The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-04-03
AN INTERESTING LETTER
From California, the Land of
Eternal Sunshine and Sweet
Fragrant Flowers.

Eternal Sunshine and Sweet
Fragrant Flowers.
Mr.. Luther M. Barrick, former we'll
known Canton citizen, writes an in
terestng letter to his venerable friend,
Mr.. A. McGregor, from his home in
San Francisco, giving description of
the land of eternal summer" and some
of the Pacific coast cities. BY permis-
sion Of Mr.. McGregor we publish the
letter in full.
San Francisco Cal, March IS, 1900
Hon. A. McGregor.
Esteemed Old Friend: 1 have q vivid
recollection that the last time L met
you in Canton, near the 1st of December,
1899, Just before our leaving for the
Pacific Coast, that promised to write
you. 1t is now more than three months
since / made that promise and 1 have
deferred the matter longer than l in
tended for several good reasons, of
which 1 will make mention when l see
you.
After leaving Canton aud reaching
Chicago, we took Pullman sleeper and
proceeding via the c. B. & Q. route,
we glided over the broad praiiies,
through the wild, yet grand and pictur-
esque scenes of the great Rockies"
across the moistless barren sandy desert
over the Sierra Nevada mountains and
down that matchless San Joaquin val
ley 300 miles long and from so to 80 miles
wide, unsurpassed by its beauty and the
richness of it's soil, thence over The
Tehachapi mountains, dow nthe Pacific
Slope in Southern California. the land
of eternal sunshine, perpetual summer
and ever blooming flowers.
We resided in the city of Los Angeles
from Dec. 5 to March 1st. 1t is indeed
a beautiful city and is Justly called
"the Southwestern Metropolis" The
growth of this city during the past
| twenty years has been phenoninal; it
| has grown from a population of II 900
in 1880 to nearly 100000 today. Twelve
years ago there was not single paved
| street in the city: there are now $50
miles of graded and graveled streets; IS
miles of paved streets; $50 miles of ce-
ment and asphalt sidewalks; $50 miles
of sewer, with an outfall sewer to the
| ocean.
| Thirteen or fourteen years ago the city
| abandoned gas for street lighting and
| u
the city presents brilliant appearance.
The street railway system of Los Ange-
| les is very complete. Thirteen years
| ago there was only one horse-car line
| in the city; now the total mileage of
single track is $50 miles, of which nearly
all is electric. In addition to the local
lines, "The Pasadena and Pacific runs
electric cars from Los Angeles to Alta
| In, thn 4, 90
dena, and to Santa Monica, on the ocean
beach, about 1S miles west of Los
Angeles. Scores of fine business blocks
and hundreds of handsome residences
have been built during the past ten
years; said to have cost $25,000,000. The
Sierra Madre range Of mountains are
ever seen to the north and east Of the
city, from 20 to so miles distant, tower
ing high: some of which pierce the
clouds and are capped with eternal
| snow.
There are seven public parks within
the city limits aggregating 600 acres
all beautiful beyond description. The
climate in and around the city is de-
lightful all the year. We have had a
few light frosts in December and jan
uary, but none severe enough to in
jure the tender vine, and yet Los An
geles county has the most varied eli
matte conditions that are to be found
in any of the southern counties. On a
winters day the traveller may breakfast
by the seashore after dip in the ocean;
lunch amid the orange groves, and dine
in the snow fields of the Sierra.
The population of Los Angeles is
cosmopolitan. During the past dozen
years 1t has received accessions to Its
population from every state in the
Union and from almost every country
on the globe. Newspapers are publish
ed in the English, German, French
Spanish, Italian, Basque and Chinese
languages.
The school facilities of Los Angeles
are very good. Beside the public schools
private schools and colleges abound
here and in Pasadena and other towns
In the county. Most of the leading re.
ligious denominations are represented
not only by scores of churches but also
by religious colleges. Public libraries
are numerous and well stocked with the
latest works. There is not a secret
society of any importance that is moi
represented. 1.-THE California Branch
State Normal school" occupies a large
block of fine buildings on lovely site
of five acres. a short distance from
the business center. The graduating
class for the year 1899 numbered 1856
The city hall and public library is {
fine structure on Broadway. The Jibrar.
Is one of the most complete in the Uni
ted States; contains $4,000 volumes. Thu
Pasadena library is the finest building
of it's kind in southern California, bull
after the Romanesque style, Of greer
and buff stone. from the Tehachap
J mountains. and marble from Cotton
ICal, 1t contains over 1900 volumes