The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-12-08
LOCAL AFFAIRS
CALIFORNIA AS 1T IS.

way from California into Easter
homes is misleading in many respects
and one has to revise his preconceiveC
notions, after spending a few weeks ir
and general business conditions which
prevail here at the present time.
The soil of this Western Empire js
very unlike the land in Connecticut
and is far more difficult to cultivate
being Of a hard, adobe nature. Wher
free from moisture it is almost impos
sible to run a pillow through it, anC
when sOftened by the fall rains it be-
comes pliable and as sticky as a sheet
of fly paper to a f1y's foot. 1t is very
rich, however, and will produce phe.
nomenal crops, when properly irrigate
and cultivated. Under equally favor.
ing conditions the soil Of the East will
produce almost as many vegetables tC
the acre as is the average yield here,
and with considerable less labor. The
more tender vegetables, however. such
as tomatoes, beans, ETC., thrive best Cd
California soil.
Now, as touching the climate, South
ern California is, indeed, the garden
spot of the world, and l confess that
do not command fitting words with
which to convey to your readers real
| iStic picture of the beauties thereof.
| Sort ana Dalmy as q DAY In June,
Sky azure blue, and atmosphere perfumed.
| With the faint odor Of many:tinted flowers :.
Waited from myriads OF sweet-scented
The climate of Southern California
is something that must be felt to be
appreciated. 1t is unlike any other
climate in the world, If we may belle We
the statement OF those who have trav-
eled much. and it proves so fascinating
to the great majority OF Fasteners
who spend a winter here, that they
ever after prefer to make this their
permanent abiding place. There are
| very few days in the year when the
sun doesn't shine, as most of the rain
storms occur in the night. And when
the sun shines there is seldom a dis
agreeable chill in the air, and children
play out of doors the year around and
thrive as they could not under weather
Hence the child of California is
healthy, robust, and develops at an
early age, and one cannot find fairer
type of womanhood anywhere under
the Stars and Stripes than we have
| here on exhibition every day In Los
Angeles.
Then again there is mistaken no.
tion about the meaning of the term,
'rainy season." among Eastern people.
| Many have an idea that the state of
california is subject to six months of
clear, dry weather and six months of
almost continuous precipitation of
oSitiOn is correct-frOm May to No
vember there is sure to be no rain to
speak Of, the so.called rainy season be-
ginning about November l, and con-
tinuing until April. But do not labor
under the mistaken impression that it
rains all the time during this season.
On the contrary, rain may not fall
more frequently than it does in the
East from March to June, and as near
ly every rain storm comes up at even
ing, the days are almost invariably
sunny and delightful all through the
winter months, so much so that all of
the harder varieties of vegetables
grow, thrive and mature in the open
air during the winter period as in the
spring.
1t Is as yet mystery why at least
80 per cent Of the tourists from beyond
the Rocky Mountains choose Los An
geles as their objective point, but such
seems to be the fact, and as result
there has been phenomenal boom in
real estate in this city for two or three
years. New houses are going up by
the hundred, in all parts of the city,
and real estate agents are doing
thriving and profitable business. The
method Of constructing California
house is entirely unlike the methods
in vogue in the East. From founda-
| tiOn to the top brick on the chimney,
the structure is flimsily built. And
| the Eastern carpenter who secures a
job here has to revise his customary
mode of dwelling-house construction.
The prevailing style of house in this
city is called a "bungalow. Here the
people have the advantage of living in
a climate in which they can live out
of doors throughout the greater part
of the year; consequently in such
climate house of comparatively cheap
construction, but having spacious
interior, can be occupied in winter as
we'll as in summer. The California
bungalow is a low house, generally with
spacious interior, land having striking
architectural effects, and a special
fitness for people of some taste living
in a country like California, where
economic conditions favor inexpensive
and fragile construction. The designs
might well be copied by Connecticut
people, for then the tired housewife
| would not be compelled to climb a
flight Of stairs day after day in the
performance of her household duties.
The porches are usually we'll shaded,
and rough stones are used for the
chimneyS and visible foundations more
often than brick. These houses sell
for from $500 to $4,000, including a
lot As or so by $50 feet, and rent for
from S18 to 1875 month.
The city of Los Angeles is about 20
miles long and equally as broad. Its
population is estimated at between
2OO,O and 25O,OOO. Its schools are
numerous and we'll attended, likewise
it's churches, in the pulpits of which,
from Sunday to Sunday, may be heard
some Of the most eloquent preachers
in the country.
But l am already trespassing upon
your space, and reserve further COM
ment until future time.
very truly yours,
A. f. KNOX.
Ii. N. Tiemann Of New Rochelle, N.
y, was caller at The BEE office,
Friday. Mr. and Mrs Tiemann dined
at the Grand Central hotel, Friday.
Mrs Frank Mitchell is spending a
few days in Waterbury
Miss May Hoyt, who is attending
,, the Syracuse university at Syracuse,
N. v, spent the holiday vacation with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs John E. Hoyt,
on Mile Hill.
George w. Northrop has sold e
acres Of timber to the New England
Lime Co. 1t is located in Hog Swamp
Miss Phoebe Carey, Martin Carey
: and John Scully of Ansonia were