Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-05-05
CHINO RANCH.
A Photographic TrfP-san Gabriel
MissiOn-Ei Monte Farms s-Spadra-
Chino Ranch and an Old English
Gentleman.

EDITOR HERALD. Seeing your kind
notice of our intended trip photograph
ically to the above place in the HER
AID of last Tuesday, we ask your in
diligence in the following: Accompa-
MED by Mr. Carreras, equipped with tri-
pod, camera, nitrate solution, and other
necessary paraphanalia for our dear
work, we started as per notice. The
day was cloudy and cool with just suf-
ficient breeze to make riding peculiar
ly pleasant and invigorating.
SAN GABRIEL.
An hours drive brought us to San
Gabriel Mission, with its vineyards
and orange groves, and the old Mission
church standing out from the sur
rounding scenery in bold relief. This
we passed some three-fourths of "a
mile to the right, and whirled along
up and down gentle elevations on the
mountains side, and over long stretch
es of level plain, on as smooth and level
a road as old McAdom ever dreamed
of, and in fact the whole of the way
was over so good road that we doubt
if McAdomizing would improve it, un
less, perhaps, some two or three miles.
Ell MONTE.
Twelve miles out and we came to Ell
Monte, with its beautiful farms, shaded
trees, and green fields, surrounded
with live fences, presenting pleasing
contrast with the brown plain and
mountain just passed. Everything
here bears the marks of thrift, and an
air of comfort, quiet and repose, per-
vaded the entire district
sPADRA.
Leaving Eel Monte we pass over
mile or two of heavy road, that finally
ends at the crossing of the San Gabri-
ell river, now at high tide, and now
with long plain before US, and OH
either hand covered with large herds
of cattle and sheep, surrounded by ev-
erlasting hills in the distance, we pass
on to
SAN JOSE,
the loveliest little valley on the route,
nesting close along the mountains
base, clothed in deepest emerald, with
pleasant homes dotting its entire
length. Finally surrounding spur of
the mountain, at a slight elevation
we behold Spadra, the present termi-
nus of the S. P. r. r., in the distance,
and it can be truly said in this instance
that "distance lends enchantment to
the view. Spadra is also headquarters
for mountain supplies, and a dozen or
more mountain schoonersn were here
undergoing repairs and waiting for
their loads.
CHINO RANCH.
A mile beyond Spadra, at the sug-
gestion of friendly guide-board, we
left the main road and took our way
down an extensive valley, and an
hours ride brought us to the ranch
proper, where we were welcomed by
Mr.. Stewart, the gentlemanly lessee,
and one of the most successful sheep
owners in Southern California. 1t
was the last day of shearing, in which
some fifty hands had been employed
for two weeks, which will give you
some idea of the magnitude of his
flOcks and the amount of his wool clip.
Much of his stock is full blood Spanish
merino, fine animals indeed and shear
ing twenty pounds to the head of the
finest and most valuable wool.
Our object being to secure views of
the merino family for Mr.. Stewart,
after lunch we unpacked our kit and
soon secured some fine negatives. 1t
now being late, we postponed further
operations until morning.
We found Mr.. Stewart very sOciable
and entertaining and a fine type of the
old English gentleman. Being Al,
amateur artist himself, he gave us
many pleasant "reminiscences of his
Photographic experience, with speci-
mems of his skill, taken in India, Ire
land, Scotland and England, and
showed us his beautiful and valuable
instruments for field work, all made to
order and much of it of his own design
ing. At late hour we retired, and
being somewhat weary after our long
ride and labors, we were soon wrapped
in forgetfulness in the land of dreams.
In the morning we finished up our
work, and after partaking of bounti-
full breakfast we took leave of our
pleasant host and patron, well pleased
with our trip professionally and
financially, as Mr.. Stewart, know
ing how hard it is generally for
the black fingered professionals pho
Geographically to get along, preferred in
his generosity to patronize the craft
rather than do the work himself, al
though fully prepared and competent.
And now, Mr.. Editor, should you
ever visit the Chino Ranch you will
find a pleasant place, social and en-
terJaining host, and have a good time
generally. Them's our sentiments.
Yours, photographically,
S. 2. SMITH.
(tn-... xu;I 1QzE