Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-30
NEWS FROM A CALIFORNIA BOOMER.
p. ]. Layne Again Entertaius the Censor
Readers With Another of His Interest
ing Lettcrs-HlstoricaI and Descriptive
Comment.
SANrEE Tar. Maroh 10 1909

Comment.
SANTEE, CAL, March 10, 1898.
FRIEND MUNsoN: H. ID. and Frank
FL. Williams recently spent few days
with us, and we not only enjoyed right
royal visit with them personally, but
through them had an ExPARTE visit with
Viroqua folks generally. You may be
sure we did not let SO good an oppor-
tunity to catch up with current events
at the old home go unimproved. They
came to us fresh from two or three days,
experience with the Jerman and Layne
families at Ramona, and after we had
them under fire day or two, III d.
complained of a slight throat trouble,
and the first thought was that he had so
far forgotten the climate he was in as
to catch cold, but later he concluded it
was from over exertion of the vocal or
gans. We had at least pumped his
throat dry. Aside from this have not
met heartier pair of tourists, and they
are doing California in tn roughly able
bodied manner. While here they seemed
fully convinced of the truth that San
Diego county is the most favored spot
in the universe, but like enough George
Williams tried to talk it out of them
when they got back to Los Angeles
The folks up that way are somewhat
concsited in the matter of climate, etc.
Such visits are enjoyable and they serve
to renew our touch with Viroqua life,
nd or haf
with time and distance, but can never
cease to bind
Being 80 far removed from present
activities there, am given to calling up
the past and associating with memories
of former times While there and II
particip, at in every day affairs, scarcely
considered the fact that / was an old
settler, but now I am often reminded of
it. Coming to Viroqua, with parents
and brothers, in March, 1854. while
stumps were yet being grubbed from
Main street, and the old log court house
was still! doing duty az church and
school house, certainly gives me place
among the early ones. When boy,
not yet in the teens, L began reading
the CENSOR, with it's first issue as the
Northwestern Times, by j. A Somerby,
in 1856. 1 have kept it up ever since,
and intend to keep it up, even if have
to pay for it. During all the years it
has been true home paper, faithfully
portrayiog the life OF the people, reflect
ing the lights and shadows that have
fallen upon every household and neigh
borhood, mourning with those that
mourned and rejoicing with those who
rejoiced, and in all things proving a
friend to all the people. Its weekly
visits were never more welcome and
never was it more truly the ''hom-
paper" than now. But this is no news
to your readers and something about
California will more likely interest them
1t is evening, and Mrs l.. and Newton
Just called me out to see the search
lights from the war ships in the harbor.
They are thrown across the heavens
with great brilliancy and beautiful effect
The display now is either for practice, or
amusement for the city, but at sea it is
means of communication between yes
sells not within sight of each other, A |
visit to one of these war ships is inter-
esting and instructive. 1 went aboard
the 'Philadelphis" with party of
friends some months ago, and one of the
officers kindly showed us throughout
the ship, excepting the engine room and !
rigging. All the appointment, from
the elegantly furnished cabins of the
admiral and captain to the bunk room |
of the common sailor, seemed perfect, |
and models of order and neatness The
workings of the guns we're explained, the
arsenal room was open for inspection, and
more general information given than we
we're capable of receiving. The differ
emit phases of life aship- board interested
me. There seemed to be employment
for all, and few of the three hundred
men were idle. The Notifications of
the harbor which have been slowly pro-
crossing for long time, have been
noticeably hurried along of late, and
visitors who have heretofore been ad
mitted are now excluded. Three ten
inch guns have recently been placed,
and San Diegans may fest reasonably
SHIA Ill Ophuibu Sill u SHoutu Hofrl cuo-
side. But the mouth of the San Diego
river is wholly unprotected and the only
thing to prevent feet coming mp and
bombarding Santee is no water in the
river. We have few cases of war fever
in malignant form, but most of the
people keep cool in the assn -ance that
will say the word Wien neces
sary.
Recent rains broke the drought
which threatened mischief to crops, and
we are all feeling better again. Vege-
tation is not advanced as usual at this
time of the year, but another hoped for
rain or two will bring everyt thing for
ward in good shape. 1t is more and
more demonstrated that the thing most
needed here is ample provision for irri
CATION Nature furnishes the water in
the mountains and il man will store and
distribute it, every foot OF arabic land
in the state may have all it needs.
But / have, as usual, written good
deal and said but little and must stop,
so 8dios. 7. j. LA Ne
@ S-------