The southern portion of California, however, presents a radical dry climate, and is quite free from those wet and dry seasons which obtain in central and northern California. The amount of annual rain-fall is, in the region of
SAN DIEGO,
about ten inches, and while it is true that this precipitation is in sympathy with, and indeed is distributed over a portion of what is known as the "wet season," in Upper California, yet it does not amount to enough in quantity to establish a wet season. The balance of the year the air is dry and elastic, and highly favorable, so far as we are able to judge, to all cases of pulmonary troubles.
San Diego is an old Spanish town, and for many years has been neglected, and not till recently has it shown much signs of recuperation. But, now that some Yankee pioneers have settled in the town and neighborhood, its prospects brighten.
Fruits of all kinds, such as peaches, oranges, figs, and plums flourish in the neighborhood, and in time must form one of the chief articles of commerce. Few places offer so good an opportunity for stock-grazing as does this fertile region.
This old city is, ere long, to become the terminus of one of our great continental lines of railway, namely, the Southern Pacific.
Access is had, at the present time, either overland from San Jose, or by a monthly steamer from San Francisco, the distance being, by water, over three hundred and-fifty miles.
FLORIDA
is certainly the only State among all of those lying east of the Mississippi River to which invalids may resort with advantage, so far as the climate is concerned. There are points in others of the Southern States, such as Aikin, where two years out of three, perhaps, consumptives, in certain stages, may go with benefit; yet there is no Atlantic or Gulf State with a climate and soil adapted to aid in the cure of bronchial and catarrh troubles and nervous prostration at all comparable to Florida in the winter season.
In cases of lung difficulties, where tubercles have begun to form, such would find a cool, dry, elastic air best, except when the disease has been induced by some mental or emotional shock: such are benefitted most by a mild, sunny atmosphere, since the depressed spirits are, under these favoring circumstances, more easily rallied.