CALIFORNIA

INTERESTING LETTER FROM A FORMER RESIDENT OF WELLAND TO THE TRIBUNE

Oil City, California

Dec. 31, 1903

Dear Old Tribune:

             Greetings from the land of dust and wind and smoke to the land of cold and storms and snow:

             Christmas time always recalls memories of the past, and as the year wanes we think of those dear to us in other climes, and oftimes wonder if the New Year will give us the pleasure of seeing some of our dear old school mates who are somewhat scattered throughout this great continent.

             For thirteen years we have welcomed thee in many different parts of Southern California, but never before have we welcomed thy pages with so great pleasure as the year past, which has been out in the great crude oil region of the Kern River, nine miles from Bakersfield, the county seat of Kern County, and where tarantulas, centipedes, trap-door spiders, swifts ( a kind of lizard), stinging crickets, scorpions, spiders of all kinds and ants of all sizes hold high carnival each in its season. I must confess it is slightly wearing to one’s nerves to be ever on the outlook for fear of being bitten or stung by one or the other of the “pests.”

             The story of Santa Claus and his eight tiny reindeer with sleigh and jingling bells have no music down here among the barren hills and dust several inches deep, with mercury ranging all winter from 40 to 70 degrees during the day. This year we have had only three frosts up here along the hills, but down along the river everything is frost-bitten.

             No rose-kissed zephyr reaches this far from Los Angeles. For Christmas greenery we had a small green artificial tree; other decorations consisted of celery leaves and mistletoe. Yet, for all, we had a pleasant time, for we made the most of our surroundings.

             Our little settlement consists of six houses divided into two rooms each, and stand in a row about 12 feet apart. In architectural design they are similar for all are built of rough timber, battened, with a roof of tarred and graveled paper-windows are a half regular size and slide to open; there are 2 doors and 5 windows to each house. The interior is finished in natural wood and walls and ceiling are covered with a building paper resembling the coarse brown paper used for wrapping paper. Then, too, it is tacked on and rattles “beautifully” when wind blows, so that once in a while a whole section will let loose from the tacks and come down. The Southern Pacific Co. built these houses for some of their employees to live in and had the gall to ask $5.00 per month for rent. Water and natural gas is piped to each house, so for light and fuel we use gas.

             We have a very nice neighborhood for what few families are here are all well educated, hence well behaved.

             Stringed instruments furnish music to break up the monotony.

             Were a stranger to strike this part of the country during August or September, he might imagine with considerable real feeling that he were near the “warm country,” especially if the thermometer showed the heat to be 130 degrees and several slump holes of oil were burning, spreading great black clouds over the heavens omitting a gaseous odor. Thank kind providence for such experiences to be few-for as a general rule the smoke from the burning of the waste oil from the holes ascends in columns to a great height before distributing into space.

             The sand storms are not very desirable, either; but we do have some beautiful weather-not foggy like Pasadena and Los Angeles. It is a beautiful sight to witness the sun rising above the mountains away to the east. I have seen the mountain tops appear as tipped with gold while a sky of pale blue shaded to royal purple with the first glints of Old Sol ever changing the tints, spread over head and were reflected in the waters of the river at the foot of tall irregular bluffs about two mile east and southward.

             Oil City in its infancy may yet vie with Oil City of Pennsylvania. As now, it is merely the name of the terminus of the branch from the main S.P.R.R.

             To those of your readers who have always been in the habit of donning wraps and walking a short distance to see all the pretty Xmas displays, it may interest them to know how a great many do Xmas shopping. First of all it costs $2.50 to get to town just to take a look and then if you have a full purse it is soon relieved when you get inside of one of the many department stores of Bakersfield, where you see so many things you must take home. Some prefer to stay at home and give a solicitor from the store who has “a corner” on the oil field trade, an order for toys, etc., which may be what you want and may be different. Turkeys this year sold for 25¢ per lb., live weight. To be sure we had “to have turkey or bust” as the little fellow said. Eggs, fresh are 45¢ per doz; butter, 40¢ per lb; apples, 5¢ per lb and not extra at that. Good oranges are 30¢ per doz. Just think of that, right here up in this beautiful California.

             I must say, too, that all that looks like oil is sometimes “soup.” All derricks do not indicate oil wells. About 7 miles from here are some derricks without even a hole in the ground and where some English and French investments, besides some nearer to home, were sunk. To be sure some one got the “mun.”

             I have rambled somewhat from what I intended to write you, but must soon close for the old year is fast dying and I wish to say that “may you live long and may the New Year be more prosperous than ever for you.”

             Twenty years in March, 1904, since I said goodbye to dear Welland.

             A Happy New Year to all.

             ADIOS