Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-06-08
LETTER FROM ORANGE.
Fair Haven SettIement-A Good Re-
port OF Cr0ps-Temperance Senti-
ment of the Place-A Homo for I'm.
vniIds ds-Interesffng Particulars.

EDITOR HERALD: We have new
colony near us. Mr.. Messenger is
starting settlement about four miles
Southeast of our place. was over the
locality yesterday, and took good
look at the surroundings.
FAIR HAVEN,
For so Mr.. Messenger has christened
it, is situated on the mesa immedi-
ately below the foothills. 1t is en-
braced both on the North and South
by ridges that extend considerable
distance out upon the plain. The ridge
on the Northern side will shelter the
new town almost entirely from the
Northers, or ''Santa Anas," as we
call them here, that are such nui-
sance occasionally to the rest of the
plain. Mr.. Nj. offers these lands, COM
prising several hundred acres, espe-
cially to Episcopalian communicates
and persons favorable to the Episcopal
church. He places the price this year
at thirty dollars per acre, but this low
rate will soon be quadrupled, perhaps
in one year, in the legitimate rise in
value of the land. The lands of the
tract are of several kinds. Some is
pure adobe, but the greater portion is
of the finest loam, such as has been
shown by experience to be best adapt
ed for fruit and vegetable raising and
flower gardening. When the railroad
is extended to the San Joaquin Ranch,
lying to the South of Fair Haven, the
tract will have as favorable access to
the depot as Orange itself. There can
not be particle of doubt that this land
will produce anything grown in any
part of the county, and its peculiar To-
cation, up on the mesa and near the
hills, on the warm belt, renders 1t ex-
tremely probable that the banana and
similar plants can be cultivated sue
cessfully. A water ditch above the
tract has already been dug and the
lands are ready for immediate occupa-
tion, a part having already been set to
vineyard. For residences the location
is very fine one, as the whole tract
overlooks the great valley containing
the Rancho de Santiago de Santa Ana
and the Rancho de San Joaquin. The
view is very beautiful, but it is from
Rattlesnake Hill, about one mile dis
tant, that the eye is delighted with
the most lovely picture the mind can
imagine. Stretching out from our feet
forty miles to the left and ten to the
right lies the Happy Valley, beautiful
with sycamore groves, waving grain
fields and bright green meadows. One
tries to fancy the scene when every
spot shall be green and blooming with
flowers and covered, so near in the flu
ture, with the happy homes of a hum
dred thousand living souls. The ocean
lies in full view, and the islands in the
distance. Wilmington harbor, the
lighthouse, and away off to the North
west the school-house "On the hilP' in
Los Angeles, all assist in forming a
scene as varied and interesting, as
bright and beautiful, as one could de-
sire to look upon.
NEWS ABOUT TOWN.
But to leave these things that no.
body will believe until they come and
see for themselves, let me give you
the items about town. They are all
practical, as we are a practical people
here and indulge in sentiment only
when we get on top of Rattlesnake or
some other hill and think how delight
full it will all be when so many people
fill up the country that our land will
bring thousand dollars an acre, easy
The well-directed enterprise of Messrs.
Neill & Benedict, who opened livery
and stage stable a few weeks ago, has
met with merited success. Their
teams are busy nearly all of the time,
and from their cheerful cOuntenances
it is easy to draw the inference that
the harvest of dimes is satisfactory
Their success is simply due to the fact
that they have met long-felt need.
There are yet tother directions in which
enterprise and capital can profitably
be turned here, outside of the farming
interest, which will take care of itself.
Success to the firm of Neill & Benedict
and may many more like them come
among us.
NJ GhAOShOIIER HhhoOC'
We read great deal about the
grasshoppers in Kansas, and some are
said to even visit Los Angeles. We
confess to few in the neighborhood,
but nobody complains of damage done
by them. A gentleman who has lived
here four years, and whose business
takes him all over the tract about
every three days, told me that he has
never known of their doing any ma
terial injury to crops during the entire
period of his residence here. There
are no fears of them among the peo-
pie, although an estray grassbopper is
quite common sight.
Some of my friends object to my
spelling of the "San Diagus." 1t is
wrong, admit; but | gave the ex-
preston as / most often heard it, and,
like the valedictory student that made
somebody else's speech, :" 1 had it in
quotation marks"
THE GOOD TEMPLARs.
We had an eloquent address last
Monday evening by Mr.. Fitzpatrick,
on the subject of temperance. This
gentleman is doing much good by his
addresses in different parts of the
State. If he can only make a speech
that will keep away the saloon-man
who is coming, we will make him up
a purse. Saloons may be very desira-
BILE sometimes, but we feel quite able
to get along without your assistance
so do keep away, if you please. Mr..
Fitzpatrick organized a branch of the
State Temperance Alliance and en-
rolled body of nineteen members-a
pretty good evenings work.