Year: 1875

SANTA MONICA CAL, Nov. I6. ISIS
FEIENp :. Yours received. We can all truly say that
in way regret choice in leaving Valley Falls
and em;ratng to this country. Much a. at
tached To home in Kansas wonld exchange
chances and prospects here for free gift of that
homestead again. notwithstanding spent twenty
of reasonable health and happiness upon Among other
things, We have memory of very many intensely hot
and very any ArionAy. cold days experienced there
which We do not again undergo Here have
even temperature though there localities inland
where il is and yet not any oppressive
than in Kansas As for instance at Los Angeles Is miles
inland and east of here the mercury high lO7
and down light FROST while here the coast it sell
dom gets above 75 only for few minutes then and
never cold enough kill tomato plant which may BE-
found several years old There is here which is
said to be twenty-five years old 1t blossoms and fruits
every year.


We have been here one hundred days and have had
but onehaf day Of unpleasant weatherthen il but
an ordinary Kansas breeze putting the dust around lit
tie. am told that the mercury below 4Oo
nor above 500 As long Keeps within miles of
the coast he will find tho hot cold
fort But getting further inland he will find valleys
where in the middle Of the day in Summer it is pretty
hot


This town commenced last March by the erection
of wharf reaching eighteen hundred feet sea- to
depth of water of thrtyv feet No buildings put
up however, until July, the first being hotel. Now we
have railroad completed TO Los Angeles with round
house and machine shop here We have hundred and
twenty houses two lumber yards carrying million
feet each &C. &c The lumber and timber for building
here is splendid Rough is worth $3.50 dressed and
matched flooring $40 clear dressed redwood sIO doors
e to sO brick so per 1000 mechanics wages So e.
common labor s. so Though building and labor
are higher than in Kansas it does much
honses here there owing to the fact that takes mnCh
less material and labor ia meet the requirements
climate and custom. The kind of houses that build
mostly are comfortable plain. and neat We commence
one in the morning. and by evening hand over the key
and have the family in before night.


We $50 miles south Of Francisco ITO miles
southeast of Santa Barbara LOG miles northwest San
Diego and $50 miles of the Panemnet mines hose
outlet will be here.


This lies AngeesI County is quite large in area
five times the size of Donphan County, with popula
ton of 40OO0 fifteen of which is claimed in Los Angeles
city About onefth of its is tillable land about
oneffth be worked into orchards and vineyards;
while the remaining three ffths is mountainous for
any thing but grazing One crUp year be grown
here without irrigation and frequently being
oil barley and the other of corn The dryer lands need
irrigation to produce more than crop
This is a beautiful location for a cify-level with a
slight incline to the sea-wh range of mountains 1.-THE
Santa Monica) three miles the north and splendid
valley six miles vide. extending Los Angeles Rail
road connection E Yet been made between this sec
tinn Of the State and San Francisco communication
IS by steamer which takes two days Passenger fare
freight +0e per hundred. The fare by emicrant train
from Omaha to San Francisco was s4j in MAY last II
may be lower now-fsicht e. per hundred not know
that one get emigrant and through car from
81 joe If they have to change Kearney seek for
quarters in regular through emsrant trains they will
lot be apt TO ind comfortable location family But
they start from Omaha where the train is made up
the officials will kindly that all comfortably fixed
5efore they start We made up beds at night and
cp comfortably at home Provisions can be- bought
III along the route. family live cheap in Cali
orna in Kansas Our expense book shows that il has
ost ns only fifteen per day each for hundred
lays.


Since writing my former letter to you we have had
ain. and the grass is growing nicely. We making
Iarden-haye tomatoes five inches high. Peas lettuce
adrshes, beets &c, coming up finely We have the
Tst garden in town will have evergreen trees
y next steamer from Santa Barbara. Trees from to
eet high cost 75c Greenbacks worth only s5c here
ow, and many will not take them at that Our farmers
re plowing, and getting ready to plant and Just
hink Of planting potatoes in December.
If had the money could buy some land at $50
er acre, which will bring 500 in year.
Our common school system is good. We have a snb-
cnpton school here yet but in few days our free
rh"ols will be in operation.
You ask me If am permanently located here To which
must that permanent anything in Califr-
IA except the mountains and they appear have
zen turned topsyturvy time another. do not
INK shall ever lar away from here-no further than
get some land for my boys ""


Truly yours.


I. II. ELLIOTT.