Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-07-17
San Fernando Valley and City.
Continued from Yesterdays Issue,

Continued rom yesterdays issue.
The purchase recently made by Sem
ator Maclay occupies the northeastern
portion of the valley, and embraces
$4,000 acres. His south line, running
diagonally across the valley, is twen-
ty'three miles long, and the average
width of the tract between five and
six miles. We have spoken suffi-
ciently of the climate and soil of the
valley in general to be well under
stood, and need only repeat here that
we believe this to be one of the best
grape-growing regions we have seen.
There is no alkali on this tract. Now,
about water supply. That has been
the great question relative to this
tract. This is q vital question; for
while in season like this, most crops,
fruit trees and vines, may do well, yet
in dry seasons irrigation will undoubt-
edly be necessary over most of this
tract. This undoubtedly was So two
or three generations ago, when the
Padres operated here so largely, and
there was then most certainly q water
supply, for wherever you go on this
tract, on the more elevated portions,
the old bitches are visible on every
hand, and manifestly the water was
taken from the Pacoyme river, which
comes from the cailon about three
miles east Of the new city. These
facts exist; we cannot get rid of them.
They cannot be controverted or gain
sayed. Now, all we have TO do is to
deal with facts; and such facts as these:
This land lies just where it did and
just as it did seventytive years ago,
and the Pacoyme flows as it did then.
| AS it was made to water this region
| then, so it can now, with the same en-
| gineering skill and labor. Here are
| natural reservoirs, which with a little
labor could be made to gather the
waters of the Paycome during Winter
and hold them for Spring and Sum-
mer use in sufficient quantities TO irri-
| gate the entire tract. This is our firm
| belief, and anyone WILL we think. be
convinced of this by an investigation,
which we only ask. Besides, here are
some of the largest springs we ever
saw. just above the new city, which if
eXcavated and utilized will afford
water beyond all present estimation.
One of these springs, one and II half
miles above the town and at an elsva-
| ton of siXty-five feet, covers four or
five acres and in places is five to ten
feet deep and as cold as any mountain
spring. We verify believe if this great
| spring was cleared out and its water
utilized, it would supply the city of
| Los Angeles. This certainly will af-
| ford an excellent water supply for the
new city. .......
Very little has been said of the Sui
phur Spring, situated about four miles
north of the town and the same dis
| tance from the Old Mission, in the
edge Of the mountains, at an eleva-
| ton, we think. of not more than $50
or 800 feet above the valley. Its loca-
tion is q delightful one, and SO easy of
access that buggy or carriage can he
driven with ease to it, and the entire
distance is q beautiful drive. 1t fur
nishes quite copiOus flow, even in its
natural state. We think the waters
are stronger and superior to any spring
| on this coast, and we have had the
| pleasure of visiting nearly all. 1t APP
! prOaches more nearly the quality of
the celebrated Blue Lick Springs
waters, in Kentucky, than any we
| have ever seen. ~
There are indications Of oil near
here.
THE NEW TOWN
Is only about two months old, at the
present terminus of the Los Angeles
Division of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road, twenty-five miles from this city.
The town site is beautiful-being al
most perfectly level, with just decliv-
ity enough to the southwest for good
| drainage. An important feature of
this new town is, the town lots are
only laid off on the west side Of the
railroad, while large tract on the
east side is laid out in forty-acre blocks
for farming and Embarrassing. A cap
ital idea; and it pleases us to see Mr..
| Maclay so anxious to sell these, and
holding out so many inducements to
agrculturists and 'horticulturists to
! try their fortunes i'm this rich, beauti-
ful valley and adjoining new and
rising town. ...
| tains, and has an excellent water
IhC
toned. beside wells. About thirty
buildings now constitute the little
city, and almost every day one is seen
rising into form.
DIR. l.. Dexter Lyford of this city
makes tri-weekly visits to San Fer
nando to look after the sanitary con-
dition of her people, and through his
influence q small drug store, in con-
nection with S. Worms variety store,
is just opening.
A hotel, eating-house, groceries,
saloons, etc, are getting in shape to
do business, and things in general
look rather business-like. Senator
Maclay proposes to give land for
church and parsonage, and aid mate
rally in erecting the first church
planted here. A school house will
soon be erected, a district organized
and school opened. No time will be
lost in carrying out this programme.
( The Telegraph Stage Line connects