The Newtown bee., 1905-02-10
San Diego, Cal,
 February l, 1905. @

| FeDruary l, l9O0. A. P. Smith, Editor, My Dear Friend:
 This is an ideal day in Southern Cali
 fornia. While you are keeping warm
 by artificial heat we need nothing but
 the good old sunshine. The greatest drawback in this country is water.
 The soil is good and will produce any thing that can be produced in any part
 of the world, if it has water. The eli
 mate is considered the most equable of
 any in the United States or world, and
 we assure you, so much different from
 any we ever experienced, and far be-
 yond our expectation. It is hard for
 us to realize so much difference from
 our New England conditions of eli
 mate. San Diego as city is located in
 such way that it gives one great variety of scenery. University Park
 and Golden Hill are on an elevation
 400 to 500 feet above the Pacific ocean.
 This is the resident part. The business
 part is lower, being nearer the bay.
 This bay is about B feet deep, where
 the largest vessels in the world can
 make port. The United States train ing ship Buffalo is now anchored here for few days. It has about $50 young recruits besides the regular crew. There are many places of inter est to visit, which may be readily talk en in either by rail, boat or 'bus. At National City, adjoining San Diego, are many fine lemon groves. The only factory in the United States producing citron acid from the lemon fruit is To- cated here. They use ten tons of lem ons per day. This acid is made from the pulp and the oil from the rind. What makes the business of San Diego is principally the tourists, who come from all parts of the United States, thus avoiding the severe winter months in the East, West and North. This makes employment for many. They claim population of 0,0OO the city is laid out large. The sale of real estate has been good for the past two years and continues to be so. Building lots can be purchased from SlOO to S5OOO. Also building has been good, and continues to be. One can have built a five to six room bungalow for about $120O, already to move into in two months. We judge that the real estate business is foremost, at present, and are many at it. We find four national banks, two savings banks, one banking house or more. All do- ing good business. Mining in San Diego county is with bright prospects. As it is known to be rich in different ores: by what prospecting that has al- ready been done, but has not been de- veloped up very extensive as yet, there being only one line of railroad. Still there are two new lines surveyed and within short time will commence grading one. When these new lines are completed, it will make good open ings for the development of the min ing industries. This country it noted for it's precious stones. Already, the new gem, kunZite, is found at Pala, about 50 miles from here. Tbere are only two mines on earth as known, that are producing irstclass, we'll col ored kunzites Its color is pale to bril- liant, lilac and lavender. The stones cost per carat S15 to S25. This gem was first discovered in 1901, but did not become generally known until 1903. It was named in honor of pr George Kunz, who is recognized as the best au- thority on precious stones in North America. For recreation for many of the tourists is shell gathering, of which are found some very fine varie- ties. The most sought for is the beautiful Abalone, but it is no easy task to get them, and by the time one has pried up rocks, and rolled them over for about half day, they have we'll earned all they have found. The meat from these shells is of the most delicious kind of sea food. Coronado hotel is located just across the bay on Coronado Island on the Pacific Beach, which is considered one of the best up to-date equipped hotels in Southern California. To be appreciated, is to make a trip here. This is the hotel where the Raymond & Whitcomb ex- cursion parties stop. The second one of the season came in January 20, two car loads. Any one in the East, wish- ing to invest in real estate in San Die go can correspond with the Ralston Reality Co.,, S41 Fifth street. Yours truly E. c. Clark