Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-02-21
A SUCCESSFUL TRIP
TRAVELLED 10000 MILES

STOCKTON, CAL, Feb. Is, 1905.
DEAR FRIEND FoNTAINE: The
fates, the railroad companies, the
people and the climate of California
are treating me nicely. | have had
more than 10000 miles of transporta-
tion from these western roads, and I
have every prospect of getting back
home few pounds heavier than when
1 started, few more dollars in my
pocket, pleasant and profitable
experience, and with whole lot of
satisfaction.
1 start today for trip up the
Sacramento Valley, shall stop at a few
Of the hest towns and do some writing.
Thirty-three years ago, [ spent more
than one hundred consecutive days in
the saddle riding and exploring the
country around Mt. Shasta.
shall 90 north as far as British
Columbia, taking in Oregon and
Washington, putting 10 week along
the Columbia river and in Montana
and returning home by st. Paul.
There are many interesting things
to write about here. Many state
ments are made by writer's that are
true yet misleading. l feel the cold
here early in the morning as much as
ever did in Wisconsin. The air is
damp and decidedly chilly. This
morning as I raised my window and
looked out, was almost ashamed to
be found Shivering, as there were ripe
oranges on the trees and roses in
bloom close by.
But few eastern people understand
the California climate. The fact is
one can find any kind of climate
he wants. 1t is sold bv the square
foot. acre or section. II costs about
the same to live here as in Wisconsin,
Meat and all kinds of fruit and fresh
vegetables the year round are cheaper
here. But poultry, eggs. butter and
milk ale much higher. Clothing and
groceries about the same. Soft coal
about Sl2 per ton. The beef is all
grass fed, but of good quality. Much
Of the pork is attened on the second
crop of rai>in grapes One hundred
and fifty acres of grapes will fatten
two hundred head Of hogs. They are
turned in the vineyard after the
raisin grapes are gathered and harvest
the crop themselves. Figs are also
often used here for making pork
The raisin crop sold here this year at
two cents a pound, but the growers
claim that the dried raisins can be
produced at profit and sold at one
and one-half cents a pound. The
freight from California TO Denver,
Chicago or New York is all the same,
one cent pound for dried fruit
Wages here are generally good, but
at the present time, there is large
number Of men out of employment, in
fact have not seen as much in many
years of the tramp element as I find
here. The climate and conditions
here are all favorable to the tramp.
They are seen along the railroads and
public highway at all times of DAY or
night. While getting my dinner at
a restaurant last week, l had three
excellent opportunities to pay for
meal for the other fellow. These
conditions will change however with
the return of spring or summer.
If there are any common lahorers
out of employment in Grand Rapids,
l think they will do better looking for
job in Rudolph or Plover than COM
ing out here. There is however,
plenty Of employment here for good
printers, machiuistS, carpenters and
men along that line.
l will give you the raisin subject on
the installment plan, and just say that
this fruit is picked by the japanese,
who are preferred more than the
Chinese or white labor for this pur-
pose. They receive two and one-half
cents per tray for picking, and tray
holds twenty-five and one-half pounds
of grapes, yet these men earn from 50
to 81 per day at this rate. There are
excellent opportunities here for an
industrious man that is chuck full Of
days work to rent ralSin vine yard
of twenty or forty acres on shares.
One packing plant in this valley has
machinery sufficient to seed ten car
loads of raisins per day. This saves
One-tenth on the freight.
That California is a good place to
live, that it offers an excellent oppor-
tunlty to men of some capital and
much thrift and industry, is pain and
Self-evident. A. DECKER.
TO INCREASE