The Newtown bee., 1904-07-01

OA l, 19O4.- EN Al of governor of the early padres, and in an outer crypt lie the remains of the first Roman Catholic bishop of California. They still hold large area Of the original mission ranch which the Fathers till, as did those of old, or else supervise the work as done by others, and live as nearly as possible in the shadows of the past. A short distance from the old mission stands a fine four story building of stone, whose modern architecture is in strange con- traSt to that of the old relic of the past. This is used as a preparatory school for those who intend to fit to enter the priesthood. An extensive flower garden, with also great vari- ety of shrubbery, is most attractive place of resort for the Fathers in which to while away many a quiethour. We spoke at the outset of Santa Bar bara as an old town. So it is, as his tory tells us that Spanish navigator visited it in 1543, and that anothe Spanish navigator, 'Vizcaino, named the channel Santa Barbara because he entered it on St Barbara s day, Decem- Der 4, 1903. For 24O years it was vir- tually under Spanish rule, for it was not until 1s46 that Gen John 0. Ere mont entered with the United States troops and
 UNFURLED THE STARS AND STRIPES above an adobe building upon the plaza. The adobe building that he made his headquarters is still we'll preserved, and has been recently taken in charge by the Historical society for preservation. We visited the most important points of interest in the three days we were there. We went to the house of Don Jose de la Guerra ye Noriega, the disputado to King of Spain in 1900. In his day, it was the most stately house in Santa Barbara. It still occupies the old site on La Guerra street and all visitors are told they must not fail to See it. Of course we sought, and found an adobe 150 feet in length of one story, with two wings of 100 feet each, and a wide court opening upon the street. A lady de- scendant was in the open, watering flowers. She kindly led the way in. and showed us things curious to us. Thereare many old adobe buildings in the city with roofs of tile, that are evidently left as relics of the past. Santa Barbara of to-day is well built, bustling city in semi-valley sloping from the Santa Ynez range of noun tains southward to the shore of the ocean. Being on the main line of the Southern Pacific the means of exit and entrance are good. Fine steamers of the Pacific Coast Steamship con- pany give water communication with north and south and there is steamer every other day. The city has a fine electric service of street cars. The city's water is from artesian wells and through tunnel that pierces the mountain range to the depth of mile, furnishing the purest of water. It's yearly average rain fall is IT inches. All land turned to the raising of fruit is irrigated, but the immense ranches that are turned to the raising of hay and pasture depend entirely on the depth of m oisture left m the soil by the winter rains, and the morning fogs that come off the ocean in the early summer. But little alfalfa is grown, for that would need irrigation. Hay is made from barley, oats or wheat cut when green and cured. have been told they make the stock wear green goggles so that they will think they are eating hay made from grass, but the horses look so intelligent it is hard to believe such statementl The soil is exceedingly responsive to cultiva- tion. As it was already cut, cured and in cocks ready for carting the quanti- ty on the ground was immense. It commands a ready market at home and abroad, and as rule is baled in the field and carted off as needed. It can stand out in the open until Mo- vember with no fear of drop of rain. Corn is grown quite extensively along the coast, and it reminded us strongly of home, to ride alongside of fields of corn. It is tasseling out now, and at the same time more is being planted on ground where potatoes have just been cleared off. They raise two crops of potatoes a year here, planting for the spring crop (which they are now digging) in January, and again plant ing now, for the crop to harvest in December. Corn planted now will mature in November. A greater va riety of crops can be raised along the coast than in the interior. l am now speaking of Southern California. All kinds of citrus fruits can be raised here that can be grown outside the torrid zone; even bananas are grown
 and we drove past one banana ranch,
 while the thousands of acres groanine under their burden of fodder crops
 will make New Englander raise his
 hands, and say: Oh my! Go where one
 will there are beautiful drives, and Santa Barbara is no exception.
 One of the most popular is the
 Mountain drive of some 12 miles, en
 tering in upon it near the old mission !