The herald., 1897-07-14
YACHTING, BATHING, FISHING
IT'S ENvIABLE REPUTATION FOR
MORAL TONE
Considerable Building Operations at
Present in Progress-Its Many
Attractions


the half circle gently sloping between
the bluff and the ocean; an occasional
whale sporting within eye shot, balmy
breezes, fleets of pleasure boats and
trim yachts, spacious wharves, shouts
from bathers, delicious fish in plenty,
caught from the wharves or from the
boats, parks and gardens, pretty homes,
shaded by the bluffs, stately edifices of
learning and of religion, are features
that combine to make Long Beach the
popular family seaside resort it is, bear
ing also an enviable reputation of being
of the highest moral character.
1t is indeed place of wonderful charm.
Its beauty of environment calls for high
est and steadfsst admiration. Long
Beach combines many Of the best fea-
lures of other seaside resorts with some
that are absolutely its own. 1t has the
lowlands and the uplande, the seques-
tered hooks, the broad outlook from high
bluffs, combinations of marine and in
land views, varied in their settings
In the coast line of California the line
of demarkation between Southern Cali
sharply defined by nature. Commencing
about the northern line of Santa Bar
bara county the Pacific coast for the
first time in its long course from Alaska
southwark. makes a decided change
Abandoning the general southeasterly
direction which it has held for 20O0 miles
it turns and bears off almost due east
In the same latitude the Sierra, which
from Alaska south, follows the general
trend of the coast, turns also from its
northerly and southerly course, and as
great transverse range runs directly
eastward, walling in the country from
the north, then turning southwark with
a great curve, shutting it in from the
cast. North of the Tehachepi range CAL
ifornia faces the, sea; south of that range
1t faces the sun. Furthermore, the
Kuro-Siwo current, which comes down
from Alaska. is. at Point Conception.
shot clear of the land by the cape, and
never approaches close to shore again.
the separation being further helped by
a long chain of islands extending from
the island of San Miguel, near Point
Conception, to the Lower California line.
With the change in the direction of the
coast comes a change in the character
OF the climate of the coast line and this
interior. The great Sierra still walls in
the country from the arid plain, but the
coast range becomes broken, at times
entirely disappearing, leaving the in
terror open to the sea-
For some reason, not yet made alto
gether clear by those having given
thought to it, all that portion of the. Goa st
lire below the point where it swerved
SO abruptly eastward is singu-
larly free from the drenching
chilly fogs which are disagreeable fea-
ture of the climate northward clear to
the entrance of Puget sound. This, in
the main, accounts for the great popu-
larity OF the many seaside resorts which
flourish along the Southern California
coast line. Pleasure or health seekers
care not to war against the disadvan-
tages of cold, heavy fogs for several DAYS
of the week, no matter how perfect the
weather may chance to be the remainder
of the week
While Long Beach is blessed with all
the climatic advantages given through
this general trend of coast line and di-
rection of ocean currents and winds. ma
ture seems to have selected this spot on
high point Of land jutting out into fine
ocean ending in Point Firmin, forming
the western curve and the southern
horn of the crescent bay, whose semi
circle cuts for miles inland at the center
OF It's curve, forms barrier against pos
sible cold winds sweeping in from the
west, While the long line of Santa Cata-
lima Islands peaks break the force and
temper the breezes that gently fan the
shores from a southwesterly direction.
Thus 1t is we have here, through the
influences on the elements of natures
carvings cons of ages in the past, a per-
feet. an ideal coast climate-Long
Beach
These influences on the climate
wrought by the change in the direction
of the coast line, mountain ranges and
ocean currents. are far reaching and
emphatic in the interior as well. Thus is
Southern California distinguished as a
land peculiarly favored by nature a
hitting counterpart of the Promised
Land as it was ere the deserts were al
lowed to encroach upon its fertile plains.
In fact, Southern California is very like
Palestine in natural features, resem-
bling that country far more than II does
Italy, to which it so often compared
like Palestine, ii is a comparatively
narrow strip of land facing western
sea; it Is shut off from interior deserts
by high mountains, snow-capped in win
ter; it has its dry and wet seasons; it is
land flowing with milk and honey"
and in both countries flourish the olive.
the fig and the vine; the grapes of Esch-
ol. which SO excited the wonder of the
Israelites, finding their counterpart at
any of our horticultural shows.
Without other attractions, however.
than an Incompatible, perfect climate.
Long Beach could not hold loyal to her
charms such multitudes of people of
widely differing dispositions and tastes
Its other attractions which have created
votaries from near and far are varied
and fascinating. The beach at this pop
ular resort is justly regarded as one of
the finest on the coast, perhaps the very
best. A stretch of ten or more miles. of
broad, solid beach, SO solid that the feet
OF the carriage or riding horse clatter
as clear, sharp and distinct on it as if
gallopsng over the asphalt paved streets
of city. while the breakers rolling in
al their splendor, on one hand, and high
bluffs rising on the other makes a de-
lightful pleasure drive The gently
sIoping beach makes the bathing un-
surpassed Wharves running several
hundred feet into the sea make fishing