Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-02-05
OUT AMONG THE FLOWERS.
Nrs. A. W. Rice Writes Of California
Beauties.

Los ANGELES, CAL, Jan. 2L-We
came ont Of the great Nevada desert
into this green oasis Jan. IS. One is
| in new world when he enters Cali
fornia. From hundreds Of miles OF
desert or proftless mountains he
comes almost suddenly into q land
overlooking with bounty and brimful
Of vital and progressive energy. 1t
is country apart, bounded on the
east by chain upon chain OF noun
tains. It Is set of from the older
civilizations; its problems have been
new. Lying on the rim OF the CONT
nent the outlook is to the illimitable
expanse Of the ocean and SO unlike
our middle west is California that we
have no basis Of comparison--it appeals
to us. As wonderland we accept 1t
for itself. California is its own meas
ure. We look in wonder at the sweep
Of the landscape from the Sierras to
the ocean. Measured by distance it
is mighty country 700 miles from
north to south. This great expanse
lying its whole length on the ocean is
thrown into endless variety Of eleva-
tion and surface. Its main geograph-
ical features are two parallel serie OF
mountains with the great valley be-
tween the narrow east line beyond
this great valley known in its northern
half as the Sacramento Valley and
San joaquin in the southern half. In
the northern half are the stock ranges
and the grain ranches. These are IT.
rigated by small and to us queer
looking wind mills.
In the smaller valleys Of the coast
range the western slopes Of the
Sierras and in the seward part OF
Southern California-with Los Angeles
as its center-are the fruit growing
and semi-tropical flower growing re.
gions here at all seasons Of the year
You may see strawberries, green peas
and all our early vegetables growing
while roses, Gala lilies, violets, car
nations and other flowers are always
in bloom. These valleys are as num-
erous as the folds OF the mountains.
All farming businesses have foothold
here but fruit growing had made it
famous. Every eastern city knows
California fruit. Within generation
fruit growing has become wonder OF
the world.
A correspondent asks, "Where does
Southern California beginr made
inquiries and examined maps at the
Chamber OF Commerce, that great
bureau of information for tourists.
At Point Conception Southern Cali
fornia is supposed to begin and
Northern California to end. Here the
coast line taxes trend to the east
and thus gives the country south
frontage south on the Pacific ocean
paralleling chain of islands for 800
miles. Within this line known as the
Santa Barbara channel lies Southern
California. This long narrow strip
of land consists Of seven large coun-
ties. In the extreme south end Of
this peninsula is the favored portion
known as the frostless region. These
favored counties are ever tempered
by sea breeze which keeps the eli
mate at temperature unknown in
any other part Of the world, deserving
the name External Summer. At no
point on the coast is there more
vista Of ocean and noun
Of natures grandest ele-
at the beaches near Los
Angeles. The foothills are at this
writing covered with rich carpet OF
green and in the beautiful fertile val
leys about live former residents Of
Dickinson county in nesting homes
amid orange groyes-homes full Of
happiness and contentment and plen-
ty. The weather never too hot, never
too cold and tempered BY health Civ
ing sea breezes and now 1t rains; and
all Californisns in Southern California
are happy because Of the much needed
moisture, while tourists nicknamed
abide within and write
up records Of their visits from old
time friends and Of their pleasant ex-