The herald., 1897-04-25
EsCoNDIDo DAM

1874, and wrote letter regarding that
place which appear In the columns OF
the Los Angeles Herald of the date OF
April 26 of that year. The Herald had
then been published but few months
From this letter we extract the follow
ing:
AN OLD-TIME LETTER
Ibid you ever visit San Diego-tha
metropolis Chat is to be) of Southern
California? No? Then you have not
seen all the sights of this great sight
seeing state. I've just visited the me-
tropolis; went from Los Angeles on the
! cars to the lighterage, on the lighteragc
to the steamer and thence by steamer to
San Diego; slept all night. awoke at day.
light just in time to see the entrance TO
the beautiful bay.
Here the bracing atmosphere of a
California morning rests over the un-
disturbed clear waters of the finest har-
bor in the world, and the San Diegans
know 1t and will tell you of it before you
have been ashore five minutes. Captain
Thorne brought his ship alongside the
wharf and hitched. while the passengers
got ready to disembark. The wharf is
about half mile long, more or less
(probably less), and is too narrow to
allow teams to be driven out in search of
passengers. had visited large cities
before, and had become somewhat ac-
customed to the din of hotel runners and
was greatly disappointed on arriving at
the wharf at not being permitted to en-
joy a Boston, Gilmore jubilee chorus
given in the interest of San Diego hotels,
but on discovering the fact that must
walk to the shore end of the wharf,
became encouraged at the prospect of
getting my moneys worth on arriving
at that point Disappointmentsc crowd
upon each other sometimes very rapidly.
I saw here waiting the arrival of the
steamers passengers several coaches
and a number of gentlemen of leisure
standing around but didn't hear the
chorus. / stopped moment waiting for
the Right this way to the Horton
house, the only first-class hotel in the
city, but didn't hear it. Presently
nudge at my elbow attracted my atten-
tion, and 1 turned 10 receive the saluta-
ton: Ever been in San Diego before"
No, sir Going to remain long? No,
SIR In search of real estate invest
ments? Have some very nice residence
lots, located but a short distance from
the Horton house; will sell them at a
real bargain. A few days ago Professor
Fowler bought a ranch just outside of
the city limits for 2O.0O0' thought the
man must certainly be a lunatic, en-
route to Stockton in charge of the sheriff,
but looking around and seeing nothing
Of that official, bade the San Diegan
good morning and wended my way to-
ward the hotel.
THE Horton house is about half n
mile from the wharf, and to reach it one
must pass up Fifth street. the main busi-
ness thoroughfare of the metropolis. ]
passed up the street; every little ways
came to business house; twice en- route
1 stopped to enquire the way. and twice
I received invitations to visit and pur
chase real estate. Standing on the front
steps of the Horton house, looking to the
westward over the still waters Of the
bay, and bringing within the angle Of
vision the thickliest settled portion OF
the best laid out city on the Pacific
coast, one cannot help but see much to
admire. Struck with the number Of real
estate signs to be seen from the stand
point I commenced taking the census;
had counted seventeen when the bell
rang for breakfast. and turned my
thoughts and face In another direction.
Five hours Of tramp around a city
will satisfy the most inveterate tramp
In the country was satisfied, and at
noon, having fallen In with an old
friend, we sought livery stable, With
view to taking trip to the country.