IT is with a great sense of satisfaction and thankfulness to God, that we are able to announce that another sanitarium in Southern California is now ready to open its doors to the sick and suffering. For many years, even from the beginning of our sanitarium work, we have looked from the East, with its cold, wet seasons, over into the salubrious climate of Southern California, and have heartily wished that Providence might open a way whereby we could establish at least one of our sanitariums, where the splendid natural methods, which God has given us for treating disease, could be assisted by the unparalleled climate of Southern California.
And now, instead of one, the Lord has given us two beautiful sanitariums, one situated at Glendale, a suburb of Los Angeles, which has already been announced to our readers; and the other to be known as the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, located in Paradise Valley, within the limits of the quiet little town of National City, six miles from San Diego.
About twenty years ago, a lady physician, possessed of considerable wealth and enterprise, selected a commanding site in Paradise Valley for a sanitarium home, and expended fully $60,000 on the buildings and grounds. For various reasons her enterprise was a failure, and in a few months the doors were closed, and the building has not been occupied since, except by care-takers and an occasional boarder.
Our attention was first called to this building about three years ago, and about one year ago negotiations were taken up which resulted in the purchase of this fine building, with about fifty rooms, a six-room cottage near by, a fairly good barn, and thirty acres of land, for $5,000, including all expenses and costs. The main building is a splendid structure, and, with repairs and painting just completed, it is practically as good as new.
The initial investment in this property was made by four individuals who were most enthusiastically interested in the subject of a sanitarium for Southern California. During the month of November, 1904, these investors spent about three weeks at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, and while here visited various places in the county, and presented the work to the friends of the enterprise. The result was that the capital was sufficiently increased to cover the purchase of the property, to furnish the buildings, and to make the improvements necessary for an opening. The hearty way in which our friends took hold of this work was most cheering. At every place where the interests of the work were presented, stock was subscribed, and gifts of money and other valuables were made.
The situation of the sanitarium affords a fine landscape scene of the table mountains of Mexico to the south; of San Miguel and lower peaks of the Coast Range to the east; and a magnificent view of the silvery Bay of San Diego and the Pacific Ocean, and the Coronado Islands, on the west; Point Lomo, with her celebrated lighthouse, a little further to the north; and the whole of National and San Diego cities, and the surrounding valleys, whose olive and orange orchards are always green. These enlivening scenes constitute a grand panorama calculated to give joy, and health, and life, to those who can avail themselves of the privilege of visiting this, one of the loveliest and most attractive places in the world.
There may be other localities where a more beautiful climate is enjoyed for a brief period, but there is no other place in the world where the temperature is so even, delightful, and healthful all the year round as in San Diego County. But nineteen times in thirty-two years has the temperature of San Diego exceeded 90 degrees. Four times in the history of San Diego the temperature has gone down to 32 degrees (the freezing point), but it has never fallen lower, and, within the history of the city, there has never been a snowstorm. Flowers bloom outdoors from January to December. On an average of 135 days in the year, the thermometer stands between 55 and 65 degrees day and night.
Last year there were 291 clear days, and a rainfall of only about five inches. During the past ten years there has been an average of one day per month when there was an hour or more of fog, and during that period there has been only seventeen thunder-storms, an average of less than two per year. The average humidity, covering a period of thirty-one years, has been 73 per cent.
During this same period of thirty-one years there has been a high wind twice each year. There is a sea-breeze from about ten in the morning to four or five in the afternoon, the average velocity being 5.6 miles per hour. These statistics are all collected from the official records of the Weather Bureau, and will indicate to our readers how well adapted this climate is for a pleasant out-of-door life all the year round. No place is more free from seasonal diseases, and no climate is better for health-seekers.
The sanitarium has not yet been formally opened, nor has its work been announced to the public, but applications for admittance began to come in as soon as repairs were commenced. One good lady insisted upon coming, and has been with us about two months, while the painting and repairing were going on. The week before last, six patients pressed their way in upon us; others have come since, and all are pleased and are doing well. We expect the formal opening to take place about the middle of February, and it seems probable that our building will be full before we have time to open, as there are only four13unoccupied rooms at the present time. In making the announcement for the preparation of this place for sanitarium work, the board of managers and investors wish thus publicly to express their thanksgiving to God for the marked providences which have opened the way for the launching of this enterprise.
Friends wishing to come to the Paradise Valley Sanitarium should buy tickets to San Diego, via Los Angeles. Our city office is 1117 Fourth Street, San Diego. Our team will bring patients from the city to the sanitarium, a distance of six miles. All inquiries relative to facilities, charges, etc., at this place, should be addressed to the Manager of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, National City, Cal.
E. R. PALMER.
