Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-03
QUAINT COAST Towns
Interesting Letter From J. 9.
Brown Concerning the Cali
fornia Of Today.
Varying Temperatures Of LOCAL..
ties Within : Few Niles
Of Each Other.
Old Monterey and Its Mission.
n =. n
Old Monterey and Its Mission.
ARomance Of Gen. Sher-
mans Early Life.

San Francisco, Aug. 81, 1901.-Times-
Republican,: Wesresuned our journey
from Pasadena two weeks ago on the
rev coast line OF the Southern Pacific,
stopping at the old town of Santa Barr
bara, where we found much of interest,
chief of which was the old mission,
which every tourist visits. The town is
located in lovely valley and 1t has a
very equables climate, the same as San
Diego-65 degrees mean in the summer
ind Sc in the winter. The coast line
skirts the ocean at many points. which
makes it agreeable travelling at this
time of the year. In crossing the coast
range Of mountains to the Salina valley,
rot over thirty miles the temperature
jumped from 65 degrees to near 100 for
awhile, but as we approached the ocean
three hours laterit receded rapidly, and
en- our arrival at Pacific Grove, near,
Monterey, it was 65 again.
Pacific Grove, popular resort. has
been mostly built up the past six years.
Its location in a pine forest on elevated
ground facing the ocean makes it very
cool retreat, in fact little chilly at
times for comfort, and many of the resi-
dents of the hot interior spend month
or two there to get good cooling.
Quaint old Monterey has many old land
marks that are exceedingly interesting.
The old state capitol, custom house, a
large abandoned hotel that once re-
sounded with mirth and gaiety, and 9th
err things remind one of early times. The
place has decayed nearly as much as it
has grown. The old San Carlos mission,
now known as Carmelo mission, five
miles south, founded by Juna Peroscra,
as also many other missions along the
coast. the first at San Diego in 1863 and
this one in 1770. and whose remains are
buried under it, make it place sought
by visitors. Much Of the building was
restored a few years ago to save it from
decay. 1t now stands desolate and alone,
save a keepers house and some pear
trees planted 129 years ago, now loaded
with fruit.
The celebrated Del Monte hotel, one
mile from Monterey, is popular aris-
tocratic resort. The, immense structure
I and all appointments are elegant. but
the grounds of 12s acres, originally a
national park of live oak, cedar and pine
trees. embelltshed by landscape garden
| ing that the highest order of art can de-
wise. are the browning attraction, the
whole making combination of lowell
ness and grandeur which have no SUI
perior on TINS continent Many interest
ling stories of early times in Monterey
are told. We give this one: When the
late Gen. Sherman was young lieuten-
ant here he made love to handsome
senorita, and 1t is said he stuck slip
of rose bush into the ground and
promised to return and make her his
bride when it blossomed. For many
years she sat at window looking for
him. The rose slip is now blooming
| tree and the former miss, now Sc years
| old, is living in the house the same as ii
was during her counting days.
The oil industry in this state is a
growing, important one, and it is so!v-
| ing the fuel question. There is novel
oil field at Summerland, on the beach
near Santa Barbara. There are 100 OF
more wells on land and score of piers
run out into the ocean, with dozen or
more derricks on each, pumping oil from
1 under the sea. Three barrels of oil will
produce as much steam or heat as ton
of soft coal, and at 50 cents and less per
barrel it is rapidly taking the place OF
the latter. In many places the streets
and country roads are sprinkled with oil
to keep down the dust. We did not in
quire if it was cheaper than water. bu,
assumed that its effect lasted longer. as
1t made a sort of asphalt surface. The
productions in California are marvellous
in many respects. In the valleys with
in twenty-five miles of the ocean, good
crops of corn and vegetables are grown
without drop Of rain or any irrigation
The fogs and moist atmosphere, with
the cool weather contributes to the good
results. j. G. BROWN.