Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-07-23
sricuitura!.
a Wine Village in California,

| A correspondent Of the Chi"Hgo Hapub.
! lican writes from Los Argelos, California,
under date Of May l:
! Here, on the east bank OF the Santa
Anna river, twelve miles from the Pacific
| ocean, is q community of Germans, mum.
bering forty families, that live without la
ger beer. They are healthy, prosperous,
happy, without the beverage OF the ''Fa
derland." In 1857 they purchased 1900
acres of what was considered tho poorest
| land in Los Angeles county, and in the
| following year laid it out into twenty acre
lots, and have since brought it to a high
state Of cultivation.
These people have shown what results
| can be attained III this country by industry
and perseverance, and a history OF their
efforts will he IL guide to those who care to
go and do likewise" anc at the same
time indicate TO the general reader the
producing capacities OF this section, there
fore it mag be well for me to give the out
lines Of what has been done.
After the purchase Of the land BY the
agent, the families were collected in and
about San Francisco, and moved to the
present site Of the settlement. The first
two years tLey had a superintendent, and
all worked together; in which time Il water
ditch was dug and sufficient water brought
from the Santa Anna to irrigate the whole
tract. The land was cleared Off, ploWed,
and narrowed and laid off like corn ground,
except In squares Of SIX instead of four
feet, and tho vines planted.
After the second year the superintendent
was discharged, each one by that time
having learned sufficiently TO manage his
own affairs, aud II division Of the lands
made Each Of the forty honse-holders
got twenty acres OF land, valued from $3.50
to 1880. according to location and i'm
prOyemeuts made but each householder
got 81, 400. either in land or money. That
is to say, at the end Of two years the forty
families, working together, had accumu-
lated property valued at 500, 900 in gold,
besides the improvements made in the
water ditch, which are yet held in common
and very valuable, and besides supporting
and maintaining their families. In 1861,
three years after planting, each house
holder had one pipe Q20 gallons) OF wine
from eight acres Of vineyard, the fourth
year 1000 gallons: and since then the
average has been 1906 gallons. This
year 500. 600 gallons OF wine will be manu-
featured by this community.
The people in and about Los Angeles,
who laughed at what they called dutch
stupidity" in trying to GROW vines and
are now buying up the lands around Ana
helm for $40 and $50 an acre, without any
water privileges. These plodding Ger
mans have taught them what persevering
industry will accomplish.
lon who came here poor, are to day
rich in their twenty acres Of well-tilled
land. What has been done by these people
can be accomplished IL hundreds of places
in Southern California. Good water can
be had by digging from fifteen to twenty
feet. Twelve miles southwest the steamers
from San Francisco touch once a week,
where freight is landed cheaper thao at
San Pedro, the seaport town of Los Alge-
los.
Forty acres Of the twelve hundred acre
tract were reserved for a town, in which
are two hotels, three stores, schoolhouse,
church, and other necessaries Of thrifty
town in prosperous community.