Milford chronicle., 1912-07-19
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Long Beach, Cal. July 8th, 1912.

Long Beach, Cal, July Sth, 1912.
A letter from California may interest
some of your readers and from one who
had spent so many pleasant years in and
having such strong ties to your beautiful
city.
some months ago we paid avisit to our
son in Monterey going on the coast line
of the South Pacific R. R.. round trip
of over 800 miles. The road is so close
to the ocean we could have tossed stone
from the car window into it. We had a
splendid view OF the Pacific for hundred
miles or more as the train sped along the
shore. The road runs through the Salinas
Valley, one of the sugar beet growing
sections of California. At Salinas, the
capitol of Monterey County, is the largest
sugar beet factory in the world. Every
season more than 2OO, 600 tons of beets
so into this factory, coming out in the
form of the finest commercial sugar.
During the crushing season close to so,
600 tons of sugar is produced. The daily
capacity of the factory is 5000 tons of
beets. To supply the factory about 80,
COO acres are planted in sugar beets.
Our son met us at the depot in Mon
terey, and soon we were in his delightful
home to receive warm-hearted greeting
from his accomplished wife, and to meet
for the first time our grandson, T. B. H
No, 3, a splendid One-year-old baby,
which added greatly TO our ENJOYMENT
Mnmfaravs &c .,1I ~ Dc
fore the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plym-
outh Rock Cabrillo discovered Mon
terey Bay. Nature has done much for
Monterey in combining the charms of
sea, forest, mountain, CANYON and flower
decked valleys. There is also much here
ofinterest and it is historic ground. Ere
mont, the Pathfinder, fought here and
passed on the Constitution of California
was framed here; our flag was raised at
this place for the first time in California
over the Custom House built by the Span
iards, which is an old adobe house well
preserved.
Here too is Cotton Hall built by Chap
LAIN Cotton of the L. S Navy, who was
Alcade by Commodore Stock
ton, who took possession of the place.
The convention that framed the Consti-
ton Of the State assembled in this hall.
Among the old buildings is the Washing
ington Hotel, ian adobe building), the
first hotel in California The first theatre
built in the State, Jenny Lind sang in it
in the early COS. There are other old
historic buildings; the most interesting
one, The Mission of San Carlos Borromeo, !
founded June 3, 1770, by Father Junipore
Sera, the founder of the California Mis-
siOns. Services have been held i'll this |
from its beginning to the present |
time. The interior of the building has |
been mOdernized, but with this exception |
and a new roof, It is about as it was when |
built. We were shown some of the anci- |
ant vestments worn by the Pedros, in |
,luding rich and gold embroidered silk |
robes worn by Jun;pore Sera, the founder |
IF the mission.
Monterey has now population of 5000,
with paved streets, fine stores, banks,
electric lights. trolley cars and beautiful
homes. Still there are many of the old
ldobe houses and landmarks ofthe Mexi-
an days. A visit to the Preside of
Monterey is well worth while. This is
me of the most important military posts
II the United States, growing from an
OBSCURE reservation to a ten company
)OSt III consequence OF the war with
spain and the acquisition of the Philip
Zines. Here the soldiers come to rest
nd recuperate prior to q voyage across
he Pacific, and after their return from
n arduous campaign in the Philippines,
The Preside was once controlled by the
,painards and later in 1922 by the Mexi-
an Government. The monument erected
II memory of Father Junipore Sera is
1cated here i'll commanding position,
built by Mrs. Stanford). The Sloat
Ionunent, concentrating the landing of
Sloat July Z, 1S46. is also To-
sted in the Preside; tbs built of blocks
stone, gifts from each of the counties
] California One can spend weeks here
j Monterey and adjoining Pacific Grove,
,otel Del Monte, the famous Cypress
rove, &c, always finding something ,
teresting to see.
We were delighted TO have your towns
an, Mr.. Joseph t. Holland, and Dover
lends to call and see us when they were
uring California. Would be glad to see {
~ who may come this way. +
7. b. HUNTER.