The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-03-03
/ NEWSy LETTER
FROM CALIFORNIA
Dr.. E. W. Curle. a Former Citi-
zen of This County. Writes
Interestingly From the Pa.
cifc Slope.
Kingsburg. Cal, Feb. 10, 1906.

Kingsburg, CAL, Feb. 10, 1906.
Editor Sentinel: :-Thinking few
lines from the far off "Oxident"
would prove of passing interest to you
and your many readers, and remem-
bering too, that have some unan-
Swered questions from my friends
there in reference to this section OF
California, will undertake to answer
these, and give general idea OF con-
ditiOnS as / see them here.
Kingsburg, my present home, is To-
Gated on the southern border OF treS-
no county. twenty-one miles south Of
Fresno, the county seat, which, by the
way, is the center Of the raisin indus
try of the ''San Joaquin Valley. y
We are about 227 miles south Of San
Francisco, and 247 miles north Of Los
Angeles, 100 miles east of the Pacific
ocean, and the same distance west of
the summit of the great "Siera Neva-
da moutains," although as look
from my office window, they seem
only a couple of hours drive in bug
gy, away.
The rugged grandeur and inimita-
BILE beauty that meets the eye and
charms by their endless variety is be-
yond description. Much Travelled
tourists say they are not equalled
anywhere in the world. But | am
DEPRESSING. l will say, however, Il am
a crank about mountains" but | will
come down now into the San Joa-
quin Valley" commencing about rs
miles north of Los Angeles and join
ing with the Sacramento Valley, COW
ering distance of about 400 miles by
over 60 miles wide.
Now as to health, business, schools,
churches, people, each very large
subject within itself, | can mention
only in a general way. In regard to
health, | have never known county
in which the people are freer from
physical trouble. A doctor remarked
here the other day that he
thought The millennium was about
on, "but he added sadly, mot for the
doctors. Business is good, say the
merchants.
In this community, possibly four
fifths of the people are SwedeS or of
Swedish decent. Thrifty, upright,
morose. intelligent and religious peo
pie. They have five prosperous chur-
ches, and nice houses Of worship.
They hold to their native tongue in
their homes, and teach it to their
children. Church services as a rule,
in their own language. Most Of them
speak English very well. En-
glish alone is taught in the public
schools. The California School Sys-
tenn is as fine as any in the Union.
Mr.. Editor, let me say if you love
music melody you ought to hear the
country men and women of Jenny
Lynd" sing; not "operatic music" but
clear sweet tones, elevating, refining,
soul-entrancing melody. But here l
am, switched off again. Dairying
pays well, and many people are en-
gagged in the business.
The poultry business is engaged in
very generally and sometimes on d
large scale, as much as $4,000 and
even $50, 900 being invested in one
farm or chicken ranch.
Some grain is raised. but lands are
too valuable near towns or cities for
this. Alfalfa hay is very profitably
raised, and generally SO in connection
with the dairy farming. But the
most profitable and generally followed
business is fruit farming" includ-
ing most kinds Of fruits, grapes, figs
and raiSinS. A ten or twenty acre
fruit or vineyard ranch, properly
iopked after, will support good sized
family handsomely.
My letter has grown much larger
than ] intended and will close, with
kind wishes to the editor and family,
and with the request to send The Sem
tinel to me for twelve months. / send
$3.50, do not know your subscription.
You can send bill. l am,
Very truly yours,
e. w. CURLE.