Douglas Island news., 1904-02-24
Sunshine and Flowers.


 few lines to our many friends in far away Alaska, for we cannot deny that 24oo miles is long distance to the ones that are travelling. We are much pleased with our new location. It is indeed a land of sunshine and flowers. The rainy season is very late this year. Have had only two heavy rains since last April until last evening-with promise of 8 continued rainfall. Ranchers were becoming alarmed over the prospect of failure in email grain and feed for their stock.
 Mir. Carpenter Is feeling much better and is enjoying his protracted vacation immensely. He is under the doctors care, who pronounced his case ner- vous disorder, but with absolute rest for few weeks, he would probably re- gain his former strength.
 Our trip from Douglas to Pomona was
 made without any unpleasant occur rences. We stopped two days in Se- attle, but the weather was not condu- ciye to pleasure seekers, and we con- cluded to leave for Frisco sooner than we had intended to. At San Francisco we met our friends, Mir. and Mrs. John Willis. Mir. Willis was very kind and conducted us to number of places of interest, which included The U. s. Mint, The Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, The Chutes, Cliff House, and re- turn by another route which afforded us fine view of Golden Gate harbor. After three days touring the city, we left for Pomona on the evening of Dec. 17th, reaching our destination Friday afternoon. We met Mr. and Mrs. Gall was, of Douglas, on the train out from Frisco. They are spending the winter at Riverside, few miles from here.
 Had lovely visit with my sisters, who live on an orange ranch. They own . ranch of thirteen acres, and expect to harvest 45O0 boxes of oranges. The orange groves are beautiful. 1t is inn possible to convey to you the extreme beauty of the dark, glossy leaves, and the golden fruit which hangs in such profusion that many limbs are propped up under the weight, while others droop almost to the ground. The season for orange picking is we'll advanced; pick CTS receive IT. cents per hour; packing is done principally by ladies, who re- ceive 211S cents box. Some of the ex- pert packers mako on an average of S2.75 day, while the new hands work hard and cannot make $1.00 day. The orange market seems very uncertain and often causes great deal of uneas- mess to the parties most interested.
 Perhaps you would like to hear how we spent Christmas and New Years. On Christmas day party of us took our dinner, and cIambering onto tbs orange wagons, wended our way over rough, hilly roads, about eight miles from home, and had regular 4th of July picnic, under the shade of some large pepper trees in San Drinas canon. On New Years day ve attended the an nual Rose Tournament at Pasadena. The crowd was estimated at 5000 peo- pie. The parade was composed of par ties on horseback, carriages of all sizes and descriptions, automobiles and floats. Every horse and rider was gaily decked in flowers and streamsrS, while the greater part of the vehicles were entirely covered with decorations of flowers and greens.
 Jan. 2d Mr. Carpenter and myself Vis- Nsd Rev. and Mrs. Davies attheir home in Los Angeles. They are we'll pleased with Southern California Mr. Carpen- ter and Clarence went to San Diego and stayed few days. They met sev- eral old acqusintances from Colorado, and enjoyed their trip SO much that they expect to go again,
 Pomona is very prosperous little city of about 1000 inhabitants. 1t IS situated near the center of the orange Beity and IS on the main line from Los Angeles east, on both tho Southern Pa eific and Sait Lake railroads, with the fattering prospect of an electric line from Los Angeles, which is being sur- veyed and work progressing as rapidly as possible. The city is building up rapidly. Some handsome residences, and plenty of cheaper homes, can al-