Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-02-17
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
A journey Across the Continent
BY a Pleasantville Citizen.

| Since my last letter, we have not been
out OF the city, and consequently hardly
know what to write interesting.
Perhaps the average Yankee or East
erner, upon arrival here would like to be
| possessed of an orange grove, but should
he weigh the matter for few weeks, he
would retain the money in his pocket.
The orange growers here will mGks q
hard fight for heavier tariff on oran-
ges. Mexican oranges are shipped to
Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York at
the same rate of freight that California
oranges are, Mexican lands cost from
100 10 200 dollars less per acre than
land here, and needs no irrigation and
labor is much cheaper. The present
tariff OF 20 cents per box is no check up-
on the foreign fruit that threatens to
drive California oranges entirely out of
the market. A duty of 60 to 70 cents
per box will be asked 1t takes FIVE years
for orange trees to come into profitable
bearing, and costs in California for that
time, for land, trees, labor, interest, etc,
about $500 per acre. 100 trees are usu-
ally set to the acre. The aggregate out
put of California fruits is enormOus,l 300
carload of walnuts is the years estimate.
The dried fruit product of 1895 was
162, 900, 900 pounds.
An Institution started here last sum-
mer called the good Samaritan" for
the benefit of the needy, where a person
can have meal Or a nights lodging for
8 cents, has not escaped our notice. l
was interested to know if it would not
encourage the habitual tramp, and now
after visit and inspection of the place
| am still in doubt. While waiting for
Capt. Frazier, the proprietor, | was
seated with the cashier, and noticed the
class that came in for meals, as it was
then noon hour. They nearly all paid
cash, but few had tickets. Many SEEM
ed to be laboring men coming in from
work for dinner. Now and then one
would ask for meal and they were re-
ferred to Capt. Frazier. The meals were
5 and 10 cents. The victuals looked
good and clean and the nice cOrned beef
and cabbage made me feel hungry. The
cashier was kept busy taking change,
and | came to the conclusion that it
ought to be d paying business, as there
are several eating saloons here where
person can get fair meal for ) cents.
Such saloons are said to pay when over
two hundred meals are sold. The two
upper stories are fitted tor sleeping
apartments. Upright frames are arrang-
ed with side strips, a width of canvass 6
feet long is nailed at each end, and forms
the bottom OF the bed or berth. They
are arranged in tiers. A pillow, blanket,
quilt, and night shirt, are provided, and
there is also a room to undress in, and
several stalls with a system of shower
baths. If a customer looks too ''seedy"
he is subject to bath, his clothes are
put in bag and hung in a room and
fumigated-a course OF sprouts" whichis
intended to kill vermin. In largeroom
on the first floor benches were arranged
where plenty OF religious literature was
supplied. They were quite number of
men sitting and some lying on benches,
but few were reading. From what |
could learn from the employees and mana
ger, the customers were advised to
search the Scriptures" as well as to
search for work. Capt. Frazier says,
that since August 1st 1896, to Jan. 24th
1897 SO 34S men and boys have slept
in good warm beds. OF these 3 $50 were
unable to pay the nickel, and 1906
meals had been given away costing
$653.30. | asked Capt. Frazier how he
distinguished between the lonest laborer
and the tramp. He said he trusted all
to the Lord, and that he had rather feed
80 tramps than to turn one honest man
away. 1t occurred to me to think if the
Capt. should strand his ship, would he
be satisfied if the wreck master trusted
to the Lord to float the ship! The
ninety y-nine and one principle has filed
our country with thousands of cuth-
roats who are roaming over the country
committing all kinds of crimes. The
Los Angeles Times has appesled to the
people to help the work that Capt. Fra
zier is building up, and they have SUBJ
scribed literally $4,000 being raised in
one balf day. But unless they get q
different manager or entirely change the
system, Los Angeles will be over ruRRithrs
tramps. 1t is proposed by some4 busi-
ness men to have the city joiDs and have
the Capt's men sweep the streets Tor their
meals. This would clear tramp element
out in short order. If it was not for the
imposition practiced by the habitual
tramp and loafers and commuters of all
crimes such institutions would be lib
eraly fostered by the well to-do public
in all large cities, where from hard luck
OF any kind, men lose their resources for
time and the chance of earning alively-
hood. Now if, as Capt. Frazier says,
but few were imposters, something is
wrong when under the electnic glare of
the 10th century. in this land of abun-
dance, $4,000 honest laboring men Ia
large percentage OF the population) are
on the ragged verge of starvation. The
cold spell in Chicago was met by the out
pouring contributors of general pub
lie, led by the Mayor, who said feed and
warm them and inquire about them
afterwards, Then the chief of Police
said, mo man or woman shall be cold
or hungry tonight and the good work
went on. In a former letter L spoke of the
city employing the poor. That resolu-
ton has not materlized, although the
Mayor strongly recommends it.
A. LAKE.
Los Angeles, Feb. 10th 1897.
Country H.ress's All-ArOundness.
The cOuntry editor admits the BOs-