Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-13
It IS A PARADISE
Phillip Duffy's Impressions o.
Southern California.
Los ANGELES Is THE GARDEN SPOT
Much Building Going on and Money
Conditions Are Very FavorabIe-oil
Industry is Growins--Good Rains
Have Put Crops in Safety.

The Courier is in receipt of the fol-
lowing very interesting letter from
Philip Duffy former we'll known
resident of this city, who left here
about six months ago for California,
where he expects to make his future
home. According to Mr.. Duffy's letter
he is perfectly delighted with the
country, and thinks California has a
brilliant prospect ahead. Mr.. Duffy
graphically describes the condition of
business affairs in Los Angeles, where
his letter is dated from, and tells of
the wonderful progress made in the
new Oil fields. Mr.. Duffy has purchas-
ed a tract of oil land. and believes he
has fortune in his grasp. The letter
also contains items OF interest to ma
ny of the old friends of Mr.. Duffy, rel
alive to his visits to the various parts
of California, and the impressions he
has formed of that country. Mr.. Duff
fy says the prospect for crop are
better in California this year than ev-
er before as more than twice as much
rain has fallen already than they had
last year.
The Letter.
Mr.. Duffy's letter is as follows:
Los Angeles, Cal June 6, 1901.
Dear Editor:-As | have many in
qliries from friends at home as to the
climate and business opportunities,
would like to answer all through your
valuable paper.
The climate of southern California
is wonderful for children, old people
and inyalids, especially as they can be
out of doors nearly every day. Such
beautiful sun shine You want to be
out in it all the time. Not such heat
as we have in Iowa and the nights are
like dream. The strange part of it
is, it gets chilly about o'clock p. m.
and remains so about two hours, then
1t warns up again. The temperature
is such that medium weight clothes
answer the year around. San Diego
has the most perfect climate and the
healthiest Of any part of our great
country and such grand and beauti
full harbor. But Los Angeles has the
business and is the distributing point
for southern California. THIS city is
growing rapidly. There were 24e
building permits granted during Apri
and 1871 in May. The cost of the
houses, (which are strictly modern by
the way) will range from $4,000 tx
100000 / saw a barn the other da.
that is said to cost $4,000. And ye
this is no boom, but steady growth
Z The real estate sales have averaged
$65,000 per day this season.
Ottumwa is we'll represented here
by G number of her former citizens
In my ramblest about the city | hav,
accidentally run across few friend!
of "auld lang syne." John White, wht
left Ottumwa some twenty-five year.
roI Tos, Ice {r
Have Many Factories.
They have a number of Factories
here and more coming. They believ
In expansion. Oil is one of the lead
ing products in city and country an,
third in the state. The old wells tina
were abandoned in this district, tn
owners are now drawing out the cas-
ing and deepening to what is know
as the fifth sand where they get
greater flow of oil of about II gravity
This oil is used by railroad companies
factories and for heating and cooking
purposes SO that there is large flom
market. There is growing excite
ment in the Victor field on the deser
northeast of this city, just over thu
range. The land is being taken rap
idly. White oil is what is found il
this district and is easily refined.
Standard Reaching Out.
They say the Standard Oil Compa
ny's agents are paying the locatorl
from $3.50 to SIS per acre, and hav'
bought most of this land that is II
San Bernardino county and are com
ing into Los Angeles county. A Chi
cago company has located twenty-sev
en- sections to date. There are fifteel
surveying parties locating claims. Thu
Magnetic Oil company has begun t
drill on its section, which is clos
to my body of land. Every indication
points to success. The Santa Fe rail
road company runs through this sec
ton. The oil experts claim that with
in year this section will surpass tn
Kern river field. There has been
great many fortunes suddenly mad
In oil here. They sound like fair,
tales. The successful fellows wer
the ones who got in first. The tender
foot came along at the height of tn
boom and bought stock at 75c and S
and even higher Of companies capital
ICED at $1,000.000. The oil industry /