Land Of Fruit And Flowers

Los Angei.es, Cal., July 26, 1895. Editor Ann Arbor Courier, In the Courier of July 10, there was given a list of people who were coming to Southern California to live. Xow I should like to state a few f acts to these people, or in fact to any one who is coming here. If a man wants to come here and go to ranching, why he can make a living, perhaps something more but even the average ranchman makes no more than a living, because there are just as many things to fight against in agtïcultural pursuits here as there are any where - of a different kind - of course from what one contends against in the East, but just as bad and as profit destroying. But for those who don't want to live in the country, to them especially, I wish to say that they should not come at all, unless they have some definite pursuit in view, and unless they have a very considerable amount of ready cash, that they can afíbrd to lose. The business field here is over crowded to a tremendous extent. Thousand have come here, not because there was, or will be auy demand for business that they were capable of pursumg. or au}' need for it, but simpty because the country has been so adver'tised that they carne largely from curiosity. Other thousands have come simply because it is a warm climate and others because they think they can't live any where else on account of luug, or tliroat troubles, etc. Many of these people have a partial support from incomes deriyed from Eastern investments, and they do business at a margin of profit, that a man can't stand who depends on the business for a living, and they take all clerical positions at wages that will hardly keep body and soul togetlier. They are content, if they can bearly exist, because on account of physical ailiments they think they cau't even live any where else. Xuw this is the truth as any man will flnd who comes here and tries it as I have. I have been here two years and I have been all over the U. S. I am a man of many years business experience, and I know what I am talking about. Above all things don't come here expecting to get any clerical position, oi anything of that kind, the chances ave a thousand to one against you, and from the nature of things it will always be so. There are many educated men here on the coast doing manual labor (when they can get that to do) they are here and must do something. I never in my life was in a place where so many people who evidently have seen better days, were put to such makeshifts to get along as they are here. People in the East who have comfortable homes and are doina even fairly well, should not think of giving up those good homes and coming here. They will be no better off here and they maybe worseand for those who are not doing well - they will simply do worse by coming here. It is an extremely peculiar country, and all things are very different from the East. Business methods and customs, and everything else. People (especially heads of families) who have the "California fever," should by all means come here first and inspect things generally before coming here with their families. It will be time and money well spent. Of course i f a man has an income to live on these remarks do not apply. But even for those people, tho'country gets very nionotouous and they make long trips for change of air and scenery. What I write here is the exact truth. Auyone who has not "an ax to grind" and who knows will say so. I know so many who are so bitterly disappointed (and with good reason) and who would give anything to be back where they carne from that I just thought I would write you this letter. If youpublish it, it may save someone a lot of money and trouble. Yours Truly,