Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-04-23
illfik Eksa CALIFORNIA
'ditor Of Highlahd Recorder,
Monfarci,, To
Monterey Va.

Monterey; Va.
Dear Sir, Eyer since | returned
from the East, last year, | have in
tended to write you a short letter.
but | have neglected the task.
receive your paper here at this
Office every Wednesday, and will
say that coming so far | have miss
ed but few copiess. | am always
glad to get the news from old High
land, although there are but few |
know, having been gone from there
for so many years.
AS for California, think it is the
grandest place in the world. There
is any and all kinds of employment
here, and Eastern capital is fast
coming here to avoid the cold win
tiers and seek the sunny climes.
We will have Il large crop of all
kinds of grain this year. The de-
ciduous fruit crop will be very
large, giving employment to thous-
ands of women and children, for
here all do this work. Any child
twelve to fourteen years of age can
make 81 so to 81. 100 per day work
ingin green fruit; and l will say
for this reason, California has a law
that does not permit the hiring Of
any child under the age Of Is years
during the school term, which is
eight months.
Ihe orangs crop was good this
year, and the growers received q
fair price. Orange trees are now in
full bloom and their fragrance can
be had for miles around. There
are ripe oranges and blossoms on
the tree at the same time, making a
beautiful picture to any Fastener
who has never seen the like.
Stock of all kinds is generally
nigh, especially mules and mich
COWS. Tie dairy business here is
very profitable, and net income
of 1000 to $500 per month can
easily be made on one good COW.
Wages on the farms are from So
to $50 per month for common la
Dor, and one can work every day
if he wishes. Carpenters make S.
per day of eight hours; blacksmiths
S4 per day, nine hours; brick ma
ssons So per day, eight hours, and
so on down the line of labor. The
Unions are very strong here, and
strive hard to keep UP the wages.
Haying season started April LIST
and will continue until November,
generally cutting four crops of al
falfa each year. There is a large
crop of wild oats here this year
which is very much the same as
the tame oats in Virginia. 1t makes
fine hay and is in season at this
time of the year. Wheat harvest
ing will begin the latterpart of May
and continue until September, if all
cannot be harvested before that
time
We have. at Porteryille, several
former citizens of Highland county,
who are all getting along nicely and
seem contented.
Bernie Crowley, of Mcdowell, is
clerking in store at Strathmore,
near this city. Bernie was recently
married and is doing well. He no
longer sings: Garry Me Back to
Old Virginia, for he won the hand
of a native daughter and is here to
stay.
John Hook, son of the late Mil
ton Hook, is superintendent OF &
large stock farm.
Grover Leach is driving a twelve
mule team on a ranch near here.
Cameron Siron and wife, lately
arrived here, are employed by FL.
NJ. Keister.
Miss Louie Siple also lives in this
city, and says Virginia has lost it's
charms for her. She is the picture
of health.
SO we have some Virginians here,
and at any time should any more
come, remember that we are of
Southern blood, and hospitality, is
the keynote to our affections.
Trusting you will find space for
at least part of this letter, and
that it may be of some interest to
those who asked me personally to
waite, will close with a fond re-
and my best wishes to
"Old Highland county"
Respectfully,
H. M. Keister.
Porterville, Cal, april 10, 1909.