Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-03-24
A Letter From Earle F. Crawford.
Pasadena, California,
March 9, 1911.

Editor LEADER,
Dear Sir: 1t occurred to me the
other day that l was asked, before
leaving Canton, to let the force hear
from u.s. We have been enjoying the
winter here greatly though it has
been colder than we expected. A fire
feels good In the early morning and
evening. We have had strawberries
all winter and fresh vegetables.
Flowers are growing in every yard
and children run around barefoot
great deal. The rainy season is now
on so it is not so pleasant. Later on
we expect to take in most of the side
trips around here and see more.
We had a pleasant visit with Mrs.
Gemmill and Miss Katherine at Long
Beach, one Sunday. Gertie also met
Mr.. Nylen on the street here recently
and also saw the Misses Williams of
Los Angeles. -
This is the mating season at the
Cawston ostrich farm south Of Pasa-
dena, and the large birds are very
am using to the hundreds of visitors
who 60 there. The male bird when
demonstrating his affection will swell
his throat up like a pouter pigeon, al
lowing the wind to pass through his
nostris, with his mouth closed, there
by causing very loud, kissing sound
About 200 chicks year are raised at
the farm, and after they are suffi-
ciently matured they are sent to
Sam Jacinto where they have ranch
for the surplus stock of birds, there
being about 1000 there now. There
is hardly day passes that some dis
turbance is not created by the birds;
in fact tights are quite frequent and
it keeps the attendants on the jump
continually to keep them separated
at such times for they can render
severe punishment to one another
with the powerful kick they carry in
either leg.
| The orange and lemon harvest has
been on since before Christmas and 1t
is record breaker exceeding by 5000
cars all former records. AS there are
about 140 oranges in box and about
400 boxes to car one Of the foremen
of the packing house here told me
the other day it would mean nearly
an even half dozen for every man, wo-
man and child in the United States.
The navels are now being packed and
shipments of this fruit will continue
until early summer when the move
ment of the Valencias, or late oranges
will begin and keep the world sup
piled until the navels again come into
bearing. Lemons are picked the year
around.
1t has taken nearly half of double
column in the papers every day to
give the names OF the thousands OF
tourists from all over the earth who
have registered at the three large
hotels here. We have two band con-
certs week at Central park and after
the 25th will have ,one every day by
the new municipal band. Roosevelt
will lecture here the 21st on his trip
to African game trails. Mt Lowe,
Mt Wilson and ''Old Badly" which is
1O,1 14O feet above the sea level, are all
visible from our front porch and have
been covered with snow the past
week.
Petroleum is used here for steam
raising, 81 barrels of oil being equiva-
lent to ton of coal, and the pro-
duction is increasing rapidly.
AS have used all of the tablet and
started on other paper guess it Is
time 1 stopped. We hope you will
soon be in the best OF health and
wish you could be here to recuperate.
Yours very truly
EARLE F. CRAWFORD.