Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-02-05
ARTESIA.
An Excursion to the New Colony
What IL is and what it Promises.


A little excursion party, consisting
of representatives of the press and a
few gentlemen interested in the Los
Angeles immigration and Land Co.
operative Association, made a trip
yesterday to the new colony lands
Southeast of the city, near the Ana
helm Railroad. Under the paternal
care of Conductor Hansen, we sailed
out from the depot at 10 A. NJ, and
with pleasant hours ride, made the
station of Norwalk, about six miles
beyond Downey. This station has
been called into existence during the
past few months by the extension of
the Anaheim Branch. At present it
can boast only modest depot build
ing and one house; but a town has
been laid out and doubtless a thriving
settlement will spring up there within
the next year. From the station our
party took teams and drive of three
miles brought us to the Colony lands.
Atesia comprises tract of $500 acres.
The surface is almost level, with
uniform slope to the Southwest, and
the whole lying high and dry. The
soil of the tract, which we traversed
from one end to the other, seems to be
rich and capable of cultivation
throughout. 1t is a dark, sandy loan,
producing in many places
very thick growth of mustard,
which is said to be sure
index of fertility. We saw one
spot which seemed rather light and
sandy and another which exhibited
signs of alkali, but these were of in
significant area. Altogether, we have
never examined tract of undevelop-
ed land of equal extent which present.
ed finer appearance. But the great
wealth of the section is in the never
faiingi supply of water which is
known to underlie the whole. AT a
depth of twelve feet; surface water can
always be secured which is of a good
quality and suitable for all domestic
purposes. Artesian water is Obtaina-
bic at an, n,average depth of one hun
dred and fifty or two hundred feet
This is guaranteed by the company
and, it would seem, on strong grounds.
| On all sides of the tract water has thus
| been secured, and there are no less
than twenty-five flowing artesian
wells in the vicinity. Near by, we
visited the we'll of Mr.. Sproul which
| throws a two-inch stream ten feet
above the surface, and is capable of
| irrigating eighty acres of land. An
other, on the premises of Mr.. j. z.
| James, throws volume of water to
| the surface seven inches in diameter.
Rising in the center at least three
inches above the top of the pipe and
bubbling over on all sides,
| it forms one of the prettiest
fountains which we have ever seen;
combining with its beauty an
immense amount of utility. This
well is down 1877 feet With proper
reservoir and distributing bitches, it
would irrigate 100 acres of land.
Artesia is to be divided into 40-acre
farms and, in the centre, a town will
be laid off in lots varying from 50xl50
feet to two acres. The town is to be
half mile square. 1t is located on
commanding ground, from which q
fine view can be had in all directions.
Mr.. Higbie is now engaged, with a
party, in surveying the tract, and ex-
poets to have his work finished next
week. He will divide the lands into
parcels ready for sale and occupancy,
without further expense for surveying
to purchasers. These lands will be
thrown upon the market at public