Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-08-22
CALIFORNIA LETTER
The Pacific slope a. Compared with this
Region for Home. Making

letters TO your valuable paper / have
attempted To give its readers a few Of
the MANY observations that are most
noticeable TO the wayfarer who has
passed some months on this coast.
a longer residence tends only TO
bring into more prominent notice the
many excellent features Of this region:
to make one more satisfied with ii as
a home: 10 think Of the Mississippi
Valley or the Eastern States with
pleasure 50 far as ones friends or as
| business opportunities are concerned:
| but as a place OF residence after hav-
ing lived OF the Pacific slope for a
year or two-Neyer, with biz NJ
Within a week have had two let
| ters from Grant County friends asking
in regard to the advantages this sec
| tion offers as home. The question
| Is, if properly answered. as Dig and
| deep and broad in its possibilities as
the state Of Wisconsin. In brief let
ter like this, the object of which is in
! measure to reply TO those personal
letters of inquiry, the subject must
/ be partially disposed of A volume
would be necessary 10 tell but a small
| part OF the allurements California
| possesses for those who enjoy living
in th" finest climate on earth. An
other volume would be needed to do
/ Justice TO its seaside. lake aud noun
tain resorts, and still others for its
industries in the lines of fruit, min
ing, grain producing and timber re-
sources This letter, in a condensed
form, will speak Of the California of
today, as have found it. as friend
would write TO a friend, without any
attempt 10 overdraw or TO induce inn
migration In other words, to tell of
the state as it is.
The differences in soil, climate, re-
sources and adaptability for home
making are 50 great within a few
miles that it is hardly safe to tell of
them as they really are. lest one
Should ieopardize his reputation for
veracity. However. | will send you a
few OF those characteristics even at
that risk.
When located in Santa Clara Val
ley did so after becoming convinced
that it was the most desirable spot
the whole state afforded will give
All Illustration that must carry con-
viction. vet is almost too strange for
belief by those who know of climate
only as il is found in the various
changes in which the Badger state in
in that line. Our coolest weather for
five years has been six degrees below
freezing. which point was reached
twice last winter. Every night OF
every year is cool. wraps being re-
quired if one is riding as soon as the
sun sets. 1t is almost year since
located in this section. vet every
night of that time sheet and two
quilts have been needed over one i'm
order to keep comfortably warm.
This alone is most enjoyable when
compared with the intense heat that
so often prevents sleep in all parts of
this country that lie east of the Rocky
mountains. Our four months of the
rainy season, November, Decem Der.
January and February. are more of
sunshine than of clouds Then grass
Is as high as in Wisconsin in June.
Most Of the rain falls at night; it is
far the most enjoyable season OF this
locality. At it, end come eight
months Of almost continual DAYS Of
sunshine, without a trace OF moisture.
Until the latter part of July we had
this season no warm weather TO speak
of: but for about sixty DAYS To come
after that date many lind the climate
little too warm for comfort. 95 TO
100 degrees being not unusual from
10 A. NJ. TO 4 L. NJ Then those who
understand this country and climate
take advantage Of them by keeping in
the shade, where a reasonable degree
OF GOODNESS is the rule. THESE are
the hours when Spaniards, who first
settled this country and who now
form about thirty per cent OF the pop
ulation, take what they call 'siesta,
lounging in the shade. sleeping and
smoking at intervals, by Spaniards
smoking mean those OF both sexes.
for the equipment Of Spanish sonora
OF senorita is as incomplete without
smoking tobacco and cigarette papers
as that of her father or brother would
be il by some strange mischance he
should omit the same from his be-
longings. Yes, tho truth is, Spanish
ladies are invrterate smokers who
seem Ia gather as much consolation
from that vice, either in public or
private. aS their brothers.
Pardon this depression We will
give you those promised points Of
difference in climate that obtain in
valleys but few miles distant from
each other. Bear in mind what is
written above in regard To climate in
this part oi Santa Clara valley; then
take these points regarding Santa
Cruz thirty miles west of this place.
with the high Santa Cruz mountains
intervening, That city is on the Pa
citic ocean, and ike All cities thus
situated it has great zeal Of fog and
dampness through all the dry season.
This fog comes from the ocean. some
times every morning for a month. al