Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-23
The Celebration Of the San Gabriel Orange
Grove Association.

Inc CeleDration OF Inc oan oaDTiei orange
Grove Association.
Yesterday we received q very kind
invitation from Mr.. D. NJ Berry to
attend the celebration of the dividing
of the land at Pasadena, also having
a seat in his carriage at our disposal,
we took our place about 8 o'clock and
started. The first thing which attract
ed our attention was the fine building
being erected by the Los Angeles Fur
niture Company on the Desnoyers
tract, near San Fernando street. Pass
ing along at good pace everything
seemed familiar until we got to the
crossing of the Arroyo Seco, where
things looked good deal as if that
little creek had been turning every
thing to suit itself without thought
as to the convenience of passers along
the road. We soon arrived at the land
of the generally known "Indiana Col
ony.n Being little late we whipped
up the horses and soon caught up to
the procession which was passing
around the grounds of the company.
Some of the finest land in California
lies iii that district, and it is wonderful
| to see what skilful labor will do in 4
short time in this climate. About l.
O'Clock Judge Eaton was nominated
President of the day, and made some
very appropriate remarks. The Judge
was the first settler on the ranch and
only had two neighbors until with
| in the last two or three years.
Dr. Elliott followed with a historical
statement of that part Of the county.
| He says that two years ago there had
been nothing done at all. The first
| company was formed in 1873, but on
account of the failure of Jay Cook &
Co. the whole thing died out, but was
afterward resurrected by Mr.. Berry,
Mr. Fletcher, Judge Eaton and Mr..
Croft, who have nobly kept UP their
part to make it success. Within the
last eighteen months over forty fami-
lies have settled there, and it is al
ready quite a settlement. Within that
time they have set out 10, l47 lemon,
lime and orange trees, and also 1000
dedciduous trees besides. This does
not count the nursery which contains
over 100000 in fine condition. Mr..
Fletcher was the next speaker, and
after some very fiowery comparisons
with European scenes, introduced Mr..
Berry who, with II solemn face, said
several things that were pretty dry
and humorous, and then explained
how the lands Were divided up so that
each man could pick out just what he
wanted. He then proceeded to read
the following poem, which was heard
with much pleasure by ali:
Coming down along the ages.
Through millenniums of years,
This charming land of beauty
Which now the vision cheers,
Has been waiting for our advent,
For our enterprise and skill,
For our busy hands to labor
Our indomitabie will.
And the rugged, ancient landmarks,
Which shown many place,
Attest the former presence
Ofa prehistoric race.
How they lived and how they labored,
And why destroyed at last,
May never reach our knowledge
From the records OF the past;
But we must admire the judgment
OF this unremembered race,
That chose this home of beauty
For their former dwelling place;
And how, too, that wise Providence
That moved them from the spot,
And left the way all open
For our happy chosen lot
Bat, back of all earth's races,
When times record first began,
The spirit moved the waters
Before it moved the man.
And now sound science tells us
Our whole great solid earth
And all the planets round her
In water had their birth.
Though the brnks of the San Gabriel
Yield their silver and their gold,
Yet the soil Of this fair valley
Greater riches doth unfold
And the dry and thirsty acres
Wait the resurrecting hand;
When the life producing water
Write resurgam on the land;
Theu along the sunny hllsides,
From the richly clustering vine,
Behold the hand of Providence
Changeth water into wine.
With song and praise and gladness
We hail this water power,
And celebrate her coming
At this auspicious hour.
We chantthe praise of water,
The mother of the world,
Whose floating, cloud-spread banner
Shall never more be furled
But over all the nation
Her blessing shall extend
In beauty and in glory,
Till history shall end.
SO great and vast her uses,
In earth and sea and sky,
We may so learn to love her