Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-03-02
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, Feb. 20, 1898.
To the Editor of the Pleasantville Press :

To the Editor of the Pleasantville Press
Friday we started with ten Others
in two turnOuts for Point Iona,
a projecting point five miles long
and 500 feet high. 1t forms the west
side OF the harbor of San Diego. A
carriage road leads through the wild
shrubbery and cactus of many
species, the names of which we are
not familier with. A couple of fine
farms were passed, set to olive, orange
and lemon, and a barley and wheat
field, showing great contrast be-
tween the wild and cultivated land.
The land in one place is quite mar
row, a canyon from either side met,
and a short bridge spanned the
chasm. The canyon sides are per-
pendicular and the earth being of a
clayey nature does not cave, but is
gradually washed down by storms.
But little of the ocean side can be
approached, as there is no strand.
The sea washes directly to the rocks
forming cliffs and caves. From the
! Point fine view is had from every
direction. On the extreme Point
Uncle Sam has the most Southerly
light house on his dominions. On
the south is long narrow penin-
sula, which with this point forms the
harbor, the channel or entrance
being between. Beyond are the hills
of Old Mexico. At sea are fishing
boats, and some high rock islands
said to be inhabited by rattle snakes
and tarantulas. AS we look at this
commercial future for this corner of
knxv =. 4, Is<xA<
the Isthmus canal' to New York
shortened by 10000 miles and the
country rich in it's productions. 1t is
perfect climate, the thermometer
never going as low as freezing, the
mean being "a and in summer 66
seldom above So. After sufficient
exercises in tumbling boulders down,
we start for Ocean Beach, 6 miles
away, to gather shells and finish the
day, where we find quite an interest
ing spot. The land terminates in a
perpendicular cliff, 20 to 40feet below
is the surf line, and the strand is
composed of table or fiat rock,
full OF pockets and crevices in
which are many little crabs,
and sometimes a lobster is found.
The rocks are covered with barnacles
and variety OF other shell fish.
Prominent is the black mussel.
They are large and are fine eating.
At this place the land is quite level,
and during the boom, ten years ago,
was mapped out for city and put
on the market. A hotel was built
and some grading done for railroad
when the bottom dropped out. 1t is
surely fine site for city.
We get The Press each week and
read the news from it's CORE
spOndents in all corners of the
earth. 1t almost makes me Whitney
when think of the poor shivering
horses and men away up in the new
towns of Lake & Risley, and Jenness,
but they are not troubled with flies
and mosquitoes, and have nice ice
water.
oh, 1 read of the grizzlys in Alaska
OF the nice cool water on ice;
But what Of the cold l ask thee
To this fine climate SO nice.
Then there's Florida with it's fine fish
So hot they are fried by the sun,
Why they can't be compared with dish
OF green peas seasoned, and done.
Now of course we have few feas
So small that q millions q few
We stuff with strawberries and peas
And scratch for exercise too.
But we can't all be in this land
For The Press wouldn't get all the news
So each one must with his hand
Write of the country he views.
The coast at this place runs North
and South, the same as if at home
South was Northeast and North,
Southwest. 1t keeps me mixed up
SO hardly know what course l am
making. A. LAKE.