Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1904 — LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA. [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

JUr. and Hr*. Simon Kenton Write Entertainingly of the Pacific Coast. 220 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, Cali., Dec. 7, 1904. Editor Jasper Co. Democrat; Thinking perhaps some one in Jasper might care to hear from us I will write a short article for your paper. We left our home J)ct. 14, came via Burlington railroad far as Omaha, changed there to Rock Island Route. Must speak of the immense apple crop we passed in coming through Colorado. Small trees, large trees, all breaking under their load of fine red and yellow apples. Passing on a few hundred miles we were met with a ‘‘warm reception” in the form of a heavy snow storm, cold wind accompanying same, but as we were inside of snow sheds we escaped safely. We did not get to see much of Salt Lake or Ogden, as night came on and we were soon landed in Sacramento city, in the land of promise. We halted there a few hours looking over this city which seemed to be up to date and the river abounding in the largest fish I have ever seen. We then concluded to take the valley railroad which took us through the San Joquin valley, a fine farming country. Thousands of acres of wheat in each field and sweet potatoes for miles, the finest one could wish for. Our next stop was at Fresno City. There we were met by friends of my childhood days and taken six miles out in the country. This place being the raisin belt of California —I think one might be safe in saying the world —my friend had made and sold four tons at two cents per lb., and was only a small man in the business. There were oranges, lemons, figs olives and grapes, peaches, pears and plums in the greatest abundance. English walnuts and almonds are raised also in great quantities and one’s eyes seast — as well as their stomachs—on the good things of the land. Our time slotted passed and we resumed our trip on to Los Angeles, where we decided to remain a few weeks, which we did; meeting our friends A. M. Withham and family from Ind., and also Mr. Elias Strong also from near Rensselaer, Ind. The last we have met him was Thanksgiving eve spent with him in his rooms at 315 Bunker Hill ave. He seems to enjoy single blessedness to its full extent. Mrs. Buchter and daughter came and called on us from Indianapolis. She owns a lovely home on 37th st. By this time Kenton and Kenton had caught the fishing fever. All one has to do here is to shut the door and off to the Beach which was Redondo, 26 miles from Los Angeles. Here being the first time I had ever beheld the Pacific coast, with its foaming raging billows by times, to see the tide ebb and flow and many other sights I will not take time to mention. Here we found Mr. Stephen Yeoman, a once resident of Indiana, and spent our time with him nnd wife, one day on the beach and at their home. Here the beach is lined with people picking for Jmoon stones, and many fine specimens of Sardonyx are found here also. Some people wading, some swimming, some fishing, some gathering up the shells from the shore—any thing of that kind for pleasure. Long Beach is where we are located now and the most pleasant beach town we have ever seen yet. People, tourists, I mean, rent furnished rooms and if they do not find room in doors they are sure to find plenty outside, as that is the place one and all seem to enjoy the best in warm sun and balmy air, no cloudy days since we have been here and only one rain.

Mr. Charles Bruce and family and R. Dwiggins are both residents of this place. Mr. S. P. Thompson and family spent the day here but are living in Los Angeles at present. Kenton and Kenton.

Buy your wife some new furs for Xmas; they’ll be acceptable, and so will the price, at Rowlee & Parker’s.