Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-05-15

Of virgin soil that can be taken up under
the homestead laws an empire awaiting
development, fortunes for good business
men in almost any line they choose to fol-
low, good wages to all industrious persons
willing to work.
Phoenix Is situated I'm a valley 25 miles
wide and 80 miles In length with huge
mountains on either side. An electric
railroad runs through It's principal streets
for three and one-half miles and is so
straight and level that person can see
from one end to the other with the naked
eye From November Goth until the mid
die Of December we enjoyed eating fresh
strawberries, st melons, green corn, tomatoes
blackberrics and raspbcrrics Much of the
water Is brackish, therefore the cattle do
not require salt After residing in this 10
cality a few ears peopledo not use any
of this condiment on the table. They
claim that the atmosphere Is so dry that
there is no strength 60 it, Among the
popular trees are the umbrella, blue gum
and pepper. The latter is an evergreen
treo and its foliage has a very strong, spicy
odor. The palm and flg also grow very
extensively. Oleanders, geraniums and
chrysanthemums bloom the year round.
Fine large navel oranges ripened In Nov
ember and could be purchased for ten
cents dozen. When we find this rare
! fruit in the east we have to pay 40 and 30
cents a dozen for it, Another Indian
school is situated here. A man owns a
farm near the city on which he keeps 80
]
round on alalfa, the same as cattle. When
full grown they weigh from 800 TO 400
pounds each. The bird will lay a setting
Of % to 30 eggs q year. They measure from
10 TO IS inches in diameter. The -Four
Peek mountains, 80 0miles distant, and Cam
el mountains to the north can be seen dis
tinctly. They have snow on their tops at
certain periods Of the year. Mr.. Holbert
who apparently was in better health than
at any time previous to departing from
Blnghamton, was suddenly taken i'll and
died at Phoenix, an account of which was
published in the Independent at the time
Leaving Phoenix about the middle Of
December we crossed the Colorado river at
the Needles in California and from thence
passed over the Mohava desert, travelling
by rail. Passing the desert the road takes
drop down the mountain Of $500 feet II
about 75 miles. Running through a can
yon out on the fiat land into the valley W,
reached Los Angeles, the home Of tn,
orange This city is the great New Yorl
of the Southwest and it is estimated tina
200 buildings are erected each year 1t i
10 miles from the ports of Los Angeles anC
San Monica, where the first sight of the
Pacific ocean can the obtained. Westlak'
Park is beautiful resort and is termed
the paradise of Earth" 1t was here tina
we had the pleasure Of meeting a cousin
Mrs. Cynthia Donear, daughter Of Mrs
Jane,Tnrner formerly of Paupack, Pike
county. From this point we iourneyet
southwark to San Ana near New Port
a very fertile farming and fruit growing
valley where nothing but perpetual sum
mer 10 known. Here we were the guest o
another cousin, Chas. Barton. of Michigan
One day we flshed off the wharf into the
Pacific ocean and had the good luck to
capture, in about four hours, 16 yellow
tails and Spanish mackerel, weighing from
12 TO 30 pounds each. The line used wal
as thick as an ordinary lead pencil, hool
of steel three inches in length, and live
sardines were used for bait.