Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-06-05
SANTA ANA LETTER.
Description of the COuntry-Business
Prosperity Church and Sabbath
school NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Wells
Ana Enterprising Population.
NUMBER l.

Santa Aua Is proving its claim to
much greater consideration from the
HERALD than it has heretofore re-
ceived. 1t is wide-awake place, and
has q bright future before it. Even
should the depot not be placed near
the town-and this Is about settled in
its favor it has the essential elements
OF success within itself. It has good
soil, fine system of irrigation SO far
as it is needed, perfect climate, and
enterprising citizens. And are not
these enough?
There are three general business
houses in the place, those of M. Frankel
& Co., Messrs. Harlin & Wakeham,
and w. H. Spurgeon. The last-named
is now finishing handsome new store
building with lodge room above. This
building would be an ornament to any
of our towns, and speaks we'll not only
for Mr.. SpuTgeon but for Santa Ana
itself. The store is sixty feet long by
twenty-six wide, the stories being
twelve and thirteen feet high respec-
lively. The lodge room above will be
neatly finished, and will have ante
rooms and all desirable conveniences.
The whole building will be hard fin
ished inside as well as out, and the
total cost will be about $500. The
lodge room will be used by the Ma
sons, Odd Fellows, Changers and Good
Templars. Another building of the
same general style could be built here
with advantage, as the upper story
could be utilized for offices, etc.
The livery stable of Santa Ana, kept
by Mr.. H. Hickey, is doing good
business and well repaying the enter
prise of its popular proprietor.
DR.. Cunningham has closed out the
stock and good will of his drug store
in favor of Drs. Cummings and Burt
net, who keep very neat and well
furnished drug store.
There is well kept hotel, but it Is
not large enough to meet the demands
of travel. Here is splendid opportu-
nifty for investment, and any person
coming here for the purpose of erect
ing q commodiOus hotel building will
meet with every encouragement the
people of the place can give, and will
most certainly meet rich pecuniary
reward. 1t may be called the one
great need of the place at the present
time.
The school here is taught by Miss
McFadden, and is large and in good
condition. The school building is suf-
ficient for the immediate present, but
the growth of the school indicates that
very soon new building must be
erected or new wings added to the old.
There are several other business
places here, among which may be
mentioned two saloons, three black
smith shops, one wheelwright shop,
three butcher shops, millinery and
dressmaking establishment, tin shop,
etc. The proprietors of all these places
have all they can do to attend to the
wants Of their customers, and the
amount of work is steadily increasing.
The indications are that large town
will be built up somewhere in this
immediate neighborhood in a very
few years, and some of the more SAN
guine predict that even Los Angeles
must look out for rival. Be that as
it may, no citizen here but has firm
faith in the future of his chosen home,
and each is doing his utmost to realize
his expectations.
Artesian wells are quite common here
and can be had for moderate boring.
One in the centre Of the place flows
several inches of water and supplies
the public need.
In the Northern and Eastern por-
tions of Santa Ana the soil is sandy
loan, like that of Orange, while in
other parts it resembles the celebrated
corn lands of Gospel Swamp. This
last needs of course no irrigation at
any time, and always yields the largest
crops. 1t is OH this land that the large
farms of Mr.. Palmer and the Messrs.
McFadden are situated. Each of these
ranches contains about seven hundred
acres, and is principally seeded with
corn. Mr.. Palmer has this season set
out large numbers Of eucalyptus trees,
and expects to reap large profit in
the near future, as he undoubtedly
will.
1t is estimated that on the swamp
lands extending from Santa Ana to
the other side Of Gospel Swamp there
are at least four thousand acres plant
ed with corn, an equal amount with
wheat and barley, and about one
thousand acres with beans and pota-
toes. When we remember that this
land yields on an average seventy-five
bushels of corn to the acre, and other
crops in proportion, it is easy to un-
derstand the prosperity of these peo-
pie and the contentment they exhibit
in their homes.
The upper loan lands are largely set
with fruit trees and vineyards. They
exhibit the most pleasing condition,
and promise to rival those of Orange
itself. But my letter is long enough
this time. Mr.. Editor, I am always
enthusiastic about the country OH this
side of the Santa Ana river, and talk
much in superlatives; but if any per-
son thinks exaggerAte let him stay
here few months, study the country,
mingle with the people freely, and he
will grow as enthusiastic as myself.
w.
Santa Ana, June I'd, 1875.