Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-01-28
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. Editor:

Mr. Editor:
Since writing my last letter we have
had a three days rain and Southern
California is herself again. The brown
hills are turned into robes Of green
with flowers springing up as if by
magic on every side. The farmer and
the ranchmen are wearing broad
smile for the last rain assures them of
q crop without irrigation. Yes,
Southern California is once more at
her best. The mercury stands today
at noon at 70 degrees above zero in
the shade. The birds are nesting IN
the trees. the robin, the red bird and
the mocking bird are pouring forth
their best songs of praise to the man
that has Just introduced a bill to the
California legislature making it
penalty for ladies to wear the plumes
of song birds upon their hats; and [,
too, with the birds, hope the bill will
pass. Within the county of Los Ange-
les one can find the most remarkable
variety Of climate under the sun.
Now think of it, to-day one might
breakfast at the seashore, take
morning bath in the ocean, lunch amid
the orange groves and dine in the
snow fields of the great Sierras, all the
same day, and all within the one
county OF Los Angeles. Who dares
challenge this garden spot Of Eden?
There is always both summer and
winter within the county of Los
Angeles. This wonderful town was
founded in 1871 .EThe first census gave
it a population of 141, viz, one
European, y Spanish Americans,
seven Indians, % mulattoes and 80
Mestizos. Fifty years later it had
population of 77O, and in January, 1880,
it had a population of II 81, and even
at that time. it is said, there was no
sign that the city was on the eve of
marvellous growth. But in 1885 the
great real estate boom set in, and
since that time it has come to the
front in wonderful manner. It has
to-day 200 miles of graded streets, $50
miles of cement sidewalks, and over
$50 miles of sewers, and is said to be
one Of the best lighted cities in the
Union. It has population to-day Of
over one hundred and ten thousand
people. and it is and will always
remain the commercial metropolis Of
Southern California. The banks of
Los Angeles are noted for their solid
and. prosperous condition, their depos-
its aggregating over twenty-five mil
lions of dollars. It has seven public
parks, covering an area of over three
thousand acres. All have been
donated to the city by public spirited
men. a boulevard to connect all
of these parks is now under con-
struction. The city stands 800 feet
good lharbor now being constructed
by the United States government.
The old town was built of adobe,
kind of clay that hardens like brick in
the sun. Only few relics Of these
old buildings are left standing. One
old church on Main street with its
chime of bells is left as a quaint
reminder of other days. At San
Gabriel stands the old mission church,
an object of historic and picturesque
interest. The San Gabriel valley
extends west to the foothills and is
where the great grape vineyards and
wineries are located. It is noted for
it's grape culture. Lemons are also
easily raised in this valley. The olive |
seems to flourish best in the San Fer
nando valley and the almond and wal /
nut thrives best in Antelope valley, |
while alfalfa is grown all over the /
county and can be cut from three to |
six times year. Pumpkins weighing |
over 400 pounds are raised. A small |
amount of lard is needed to support /
family, ten acres being a large farm |
here for one man to handle, as one |
can raise two and three crops year |
on the same piece of land. The open
ings for manufacturing enterprises in |
Los Angeles are many and varied. /
Fruit canning, fish canning, and jellies |
and Jams of all kinds ought to be done |
here. Beet sugar is cheap and cheap
labor and the mild climate are other |