The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-20
TELLS OF WORK IN CALIFORNIA.


Salada Beach, Cal, Oct. 14.-To The
Forum: Thinking that some OF your
readers would be interested in hearing
from this part OF the state of CaIifor-
MIA, / will write you letter just as If
/ was writing to a friend; indeed j
am, for you have been a friend to me
and l look daily for your friendly Wis
its to my home on this beach. / left
L.aMoure the last of July and expected
to have returned to my church in the
prosperous county seat Of LaMoure
county, but the superintendent Of
church extension in San Francisco be-
ing an old friend, laid hands suddenly
on me contrary to the teachings OF an
ancient boog and said, you are the
man for an important new work just
opening in San Mateo county, south OF
the great city," Well, was not dis
obedient to the vision" or call, so /
took up the work the first Of Septem-
Der. 1t was with deep sorrow that /
bade adieu to the very pleasant people
and associations Of LaMoure to as
sumo harder and more discouraglng
field. have all the territory from
Frisco to Half Moon bay, a distance
OF twenty-five miles along the Ocean
Shore railroad, the grandest scenery
have ever witnessed. This railroad
runs right along the ocean. In places
you look straight down 100 feet to be-
hold the great breakers OF the mighty,
restless ocean. In this territory there
are springing UP as many as thirteen
towns. / do not believe In the theory
Of the old man out west. as the story
goes, who wanted to buy four dozen
eggs to put under his setting hen
When told that was too many, he said:
II want to make the hen spread her
self" Well, am not trying to do this,
so I am occupying three Of the largest
towns, Salada, Moss Beach and Gran
ada, thirteen miles apart. The work
Is strictly pioneer work, no church
buildings In any of these towns. This
viii be a surprise to eastern people.
Let me describe my initial service
In each Of the towns. At Salada
beach, which is only eight miles from
San Francisco. We had our service In
the Wayside Inn. two blocks from the
ocean. The ladies had decorated I'll
with evergreens and beautiful flowers,
but the pulpit was a stone box. The
equipment for the service was a Bible.
that's all. The forty-two present great
ly enjoyed the service. At Moss
beach, nine miles south, we held the
service in the railroad depot, and Ii
proved to be too small for we had for
ty-eight inside and twenty-five per-
sons went away because there was no
room for them. At Granada, still
south, we held the service in a hotel
and number Of people could not find
accommodations Since we have se-
cured the depot The question natur-
ally arises, Why has this country not
been settled up years ago. being so
close to San Francisco? No transpor-
tation is the answer It has only been
year since the railroad was complet-
ed But 1t has a great future. This
beach, with It's ideal climate fishing
and bathing will be to San Francisco
what Long Beach Ia to Los Angeles.
Lots that sold at Long Beach for $3.50
two years later resoId for sos, 900 and
$40. 600 But must not give any more
figures or some one viii say that i
am a real estate agent instead Of a
Tt I had money / would invest IL In
property here. but alas. / am much
as my Master whom 7 serve. 80 poor
that ne could say, "Tha foxes have
Son Of Man hath no where to lay his
head" But III any Of my friends in
North Dakota wish TO find q splendid
place to spend the winter, let them
come to this place.
Merchant .. Riddle.
------~-----~