Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-07-08
Something About Lands.

Mr.. James, the Register of the
United States Land Office at this
place, is frequently in receipt of let
ters from the East asking the most
vague questions in relation to lands in
this section. Following very natu-
raj delusion prevalent on the other
side Of the continent, many people
innocently believe that this country
is entirely beyond the bounds of civ
ilization--a bowling wilderness as it
were. And why not? We are over
| three thousand miles from Boston.
AS an instance, we here present let
ter received by Mr.. James short
time since in which the writer wishes
to know how near Los Angeles he can
secure Government land suitable for
orange culture. The gentleman has
read just enough about our country
| to be misled. He has learned that the
orange crop is immensely profitable
| here, paying 81, 500 per acre or more;
and several other things he has not
learned; so he very naturally con-
cludes that if he can purchase land at
one dollar and twenty-five cents an
acre, which will produce such crops,
| by few years cultivation he will
have very good speculation of it.
OF course he would. The letter is as
follows:
y. s. Land agent, Los AngeIcs, Cali
| .fOrnid.
DEAR SIR:--Will you please inform
| me how near to the town of Los An
| geles would be able to locate some
| land under three or four soldiers land
warrants of q quarter section each.
My idea is to have as good land rs is
practicable for the purpose of fruit
farming, especially oranges, and as
there will probably be three or four
families to come, one of which will no
doubt reside in the city permanently,
it will be desirable to locate the land
as near the town as can be done. |
have Hollis map of California, show
| ing the arrangement of Government
lands and if you will kindly advise
me the nearest and best section to Sc
lect, you will oblige
Yours, respectfully, -.
In answer to the gentleman we
would say that the public lands of this
State are not open to purchase except
by actual settlers, and then only in
quantities of 16O acres. The gentleman
could only make use of his soldiers
warrants after complying with the
regular pre-emption law, by settling
and improving the land, when each
warrant would be taken in payment
ct its face value, the same as green
backs. Secondly, there are no Gov
ernment lands suitable for orange
raising within available distance of
Los Angeles which can be pre-empted.
Such lands were all taken up a number
of years ago by men who, fortunately,
had their wits about them. Land of
that description is now held at from
$50 to 500 per acre. Some may be
purchased for less, perhaps, in more
remote localities, but with the advan-
tage named it seldom brings less than
the price stated. With lands of an
other quality the case is quite differ
ent. There is much land in the county
which is without irrigating facilities,
lying upon the hills and mountains,
and suitable only for grazing, that can
be bought at low figure, or even pre-
empted from the Government. One
hundred and sixty acres of this kind
of territory would be almost useless,
however, as it requires generally
some thousands of acres to make u
respectable sheep or cattle range. All
things considered, then, the chances
for pre-emptiOn are not flattering; but
this fact should in no measure dis
courage immigration to the country.
Considering the immense returns from
the orange and other semi-tropical
fruits, the prices paid for lands that
will produce them $50 or 500 per
acre. are very reasOnable; especially
where near so promising city
as Los Angeles, which now numbers
over twelve thousand inhabitants, and
aspires in the near future to twenty
and then thirty thousand. Grapes
Are also cultivated here with profit,
and many localities which are un-
suited for other purposes make the
best of vineyards. Such lands can be
purchased in various sections of the
county at a reasonable figure, say
from So to $50 an acre. There are
still thousands of acres of uncultivated
land in this section of the State, wait
ing only for the industrious farmer to
come and improve them, and for his
labor he will, in few years, reap a
golden reward. Our country is RAP
idly filling up with honest, hard
working men, + ON other parts of le
Union. Already our farm products
are immense; and with the proper de-
velopment of our agricultural lands,
during q few years to come, they will
be beyond all precedent. Our market
Is almost limitlesF, as we sell to the
whole world, and never so begging
for a purchaser.
To the gentleman in Philadelphia,
and to all in the East, who have their
eyes turned in this direction, then, we
will say come to this country. There
is room for you here, and a good
chance to make money by honest in
dustry.
The new stage line from Spadra to
San Bernardino via Riverside COM
menced making regular tri-weekly