River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-08
CALIFORNIA LETTER.
RIvERsIpN. cAL.. May 25. 1se7.

that the crop can be estimated. al
can also the hay and grain crop
These arc the uncertain industrie:
here, and as a hail storm, an
untimely flood, a cyclone, or hot
wind in the northwest often discounts
the farmers estimate, so light frost
and deficiency of rainfall here will
often scale down the net returns one
half, and sometimes more. The
rainy season commenced on the 10Th
of October last and closed March 10th.
In the interval it rained ON II days, OF
nights, and an average of about II
inches of water fell-in some places as
much as 20 inches; the higher the
altitude tie greater tue rainfall
When it rains in the valleys it SHOWS
on the mountains, and the high
mountains are still white with snow.
Up to the first of April the prospect
was good for an unusually large crop
of hay and grain. But on the 23d and
| 10Th OF March there was frost which
made ice. While this freeze did not
materially hurt the fruit, with the
exception of almonds which were
entirely killed, the too early close
of the rainy season and north winds,
have cut the estimate OF hay and
grain at about the middle, and as
| none but the early sown will ''fill'i all
the later sown is cut for hay. The
orange and lemon crop averaged large
and of an extra quality. The peach
and apricot trees are heavily loaded.
The prune crop VIII be not more than
a,two-thirds yield. The crop of berries,
especially blackberries, will be heavy.
| For some cause the white Asiatic fig
has not put out its first crop. but the
black Smyrna is well set. The fig tree
bears three crops during the summer.
| BY the way, some of your readers may
not know that the fig tree does not
blossom. The matured fig is but an
overgrown bud.
There is a very perceptible revival
Of business in general, and with the
expenditure Of $3,000,000 on the San
Pedro deep water harbor Los Angeles
will be the metropolis of California.
1t now has population of 10000,
having doubled in six years. In order
to see more of the rugged grandeur of
the interior of San Diego county, my
wife and l made the journey to San
Diego and return by team, going well
inland, and returning near the coast.
The mountains of the county are not
very high, but very numerous. High
hills and small valleys make up the
outline Of the county, but the soil is
far superior TO that Of Riverside
county. Good grain, corn and fruit
are grown on these mountain sides
without irrigation Stock r&sing,
principally Of horses and cattle, is the
principal industry. A dozen or so of
horses or cattle cuts little figure with
a California rancher. There are quite
a number of Mexicans living in the
county, and the Americans by contact
with them have become changed so
that their manners and customs are
somewhat Mexicanized. Besides the
railroad along the coast there are but
| three railroads in the county running
inland, viz: one from Oceanside to
Falbrook and one from Oceanside to
Escondido, each about 20 miles in
length, and one from San Diego to
Lakeside, about 30 miles. The S. p.
runs from SaltOn to Pilot Knob
| through the southeast corner of the
county, through desert. The city OF
| San Diego is well laid out and has a
population of about $4,000. 1t has a
gradual slope from the bay east to
18th street, then dead level for
miles. The streets running east from
the bay are lettered A, b, G, etc.
from the center south, and by the
names of trees north corresponding
with the alphabet as Ash, Beech,
Cyprus, etc. The bay is large enough
for 1000 ships to ride safely. Point
Lomo is a high promontory twelve
miles long from the mouth of the 5.
/ ID. River, and on an average three
miles wide. The old light house still
stands on the points about 500 feet
above the sea, but as its light is
above the fog it is of use only in the
absence of fog. The government has
built a new one on the beach, 10 feet
above high water. 1t is built on a
solid cube of cement 25 feet square
and 10 feet deep The tower is l25
feet high, all of steel; is s feet in
diameter, with winding stairs inside.
The tower cost $4,000 and the lamp
$4,000. The glass has three bulls
eyes-red, white and blue. The
machinery is wound up and propelled
by a 400-pound weight. The lamp
makes a revolution every 90 seconds;
each color is seen from the sea for 30
seconds and has a light OF 1900 candle
power. To a person standing with
his back to the city and looking into
either of The bulls-eyes, the city is
photographed so as to appear close
behind him, while it is over miles
away. We spent about a week in the
city and were very favorably impressed
with the climate. While l have
suffered more or less every day for
seven years with sciatica / was almost
exempt from pain while was there.
Our first day homeward was along
the sea shore. It is something grand
ITO see and hear an ocean wave,
| As 1t comes with muffiec roar;
| Aud Its bounding echoes among the hills
When il breaks on the rocky shore"
The distance from Riverside to San
Diego is about 125 miles. 1t took US
three days to go and four to return.
We camped out and renewed our
youth. Camping out is one Of the
pleasures of South California life.
JOHN MCMILLAN.
National Encampment 6. A. r. Buff
faIo. N. ", Aug. 1928. 1897.
Tickets to Buffalo and return at
s2l. 80 for the round-trip will be on