Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-06-28
A LETTER FROM DECKER

cisco. You have read and re-read
from more able pens of this calam-
ity. Yet you will never under
stand or comprehend the extent OF
this loss by any picture of pen or
camera. The combination of cir
cumstances that caused San Fran
cisco's plight was unique among
world disasters. : d, Francisco is
by no means destroyed. The
lesson taught by Chicago and
Baltimore has not been forgotten.
So far as shipping facilities go
both by rail and water, the city to-
day is almost as good as it ever
was. The fire destroyed its entire
business section and large part of
It's residence district covering $50
blocks, or squares, comprising
about one-sixth of its entire area.
But it is of the rebuilding of San
Francisco that we should write
and think and hope.
1t was a sight terrible to behold.
Over the twisted city streets, over
the heaps of broken brick, tangled
wires, and debris scurrying over
the blackened ruins, my wife and |
walked and rode and gazed for two
days. Caste and social standing
are nothing now. 1t is no time to
pick ones company. it is con-
fusion made up of everything and
everybody. Every characteristic
known to the human body and
mind is on parade. The beggar is
there and his twin brother, the
fakir. The earmark ofthe CRATER
is also visible in the City Hall.
Everybody has story to tell Of
his or her experience. With and
without invitation, they pour their
tales of woe into our ears. 1--WE
lost everything, just saved what
clothes we've got on our backs"
was the preface of story which
began with the rocking of the
earth, followed by nights spent in
the parks and hours of dreary
standing in the bread line. Of
these stories, volumes could be
written.
AS in all great disasters similar
to that which befell San Francisco,
humor and pathos, happiness and
sorrow, are ever side by side. In
the. unburned residence portion
much of the cooking is still done
on the streets and it is amusing at
times to watch the multitudes at
mealtime. In Golden Gate Park.
there are thousands of people still
living in tents and temporary
board houses.
AS to the rebuilding of San
Francisco, no one can speak with
any degree of certainty. That it
will be rebuilt in plain and self
evidents but the time required and
the material to be used is uncertain.
San Francisco will be one of the
busiest as we'll as one of the busiest
places in United States for some
time to come. When the proper
time arrives, large army of work
men will be required but at present
California and the Pacific Coast
generally is fairly well provided
with skilled mechanics and there
can be no room here for the idler
or the man who drifts and trusts
only to his wits for living.
Stockton is splendid little city.
The best characteristic of this
locality is that the fortunes that
were made in early days have been
used for the up-building of this city.
The railroad magnates turned their
survey toward Stockton and
harnessed the town to the COM
mercial wheels of the world. AS a
resident point Stockton is abreast
of the age in natural beauty and
modern advantages. The streets
and yards are densely shaded with
magnificent fruit and ornamental
trees. 1t is first and last a city of
homes.
The olive industry is more or
less prominent in the surrounding
country. There is no tree on the
Pacific Coast that yields surer and
a longer return than the olive. An
olive tree in its prime will produce
about two hundred pounds of
olives per year which will yield
about four gallons of olive oil worth
from two and halfto three dollars
per gallon.
The vineyard, however, is taking
the lead over all other industries
in this part ofthe state. There are
more than sixteen thousand acres of
bearing vineyard in this country
alone. Ofthis amount about seven
thousand acres are growing grapes
for the winery producing on an
average about seven hundred gal
Ions of wine per acre which brings
fourteen cents per gallon at the
winery. The table grapes are
largely shipped to eastern markets.
They produce about three hundred
crates per acre of forty pounds each
which sell for one dollar per crate.
These vineyards sell for from two
hundred fifty to three hundred
dollars per acre but will often pay
for themselves in single season.
The wheat produced here is Of an
inferior grade. The prune orchards
are proving somewhat Improbable
so that no orchards are being
planted. In travelling through this