Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-30
San Gabriel Orange Grove Association.

Considerable inquiry having been
made about this Association, its OBJ
iects and aims, we have been at the
pains to ascertain from Mr.. Crofts, the
Vice President and Trustee of the cor
terest to the numerous readers of the
HERALD.
We are informed by this gentleman
that in its first inception, it was col
onization scheme, entered into by
about thirty families in and near In
dianopolis, by which they hoped to Sc
cure homes for themselves in South
ern California. Mr.. CrOfts as agent
WAS dispatched to this State, intend
ing to go to San BernardinO county,
but stoppingin our city to rest a day
or two, he was charmed by the APP
pearance of the country and resolved
to go no further. After selecting the
site for the colony, the design was in
terfered with by the panic in the East,
and a number of those interested were
obliged to withdraw. The parties on
the ground determined not to be de-
feated, proceeded to organize an Asso-
citation under the General law Of this
OldIc loI tuC Pun pooS, oCCuiihS tuC
necessary land and improving it. 9th
ers were invited to join them, and in a
very brief period the entire number of
families were secured, and the organi-
zation was perfected.
The capital stock.o the Association
was placed at $25, 900, divided into one
hundred shares of $3.50 each. The Off
GERS are, Benjamin S. Eaton, Presi-
dent; Thomas F. Croft, Vice President;
ID. M. Berry, Secretary; and w. II.
Clapp, Treasurer. Its object is to se-
cure homes for its members, and to
carry out that object purchase has
been made of 1888 acres of the San
Pascual Rancho, lying along the east
side of, and adjoining the Arroyo Seco.
The land was bought of Dr. j. S. Grif-
fin for the sum of $4,000, and with it
was secured ample supply of water for
irrigating purposes. fits the intention
of the company to construct the neces-
sary bitches to carry the water to the
land, the estimated cost of which work
will be about $4,000. This sum will
be raised by an assessment on the
shares. About 10000 White Malaga
grape cuttings and some 10000 of the
Flaming Tokay, have been purchased
by the Association for the use Of it's
members. They also expect to start
such orange, lemon, and other fruit
trees, from the seed, as may be needed
for the purposes OF the Association,
believing that they can come nearer
getting what they want, and that the
cost will not be so great. The original
object only being to cooperate in Sc
curing homes, the Association did
not expect to have any land to sell,
but succeeding in getting much
larger tract than they expected, it is
probable they will after time dispose
of u portion of the tract. 1t is their
intention, however, to first bring the
water on the land, and the remaining
lots will then be disposed of to the
present members, or to actual settlers
who wish to join the settlement.
They have secured very fine tract
of land at moderate figures, and are
going to work in the right way to Sc
cure comfortable homes. The move
ment will result in bringing to our
county q large number Of cultivated
families, who in our genial climate
will build up for themselves elegant
homes and add largely to our product
i've force, while at the same time they
will prove valuable addition to So
ciety. On the part Of our citizens we
tender a hearty welcome to this band
of Industrious and enterprising immi-
grants, and hope their success will be
all they can hope or wish for.