Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-01-01

der the Summers delightful, and the
Winters are very mild. AS place of
residence there is no more desirable
location on the Pacific coast, and the
expenditure of a few thousand dollars
in public improvements would make
the town extremely attractive to tour
lists and invalids. There are several
homes in Wilmington that vie with
any in this section of the country in
point of beauty, adornment and COM
fort, among which are those of e. N.
Macdonald, B. ID. Wilson and Gen.
Phinneas Banning.
During the past year there arrived
at Wilmington, exclusive of those re-
turning from San Diego, 800 vessels,
of which l6l were sailing vessels and
l39 steamers. These figures do not in
clude the small crafts that ply between
the ports of the lower coast. The to-
tai number of entries and departures
is in excess of 400. During the year
there were 67 sailing and steam ves-
sells discharged at the Wilmington
Wharf, the remainder discharging and
taking on cargo by lighter.
SANTA MONICA
Is new town on the coast, seventeen
miles in a direct line West of Los
Angeles 1t sprung into existence on
the commencement of the Los Angeles
and Independence Railroad in Janua-
ry, 1875. The support of the town is
derived from the railroad and ship
ping interest, and the patronage of
pleasure seekers. It's merits as wa
tering place are set forth under the
head of ''Pleasure Seeking' in anoth-
er column. Santa Monica forms one
of the two ports by which Los Angeles
receives and dispatches her ocean pas
sengers and freight. The harbor is
fully described in the following article
from the Santa Monica Outlook:
The distance from Point Duma to
Point Vincent is thirty miles, and the
depth of the bay is ten miles; that is,
from straight line between the two
points to the shore terminus of the
wharf. Allowing for the curvature of
the land side, the bay has an area of
about 250 miles. There are no obstruc-
tions, and the water gradually deep
ems to fifty fathoms at the outer edge.
The land-break against the winds,
which is elevated, extends from a
point north-north-west to q point
south-south-east. Santa Catalina Is
land, distance twenty-eight miles, is
due South, and Santa Barbara Island,
distant about thirty-five miles, is a
little North of West. 1t will be seen
by this that our only exposure is to
the Southwest. An old sea-Captain,
who has been sailing up and down
this southern coast for the past twenty
years, tells us that the Sou'-westers
are less frequent than any other winds,
and they never last over six hours.
The waters of the bay have been re-
markably quiet, and there has never
been time since the construction of
the wharf when n vessel could not
land. Panama and San Francisco
steamers, and a large number of sail
ing vessels have made frequent land
ings, yet there has never been an ac
cident. The wharf is a substantial
structure, l740 feet long, and termi-
mates in twenty-four-foot water at low
tide. 1t is the intention of the Com
pany to add two hundred feet, which
will reach depth of water sufficient
to make assurance doubly sure" that
the largest deep-sea vessels afloat can
land with perfect safety.
Thus it will be seen that while San
ia Monica Bay is not perfect harbor,
it is most excellent landing-pro-
nounced the best by sea-Captains, on
the Southern coast. Besides it is the
most accessible point to Los Angeles
valley, which is, par excellence, the
most attractive region of Southern
California. All the practicable ap-
proaches for overland railroads open
into this valley, which contains about
1900 square miles of tillable land; the
vast mineral regions lie back of it;
and view the question as we may, the
great interests of this Southern coun-
try center around Los Angeles valley,
whose outlet is at Santa Monica.
CIENEGA AND LA BALLONA.
Two fertile sections lying between
Los Angeles and the coast, on the line
of the Los Angeles and Independence
Railroad, are known by the above
names. The Cienega is a low, some
what marshy stretch of land, ten miles
in length by three in width. The
water stands near the surface, and
grass grows the year round. 1t is we'll
adapted to pasturage, and grains and
vegetables do well on many portions
of it. La Ballona adjoins this tract
on the West and is of about equal
size. The land is higher though we'll
watered, and the section is settled
mostly by Spanish. The land is very
fruitful and produces fruits, vegeta-
bles and grains in abundance. There
is good school in the district under
the supervision of Thomas A. Saxon,
County Superintendent of Schools
elect. A station has been established
on the line of the road and is called
Palomares, after one of the most prom
inent citizens. Lands in this section
range from $25 to $50 an acre.
SAN FERNANDO
Is a town of less than two years.
growth and contains some two or
three hundred Inhabitants. 1t is twen-
two miles north of Los Angeles, and,
until the extension of the line to the
tunnel about two months ago, it was
the terminus of the Southern Pacific
Railroad and as such derived some
special Importance. The surrounding
valley is adapted to the raising of