The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-11-18
Tucson. ARIZONA. Nov. 0. l.

filled up with sand from the sand storms,
and the nearest settlement being so miles
from there, where l was operating. My
mission to this place was to meet boat
which we had chartered at $50 per day to
bring me down some machinery and pro-
visions from San Diego Cal, also bring
ing down an American to operate the
machinery. AS | had not seen an Amer
ican for over three months you may bet
| awaited the coming of the boat very
anxiously, although we were feasting on
quail, antelope and deer. The boat finally
came ami with it the American that was
looking for, so the rest of my stay on the
peninsula was not quite so lonely. The
only way of transportation they have In
that country is by pack burros and it
cost me at the rate of 500 per ton to
transfer my cargo the fifty miles TO camp.
That added to the chartering of the boat
and the import duties added to the first
cost of the goods makes operating ex-
penses very high, but the country is very
rich in gold, therefore my operations
down there have not been altogether un-
successful. They have delightful cli-
mate, the only drawback being the lack
OF rain, although they have no use for
rain as there is very little tillable land on
the peninsula They sometimes don't
have rain for several years. Some time
ago noticed by your paper that it had
not rsined in Forest county for four or
five weeks. 1t sounded rather strange to
me t1st the people should get alarmed at
that as have scarcely seen any rain for
two years, having been out of Les An
geles last year during the rainy season
and left this year before the rainy season
commenced. | don't know as there is
very much more that can tell you about
the peninsula that l did not tell in my
former letter. The climate is similar to
that of Southern California, but warmer.
The natives wear very little clothing, the
children wearing nothing until they are
seven or eight years old. While the days
are fine, the nights are glorious. Many
a time at night have laid in my blankets
and read month old newspaper with no
other light except the moon and stars.
l returned to Los Angeles the latter
part of May after riding some 1000 miles
on mule back, glad to get back to civili-
zstion. think that Los Angeles is the
garden spot of the world. / know the
impression one gets back east is that we
are way behind the times in everything,
but believe that it is equal to if not far
ther advanced than any other city in the
United States. The population has grown
from l02, 900 in 1900, to over 100000 at the
present time. They own their own water
system. Realizing that Los Angeles is
bound to be great city, they are at the
present time engaged in bringing the
Owens river from some 200 miles across
the Mojave Desert at cost of some $780,
600, 100000. This will give an abundance
of pure spring water for several million
people for domestic use, as we'll as for
manufacturing. 1t has been the means
of furnishing work for thousands of
people during the past hard times, which
otherwise would have suffered. They
have three artificial gas co npanies which
furnish gas at the rate of 75 cents per
thousand feet, and l believe we have one
of the best street car systems of any city
in the world. All the beach towns and
outside towns for 40 miles are accessible
| by electric cars 10 the city. Three great
railroads connect the city with the east
the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and the
Salt Lake. Only few years ago they
depended almost entirely on the touris,
trade for their revenues, but now thai
does not cut much figure, as they have 6
great many manufactures of all kinds
We can boast of some of the largest de.
partment stores this side of Chicago
The government IS building a new pos
office building at a con tract price of $780,
10000. There are great many beautifu
parks and pleasure resorts that would
keep one going most of the time should
|
on account of so many people coming
here with just enough to get them her,
and having to work at any price. Rents
are high and living expenses also. Will,
you can get vegetables, fruits and ber
ries the year round they are quite ex
pensive. One thing the easterners will
notice on arriving here is the floweri
which grow in abundance everywhere
that are grown in pots and priced very
highly by the easterner. While the city
is beautiful think that the suburbs fa
surpsss it with their immense orange
lemon, apricot and olive groves, the ali
laden with the perfume OF their blossoms
The fire red poppy fields on the mesi
lands and the high mountains in the dis
tance with their peaks covered will
snow, is a sight that one will never for
get. At the present time we are located
at Tucson, Arizona, for the winter. Tue
son is a ty ypical desert town of 1900 in
babitants. About one-hslf of the popu
lation are Mexicans. Americans, miners
Indians, COW boys and some COW girl
make up the balance of the population
While it gets very hot in the summe
time, they have delightful winters, bar
ring a sand storm occasionally. From
October to April they have scarcely an.
rain or frost. The days are mild and tn
nights cool.
In speaking of the resources and beau
ties of these countries l cannot refrail
from advertising my own goods, that is
Mr.. Wenk will permit. l am at the pres