Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-02-05
WESTERN LETTER.
No. z

/ EDITORS NOTE-This letter wa.
| partially finished when Mrs. Wabste,
met with her accident and was com
pleted from her dictation. The letter
was long and will be continued next
week
Editor of the Monitor:
Soon after leaving Santa Barbara
/ We come to Summerland where are
located the Ocean oil wells. I had
seen quite thickly settled portion of
the city of Los Angeles, disfigured by
Oil derricks rearing their ugly heads
In the midst of pretty homes. But
this was more singular sight, to see
them both on shore, and extending
quite distance out into the ocean,
That any one should conceive the
idea of probing the ocean bottom for
oil shows how fertile of resource is
the Ameri can mind. From here on
to San Blenaventura the railroad fol-
lows the shore closely. On the right
the waves of the Pacific gently lash
the shore, while on the left rise lofty
hills. San Buenaventura is noted for
It's fine old mission, and it's vast bean
fields. About nine miles below is OK
ird, where is located the largest beet
sugar factory in the West. We saw
large fields of sugar beets not vet
harvested, the 28th of November.
They used a plough to loosen them
from the soil. One other novel and
interesting sight was large pigeon
ranch, where thousands of them are
raised for market. How such vast
numbers could be kept together with
out any apparent hindrance to their
roaming seemed quite remarkable.
Arrived in Los Angeles about noon
OF the same day. Here another
friendly face greeted our arrival, o.
w. Orcutt, formerly of South Barton.
later of St. Johnsbury, and now a FIVE
years resident of South Pasadena.
California. We accompanied him to
his home where we passed a week
very pleasantly, celebra ting our Ma
tlonal Thanksgiving Day by dining
with the Verm onters of that section
at Hotel Capitola. There were thirty
eight OF US in all. The growth of Lbs
Angeles mum 9rically and financially
within the past eight years is somt :
thing phenomenal, the population
now being estimated at 10000 doub-
ling itself in ten years Or less. Prob
ably it's increase in wealth is proper
tionally much greater. But cities.
like individuals, do not always grow
symetricalIy pleasing while on the
wave of rapid prosperity. With su ;h
a large business growth, and the ten
dency of business houses to move up
town, some dwelling houses must
needs be torn down, and others re-
moved whole or in sections MANY
blocks above, consequently it would
give this section torn up and dirty
aspect. But why the streets where
these changes are not going on should
look so neglected and unkempt, and
the Westlake Park which was the
glory and pride of the city eight years
ago, and now so run down and poorly
cared for as to make visit to it act
ually painful to those who saw it at
it's best, and some of the unsanitary
conditions there menace to. the
health of the community. We thought
the parks among the chief attractions
of the city. before its rush for num-
bers and wealth, and the Westlake
the ideal one as being easiest of ac-
cess, where one could spend an hour
or day most delightfully."-. The East
lake Park farther away is somewhat
better cared for. The Elysian of five
hundred acres, still farther out, was
only partially developed eight years
ago, and is in the same con liti On still.
Here. nature has done her share in
making great variety OF scene,
forest, dale and hill, commanding far
reaching and beautiful views. The
Griffith Park of three thousand acres
is as yet undeveloped; and as an on
locker or resident, should advise that
it remain SO until the Ovens River
water supply becomes an accom-
plished fact. Three large par; with
several small ones make a good sup
ply until the city attain a much larger
Continued on third nnoe.