The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30
CALIFORNIA.
The Southern Portion of the
Golden State.
Reveling in the Weather of
May.
THE EAST AT ZERO.
First Rain in Four Months-All
Irrigation There.
Impressions of Topekan at His
New Home.
THE EAST AT ZERO

The people in this beautiful city
awoke this morning after a refreshing
rain; the first water that has fallen in
ia days-nearly four months. A drouth
of this kind in Kansas in the growing
season would mean an almost total crop
failure. But here along the coast of
California it is somewhat different. r.
rigation cuts an important part.
The rainfall last night only amounted
to 10 of an inch. 1t commenced falling
about o'clock Sunday evening, when
people were returning from the sea-
shore resorts about twenty miles dis
tant. The clean asphalt streets were
torrents, but all seemed to enjoy it.
At one of the hotels guest came in
dripping and grinning. It's raining, ="
he shouted to a crowd in the lobby, and
every man. woman and child rushed
outdoors, letting the drops fall on them
in sheer joy. Even the tourists who are
only looking for sunshine and warmth
caught the enthusiasm for dampness
and rejoiced with the residents to whom
the rain meant more prosperity to all
classes. The wise ones say that plenty
of rain will now follow.
The January temperatures here aver
age from So degrees at 1900 a. m, up to
IS and so degrees during the day. The
weather is simply delightful.
have not seen a load Of coal since I
nave Deen mere, ABOUT i've VEGAS. A1OoA
people use a small gas stove to take off
the chill in the evening. I imagine the
coal barons in Kansas would suffer
here Gas is cheap. Csc per 1000 feet.
Rents and living are comparatively
high, depending a good deal on location,
quality and the size and fulness of ones
wallet. Potatoes retail for $1.50 bushel,
eggs forty cents dozen, creamery but
ter forty-five cents a pound Other
Vegeta bleS are REASONABLY cheap; straw
berries fifteen cents box, donates three
pounds for ten cents, and very fine;
peas, beans, cauliflower, ten cents a
pound, onions and radishes five cents a
bunch.
This is the opening of the orange
season. and this and next month the
big shipments are made east Good
navels can be bought on the street for
five cents a dozen. The Santa F'e runs
orange groves in southern California.
from San Bernardino to Pasadena. a
distance of about seventy miles. These
groves lie in the foothills of the Sierra
Nevadas and are all irrigated The
trees present a beautiful appearance
| loaded with the golden fruit The
ground is perfectly clean from weeds
and grass, and there are bitches be-
tween the rows for water when it is
required.
Los Angeles has a population of
about 10000 and is growing rapidly.
The streets are clean and the buildings
Il
give the reader an idea of the building
| that is going on: a score of hotels are
going up in different parts of the city
and as many modern business houses
nearing completion. Hundreds and
hundreds of dwellings ranging in price
from 81 900 up are under construction.
| The beautiful parks are filled with
tropical trees and flowers which are
now at their zenith of perfection. In
many of the parks are artificial lakes
for fishing and boating; also ZOOS which
| compare favorably with the one in Lin
1 coin park, Chicago. Gala lilies grow
profusely here and are seen in most
/ any part of the city. The roses are ex-
| quisite and of rare tints and colors
| The magnolia tree is at home here and
/ is just coming out with its beautiful
| cream colored buds. One thoroughfare
here named Magnolia avenue is lined
on both sides with these trees as far
as the eye can reach.
The winter tourist travel to south
ern California is unprecedented. Not In
/ the history of transcontinentaI travel
/ has business between Chicago and
/ California been as heavy as it is this
/ season. The bulk of the business is tC
] southern California Every train out
/ of Chicago says a special dispatch tc
/ the Los Angeles Examiner, is loaded tC
! its capacity. There is not an unreserve6
berth in the limited train of the Santa
Fe until February 5. The night train
on this road is also crowded at every
/ trip. Since last Monday there has not
been an unreserved berth IN the latter