The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-05-03
Interesting Letter From Former
Resident of Paw Paw.
Kelseyvile, Lake Co, Cal, Boz

Mrs Maggie Hedger, has just finished a
visit of some three weeks with her
mother, Mrs Olive Steel living one half
mile from the friends with whom | am
at present stopping, and returned to her
home ia South Haven, / thought that
some might be interested in letter
from "The Switzerland of America as
this county is called. This is my excuse
! for asking for space in the columns of
your paper wherein to insert a short
letter,
This county is one of the most unique
in all the state of California, being en-
tirely surrounded with mountains and
no way to enter the county other than
by stage ride over the mountains, no
matter from what direction you wish ac-
cess to the towns of the county. There
are but five towns in all the county, and
Kelseyville is in the center and the larg-
est, both In size and commercial advan-
tages, though it is not the county seat
1t is located within four miles of Clear
lake. a BODY Of water in the center of the
county % miles long and six miles wide
whereon ply many steamers during the
summer for the benefit of the patrons OF
the springs and other health resorts for
which this county is noted far and wide.
The lake is full Of mineral springs that
can be seen bubbling and sparkling on
the surface of the water. One of the
most charming resorts on the lake is
Soda bay four miles from Kelseyville)
which derives its name from a wonder
full soda spring bubbling up fully two
feet above the surface OF the lake. Kel-
SEVILLE is located at the foot of Mount
! Konoceti, which is so close that ii appar-
emily overshadows the town. 1t is 1888
feet above sea level, and its imposing
grandeur calls out all that is artistic in
| the mind of the beholder for the first
| time. 1t rises almost perpendicularly
| from the waters of the lake over 1000
feet, and forms a peninsula into Clear
, lake almost dividing the upper from the
lower end. From the top of Konoceti in
clear day the waters of the Pacific
ocean can be discerned rolling upon the
beach of Mendocino county to the west,
to the north the vision rests upon Snow
mountain, the highest mountain in the
county, 1000 feet above sea level, to the
south is Mount Cobb, $500 feet above
sea level, and to the east is Bear noun
tain, part of the Coast range The
view from the top of Konoceti is one
which is unexceled in any other county
of the state. This county is but % miles
wide and 70 miles long. Not alone is
this county noted for its unparalleled
scenery and it's many medicinal springs,
but also for the excellence of the fruit
raised, among which is the far famed
Bartlett pear. Space will not allow an
extended article as to Lake county and
its many advantages, but suffice it to
say that 1T has attractions also with its
advantages such that it would be we'll
for those coming to locate in California
| to consider ere purchasing elsewhere.
During the month of March it rained
nearly the whole month through. So
extensive was the rainfall that for weeks
! the inhabitants were shut in from the
outside word Even the mail could not
get in for weeks, and when 1T did finally
come, it was in a roundabout way, and
| then only the letters came and those
only at intervals. There is no railroad
/ in all the county, and the stage road to
| the railroad being impossible, there was
no other way but to wait for the wa .ers
! to subside. Even the freighters could
not get over to the railroad to get the
! freight that had come that far for the
merchants here, and for a time provi.
sions were very low in quantity, but
ascending in price. Flour jumped up
/ 20 cents a sack and there was but little
to be had even at that advanced price.
But what made the situation far worse
Was the washout of some thousands of
feet of the railroad and a cave.in in one
of the tunnels on the same railroad, es.
topping both passengers and freight get
ting even to our railroad station. How
ever, with all this discomfort there was
no loss of life, nor was the property loss
so great as elsewhere in the state
But all this is now changed, for the
dry season is at the doors, the fruit trees
are In blossom, the trees Of the forest
are clothed in green, and amidst the
branches thousands of beautiful oirds
of every hue are filling the air with song.
The sun shines brightly during the day,
while the nights are lighted by the moon
as in no other place, making the nights
one beautiful poem of silent grandeur to
that extent that oft in the Silly night
one feels that he is treadng in the balls
Of Nature, where only those whose as.
pirations are of the highest ADD purest
are allowed to wander amidst its sylvan
| beauties.
| will be pleased to answer any letters
of inquiry, to the extent of my limited
ability, as to this place, when stamps Are
enclosed for answer.
ARTHUR G. EVERETT, n. NJ.