---

    Burnett, Cal., March 20, '05. To The Plain Dealer, North Vernon Ind. Dear Friends and Neighbors;-
    It has been a year since I left and as I promised to write to you all I will take this means of doing so, for I cannot write to all personally. I will now try and give you a short history of Southern California as I see it. To begin I will say that the climate is unsurpassed. It is a county free from cold and chilly winters and the extremes of summer hear. We have fine roads the year round. The production of large crops of corn are not so great as in Old Jennings, but in a small grain such as wheat and barley and fruit of all kinds, also dairy business, ti is second to none. As I write I can look over the San Gabriel valley and see herds of cattle and dairy farms. Flowers bloom and the fields and pastures are covered with grass and barley all winter, as it thrives and grows better in winter than in summer. We have had an abundance of rain this winter and a promising year is in store for us, and everybody is rejoicing. This is one of the finest scenes I have ever witnessed. I live on a ridge, gently sloping in all directions from which, I can see the mighty Pacific and the San Pedro harbor with its great ocean liners on the south, and on the north and east are the Sierra Nevads mountains, one hundred miles away. As I look I can count thrity-four towns, among them the city of Los Angeles twenty miles away which is teaming with humanity and is some day destined to be the London of America. Its people are made up of all classes but mostly from the eastern states and Europe, and are generally kind and olbiging. The natives are Mexicans and Spaniards. There are scarcely any colored people at all. I also want to say that we have no cyclones and lightening and thurnder. For the benefit of one of my neighbors who said I would get snake bit, I want to say that there are very few snakes here. Another said earthquakes; well I have never felt any yet. Oranges began to ripen in January and the trees are still blooming. We have all kinds of green vegetables all winter and the summer crop or planting is coming on. Acres and acres of watermelons are already planted and strawberries are on the market year round. Had it not been for the loss of my wife and daughter, of which you have all heard, I would have no cause for regret; but sometimes I think, had I stayed with you it might not have happened, but God's ways are mysterious and we can not understand. Nevertheless Old Jennings has a warm spot in my heart and it does me good to receive the Plain Dealer and see how you are all getting along. With God's permission to hope to some day meet with you all once more and shake your hand. I will now close for fear the Editor will throw this in the waste basket, but if this reaches you I will tell you more some other time for there is much more to tell. Wishing you all success I remain.
    Your friend and neighbor - C. F. Hess

---

You may use this material for your own personal research, however it may not be used for commercial publications without express written consent of the contributor, INGenWeb, and