The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-17
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Apple Ranches of the Pajaro Valley.
Glimpses of San Jose, Santa Clara, etc.
San Francisco, the Stricken City.

San FRANCISCO, the StIlCken Nlty.
CORRESPONDENCE of The Journal
Los. ANGELES, CALF, Jan. 2, 1907.
On December 26th after three weeks
visit in the beautiful little city of San
Ia Cruz, situated on Monterey Bay, we
left for San Francisco over the 'broad
guage" {standard) only SO called be-
cause of the narrow guage which runs
out of Santa Cruz to San Francisco,
bringing the two cities about 40 miles
nearer than the broad guage. 1t has,
however, been unable to run through
trains since the earthquake, because
many of its tunnels were caved in. 1t
is thought now that through trains will
be running by June 1st and they are
now making it standard guage. 1t is
very pleasant and interesting ride up
the coast line. We first came to the
Pajaro Valley, the largest apple grow
ing section in California, and l could
not keep from contrasting the apple
ranches as they are called here, with
the orchards in the east. The trees are
set, | should think, about IS feet apart
in perfect squares, so that looking
through either way the rows are per-
feet. The ground is free from weeds
grass, ETC., the trees pruned and kept IN
a healthy condition, and the result is
full crops every year. After leaving
the apple ranches we passed through
The Pajaro canyon and over the PaJaro
river. Next we came to the Santa
Clara valley, the greatest prune grow
ing section of the State. Here, almost
as far as the eye can reach, are prunes
trees. In the spring, when che trees
are in bloom the S. p. runs excursion
trains Just for the sight of them. we
soon come to San JOSE where the first
real traces of the earthquake are seen,
with the exception of fallen chimneys,
for there is hardly a house from Santa
Cruz to San Francisco that had CHM
mey standing on the 18th OF April. But
san Jose and Santa Rosa were badly
wrecked. Santa Rosa, of course, we
did nor see, but many traces, such as
large cracks in brick and stone build
ings, newly patched roofs and sheet
ron and tile chimneys, with which III
almost every case the brick chlmneys
were replaced, were to be seen every
where in San Jose. One wooden two
story dwelling house SO completely
wrecked chat it was past repair l no.
sized near the track as we passed. we
next came to Santa Clara, a beautiful
city. which | believe, did not fare as
badly as some Of her sister cities. We
soon came to Mt. Hamilton and the
Lick Observatory. 1t was nearly dark
then, but most of the points of inter
est had been passed.
We arrived in San Francisco at 6.35,
and stopped at the "Virginia,' nice
little hotel, just completed. After
dinner, although it was very dark
night. we were so anxious to get
sight of the ruins that we started out.
We went UP 3rd street eight blocks to
Market street, where on either side
little temporary buildings. On the
corner of 3rd and Market streets stands
the famous Call Building, which is one
of the few steel frame structures in
the city. 1t was injured so little by
the quake that if it had not been fire
swept very little damage would have
been done. 1t stands there now, 16
stories high, with large dome. In
that dome every night is bright light,
making one think of a grim sentinel
yet sending its ray of nope out to the
City of Ruins. AS the city is at present
so poorly lighted we could see very
little and soon returned to our hotel.
The next morning we started out to
see the sights, and sights indeed they
We're. No pen picture can describe the
situation. | only want to tell of tire
courage of those people and what they
have to contend with. Of course after
the terrible fire which burned until
Saturday they faced condition sell
dom met. Every place of business
gone, no water, 1oOu, or llghC, ana not
street car that could run and over
100000 homeless. Inose poor people
had to be fed for nearly three months
and now there are hundreds living in
rudely constructed camps. But the
worst thing they have to contend with
is the labor problem. Carpenters de-
mand So to S. per day; brick masons, 81
90 50; plumbers IS to $40, and even hod
carriers 81 to Sc. Is it any wonder that
the work goes on so slowly, with
strikes every day or so fer more wages?
We went to the city intending to stay
a couple of days, but one day was
enough, it has such depressing effect
on one. Yet on the other hand it is
perfectly marvellous the courage and
strength of those people They say