Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1905 — FROM CALIFORNIA. [ARTICLE]

FROM CALIFORNIA.

Burnett, Cali. Mch., 12. Editor Democrat: Since owf last letter we have purchased a home near Burnett, Los Angeles Co., Cali,, two miles from Long Beoch and about eighteen miles south of Los Angeles. The Salt Lake R. R. runs a quarter of a mile from the house, and the electric car line three quarters of a mile. The surrounding country is settled by people mostly from Indiana and Michigan, who raise fruits and vegetables for the Los Angeles and nearby markets. Hundreds of dollars are realized annually from the sale of English violets, carnations, pink and many other varieties. A whole acre of fuchias in bloom, half a mile from the house, fills the air with fragrance. The lowest temperature during the entire winter was not sufficient to freeze the tomatoes and beans, and only slightly wilted the more delicate plants such rs cannas and calla lilies. Blackberries are in bloom and one can have green peas and strawberries every day in the year. The cannery a quarter mile distant, handles a large quantity of peaches, apricots, pears, plums, guavas and loquotsin their season. Here also the lemons are cured. They are picked'green, the regulation size being two and a half inches in diameter, wrapped in tissue paper and placed in boxes in a dark place for a number of weeks during which time the skin of the lemon grows thin and tender.

From our house, on a clear day, one can see Santa Catalina Island, which from 300 to 500 tourists visit daily to enjoy the fishing and the famous marine gardens, and Long Beach a rapidly growing

city of more than ten thousand inhabitants. San Pedro, which will have one of the finest harbors on the coast when the Government breakwater —more than soven miles in length—is completed, and Wilmington, a thriving little city on the Southern Pacific, are also visable. The rainfall this winter has been unusually heavy and as a consequence the country is looking fine. Long Beach is tilled as never before with tourists, Hocking to the coast to escape the rigors of an eastern winter. March 14th: Since writing the above a very heavy rain has fallen, almost 48 hours a steady warm rain which makes the farmers more jubilant than for years, as heavy rains means but little irrigation. I will close my letter by saying this country is good enough for us. Kenton and Kenton.

KENTON AND KENTON.