tor
it lacks either prosperity or enterprise.
II on the other hand the papers are
we'll filled with advertisements, and
publish plenty of entertaining and
readable matter as the HERALD and
other Log Angeles dailies do, it is good
enough sign OF the intelligence and
success OF the business element of the
community.
The questions asked are on every i'm
agiuabie subject, as we'll as come that no
one would be likely to imagIuss Some