Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-20
Editors Letter Box
Stay at Home This Winter


I wish through the columns of your
valuable and excellent paper TO ex-
press my sincere appreciation to the
many friends who have written to me
since I left Augusta few months ago,
irquiring about the conditions of South
ern California.
Last week the Detroit Free Press
and other Middle West papers had col
umns concerning the actual conditions
Of California and warning the people
of Michigan and other States not 10
come to California The warning would
also apply to all the Eastern States, and
the Maine people should take notice.
There is a surplus OF labor in every
city, more men than jobs. and every
day men are discharged. some Offering
their services for their room and
board. The outlook may not be alarm
ing yet. but the situation is becoming
serious.
The housing condition is also an
other problem to take into considera-
ton. Only a few days ago the Los
Angeles Chamber Of Commerce asked
the Army Department Of Washington
to loan them five thousand army tents.
MAny of those arriving every day
cannot afford to pay high rent. many
of them are poor working men. and
the city is called TO provide places for
the new corners.
In every place there is tent city
provided by the city. Many people have
to live in tents through the cold and
tvxr -,
in any old buildings. a working man
Is unable to pay high rent, not having
steady work. A house of six rooms on
a lot of 5ox10o, at Is minutes walk to
the business section. rents for 5000 a
month, this house is on the market for
sale at sl5.0W
Another house of four small rooms in
back alley rents for $500 a month.
A single furnished apartment rents
from fifty to seventy-tive dollars a
month; there are hundreds of apart
ment houses, and they are filled with
a card in the window No Vacancies. =
A continual stream OF people arriv-
ing and leaving. coming and going. Ce.
va-et-vient. is characteristic of South.
ern California, there is nothing set.
tied; cities have grown SO fast, that
the people have had no time to set.
tie In many places you will find a:
houses. oftentimes the same house
changes owners five or six times dur.
| ing a year, but the old bargain tim.
! is over. property. city and country
| il sold at a premium. There was
time. only five and six years ago a mar
could settle comfortably with four o,
| five thousand dollars. but that time j:
| no more.
| This is the land OF perpetual sun
shine a blazing sun during the da.
and cold and chilly nights, many time.
! the temperature changes fortyfye de
| grees in six hours, and I am told by
! doctors that this dry season of 81,
I and seven months has an enervatins
! effect on the human system, and no
/ all are able to stand the long strain
1 was surprised the other day wllef
someone told me that people die t!
| California. l said it is impossible
| Everything is done so quietly that M
! one notices a funeral. AS soon as 6
/
after the body. and the service j.
| strictly private in the Directors Chap
| ell. Ambulance is used for transport
ing the body. there is no hack OF pro
cession. 1t is done in such way q:
| not ito attract the attention. This !.
why people do not die IN California
! Some of YOU Maine people wer,
probably shocked to hear the report o.
the last election in California-peopI.
of this State voted wet-but don't b,
hard in judging these people: til,
Maine people might do the same il
they were obliged TO drink California
| water. The drinking water is medi
cinal; it contains sulphur and alkali
| but how can we help ourselves. peopi,
of Maine. to be anything but temper.
! ate, drinking such pure cold spring
water as We have everywhere in Maine
| l like California. 1 like it's valleys o,
! orange and walnut groves, its higr
mountain peaks covered with snow.
like its congenial. progressive ant
Democratic and intensely religious PEG,
pie.
| / like California because Maine:
best blood was injected into its veins
Some of the most prominent mer
were from Maine. men of. high ideals
of big heart and philantropic spirit
| who spent their lives and means tc
| build this great commonwealth of Cal.
| ifornia.