Los Angeles Daily Herald

Santa Monica vs. Ventura.

In many respects these towns are alike, yet there are points of difference. Both are on the seaside and located in Southern California, and therefore both enjoy a delightful climate. In this respect, Santa Monica has a slight advantage, as the residence portion of the town is from 100 to 250 feet above sea level.

Ventura (it is generally known by this abbreviated form) is far older than Santa Monica. It has a Catholic Church in which worshippers have knelt and offered their devotions for more than a century. Your correspondent visited the church and found the venerable Father diligently teaching the young the elements of the faith. He was ably assisted in his work by a lady teacher.

This church, like most of the old Mission Churches is, as to interior form, an oblong square, with high ceiling and a rear gallery. It is an old-fashioned tower with five or six bells, which are vigorously rung several times every day.

Ventura is the county seat of one of the richest counties of the State. In this respect it has the advantage of its sister, Monica. Ventura has a wharf; Santa Monica hopes to have one, expects to have one very soon. Ventura is entered by one railway, Santa Monica by two.

Ventura has a park, and such a park! Santa Monica has a park, and such a park! The former has naught but cypress trees and a bandstand, and the latter has cypress and eucalyptus trees, with a few peppers, but no bandstand.

Ventura is larger than Santa Monica and does more business. Santa Monica is a fashionable watering-place for the weary and heavy laden of Los Angeles county, who live in the sun-scorched interior. Ventura performs the same kindly office for the overheated Venturites.

Ventura has a great many very poor dwelling-houses, and shanties for shops. Santa Monica is a little ahead in this respect. Ventura has a good many fine residences. Santa Monica has a few.

Ventura has churches, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal and Congregationalist. Santa Monica has all except the last mentioned denomination.

Ventura has two newspapers, the Democrat, and ably conducted weekly, and the Free Press, issued daily by no less a personage than Daniel Webster. Ventura has good hotel accommodations in the Anacapa and Santa Clara, and other small hotels, the names of which I do not remember. There is a very fine hotel building, but at the present is not occupied. The Anacapa is a large, well ordered hotel.

Santa Monica has the Arcadia, of which any town might be proud, besides this the Jackson, Lawrence, Central and others furnish good accommodation.

We will watch the growth of these rival towns and see how they will compare in the next decade.

OBSERVER.