WINTER IN CALIFORNIA.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
STE,—I read with interest in the Spectator of March 9th a letter signed "J. W. Morgan" on the above subject, and am able to confirm his statements as to the magnificence of the climate in Southern California.
I once considered that of the Riviera unequalled, but after a five years' residence in San Diego and its vicinity, find the beauty and mildness of the Southern Pacific coast surpasses that of the shores of the Mediterranean. Oranges, lemons, guavas, persimmons, figs, grapes, melons, olives, prunes, and peaches ripen here in abundance, and in the mountain districts of our country apples and pears, of a prodigious size and delicious flavour, cluster on the branches in marvellous pro- fusion. While I am writing, a man is hawking strawberries for sale, which have been plentiful for a fortnight. No wonder that this favoured region is rapidly becoming the sanitarium of the United States.
When we landed at San Diego in the spring of 1884, it was a small frontier town of three thousand inhabitants, with unpaved, dimly lighted streets, a deficient water-supply, defective sanitary arrangements, and very limited facilities of locomotion. Now we have well-paved streets, lighted by electricity, good banks, handsome stores, an excellent water- supply, improved drainage, charming residences, some of them standing in well-kept gardens, large and commodious churches of all denominations, first-class hotels—especially that of Del Coronado, on the shores of the Pacific, capable of accommodating a thousand guests—and an estimated population of thirty thousand inhabitants, governed under a new Charter, just obtained by a Mayor, nine Aldermen, and eighteen City Councillors.
One of the chief charms of San Diego is its magnificent bay, where, in the stormiest weather, large vessels are safely sheltered in our commodious harbour.
Our sunrises and sunsets are of I knequalled beauty, and in our wet seasons our rainbows are indescr;'-ably magnificent. Thunderstorms are of very rare occurrence. Our equable temperature all the year round renders it as pleasant a summer as it is a delightful winter resort, and we only need a few large manufacturing enterprises to increase the advancement of our material prosperity, and to give occupation to honest, in- dustrious Englishmen who need employment. At the present moment, business generally is dull ; so, until an improvement takes place, which may reasonably be expected at no distant period, only those possessing a moderate competency would be wise to come out here, and they would find very favourable opportunities of investing money.—I am, Sir, &c.,
San Diego, California, April 12th. Jo SEPH SURE.
Previous page
