The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-11-28
.ROBT. DOAK'SLETTERs|
Interesting Description Of People
And Places.
San Diego, Cal.

Dear Herald Family: The daily Wis
its OF the Herald are worth more to
me than all the sunshine of southern
California. There were several days
somewhat mixed up. received five
papers in one day, but | now get one
every day. four days old, and they
look older when l get through with
them. The letters of the Herald cor.
respondents were never so interesting
as now, so don't fail to gather all the
news. made a drive of eighteen
miles few days ago down to Old
Mexico to Tia Juana pronounced Te-
wana); there partook of a French
dinner of quail, rabbit, hot tamales,
rice and beans, and what they called
coffee. The price was fifty cents, a
nickle would have been good price
for what | ate
The country between San Diego
and Tia Juana is not of the best, put
some good lemon ranches we passed
on the road were loaded with lemons
and some fine gardens of all kinds of
vegetables growing nice and green.
San Diego Bay is eighteen miles
long. Our drive was near the bay
for about twelve miles. / have
changed my rooming quarters to the
Concordia Apartment .. House, Room
H. and have pleasant room at $3.50
per week. There are a man and his
wife from Traer, Tama county, Ia,
rooming at the same place, very nice
people.
Out at Point Iowa.
Today, .oy. Is, went to Point Iowa.
There were eighteen in the wagon,
five seated and four horses. We went
around the north end of the Bay and
angled until we were at the top of the
mountain. The first place of interest
was Mrs. Singleys ranch of 1000
acres where the Theosophical Insti-
tute and government wireless station
are located. From the heights of
Point Iowa an unsurpassed view of
mountains, ocean, hills, islands, bay,
peninsulas and city of San Diego Is
obtained, and Fort Rosecrans, the
light house, large mulberry orchard
where the silkworm makes silk that
more than likely is worn by Iowa lad
les, after it has been manufactured.
On the return trip we visited the
first church built in California, the
marriage place of Ramona, Spanish
cemetery, the Oldest in California,
fenced in with adobe wall, which is
partly standing, and the first prison
built in California, on the Pacific coast.
Here we viewed a large stone marking
the place where General Fremont
raised the first American flag, on July
30, 1916. Also the home of old Gen.
Stockton, and the site of old Fort
Stockton, the first fort to fall during
the Mexican war. The church where
Ramona was married is an adobe and
is protected by frame and weather.
boarding around it. Two bells hang
there said to be over $50 years old.
French Cruiser in Harbor.
A French Cruiser came into the
harbor here Nov. and will take coal
before leaving. There is talk OF the
U. s. feet landing here soon, but 4
think that is mostly talk, for talk is
very cheap here. Take the tourists
and the real estate men out of San
Diego and the city would be very
quiet.
There are many large business
hut 10 n.
ing done in Oskaloosa than in this
city of $4,000. 1t has a fine climate.
Aside from that it has been overesti-
mated. Long Beach is my choice OF
California. Redlands, Riverside, Los
Angeles, Whittier or Santa Monica
are all ahead of this, other than eli
mate. '.
Chas. V. Hoffman, requested me to
look up Omer C. Smith. I found by
the directory that he lived at TIA Lo-
gan Ave. and l called. omer was out
of the city on his ranch, having some
work done. | met Mrs. Smith and de-
livered c. VS. message. They have
a very pleasant home in the quiet
part of the city.
J. B. Harris met man who former
ly lived at Indianapolis, Ia, by the
name of Johnson. He is in the under
taking business here and is brother
of Bob Johnson, who was sherin of
Keokuk county, once.
Heated With Gas.
Nov 10. This is a fine day of sun
shine. Stoves or fires of any kind
are very scarce in rooming houses.
The cookin, is done mostly on gas
oline stoves. The lady of the house
has a gas stove in the parlor and
heats it by attaching small rubber
hose to the gas jet and the other end
in the stove. That makes the room
comfortable. We we're invited in to
spend the evening. Three gentle
men and their wives and some chill
dren and the piano and the small
heater made it look homelike and
cheerful, as home should be. But
as news is not very plentiful and for
fear of worrying your patience in try
H. 40 raod fbfc I will a10ca with