Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-16
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
ORANGE. CAL, Mar. &c. 1895.


Editor Democrat:
Thinking YOU and other Oxford County
friends might like to hear few words
from former correspondent known
as one OF your "Oxford Bears aud our
new home (which we have named The
Oxford Rancho" in honor of the county
we hailed from, | will endesvor to pen
YOU few lines. Our home Is pleasantly
located In Orange County which was
formerly a part OF Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles city lies thirty miles 10 the
northwest and Is reached by two lines
Of railroad. New Port, our nearest
coast town. Is 90 miles distant. Santa
Ana, the county seat, Is three and one
half miles. and Orange city one and one
half miles, the latter being our railroad
station and post office address.
Orange County is the smallest OF the
fiftv-seyen counties In California, but
stands seventh In fruit culture. Southern
California is singularly blessed with n
climate and soil that are the admiration
of the world. IL l. no wonder that from
the first dawn of civilization on the
southern coast, agriculture and its more
aristocratic congener, horticulture,
should have commanded the attention OF
the people. Fruits from the temperate
zone vie with those OF the more tropic
regions In bearing boun,eous crops.
Among other fruits are the following {:
The apple, pear. peach, plum, prune,
apricot, cherry, ncctarine, grape, olive,
ounce, Japanese persimmon. loquat,
orange, lemon and lime.
Among the smaller fruits we find straw
berries, raspberries, blackberries, guava,
and currants. Among the
nuts are the walnut, peanut, almond ana
chestnut. Enormous vegetables are
raised here. The Chamber of Commerce
has pumpkin weighing 2i0 pounds,
and gourds six feet long.
The situation aud surroundings OF our
new home are picturesque and pleasing
the landscape presenting an ever-chang-
ing view. In the distance TO the north
OF Us are the snow-capped mountains
ever grand aud majestic, enveloped In
their purple haze. while IN the fore
ground and on the foothill-lands are
beautiful orchards Of citrus and decid-
uous fruits, fields of waving barley and
alfalfa. At the present writing apricot,
peach. prune, orange and lemon trees
are in bloom. These. with the rose and
other beautiful flowers, which are con-
stantly in bloom, add much to the
charms Of our new found home.
Nv health Is being returned TO me,
and nv dear ones who are with me are
well. therefore we feel TO return thanks
TO our Heavenly Father that our lines
are east in pleasant places.
The majority of ranch owners In this
are Germans and Yankees from
eastern and central States. +. L. Lee,
a prominent merchant OF Orange, and j.
T.. Small, real estate agent, are both
Oxford County men. We were pleased
10 receive call a few days ago from W.
II. GRAY of the Twitchell-Champlin Co,
Portland, Maine. Mr.. Gray has relatives
In town. and owns an orange grove and
several town lots. Mrs. Albert Fuller
and daughter OF Auburn, Maine, called
a short time since. They are former
residents of South Paris, also Oxford.
We are always pleased 10 hear from or
see Maine people.
The Democrat is valued weekly
visitor: would like TO see more locals
from our former home.
ii. +. ANDREWS.