Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-01-01

Angeles River rises III Tue Can or
nando Valley, and runs Southeasterly,
supplying the city of Los Angeles
with water forirrigati0n and domestic
purposes. Most of the water is now
taken from the river bed above the
city, but in very wet seasons there Is
a respectable stream which flows
through the valley about Is miles and
unites with the San Gabriel. The San
ia Clara River runs through the San
to Clara Valley, the Northern portion
of which is in this county. In addi-
ton to these are smaller streams
which in the aggregate supply much
water. Among them are the Arroyo
Seco, Santa Anita, San Jose, San Anto-
nio, Los Cayotes, de la Brea, Santa
Argus and Centinela. There is sui
ficient water from all these sources, II
properly utilized, to irrigate half the
land in the entire valley.
The Los Angeles Valley, the most
productive and desirable in the State,
and one destined to teem with popula-
ton needs some description. 1t is
bounded on the Northeast by the foot
hills, dividing this valley from San
Fernando and Ell Monte Valleys, on
the Southwest by the ocean, and on
the Northwest by the ocean and the
foothills. This valley in Northwes.
terly and Southeasterly direction is
fully so miles in length and some 20
miles wide, so that it contains one
thousand square miles, or 10000
acres. OF this land 160, 900 acres may
be classed as grazing, 100000 grape
and Semi-Tropical fruit, and 1000
acres superior corn lands equally
adapted for barley, rye, oats, millet,
potatoes, hops, &c. 1t is estimated
that at least 800, 900 acres of this land
can be irrigated. 1t lies most favora-
BILE for purposes of irrigation, being a
level plain with q fall of 10 feet per
mile in Southerly direction. The
water can be detected on either side
from the rivers that flow through it.
Many very large bitches are already
constructed in this valley leading the
water from the rivers, and others are
being dug at the present time. The
supply of artesian water in this val
ley is also the most prolific yet discov-
cred in the State, flowing wells being
obtained over an immense area, at
depths ranging from forty to two hun
dred feet The soil, as q rule, is rich
sandy leam, easily worked, and very
productive. There are farms in this
valley that have been under constant
culture for a century, and the yield is
as bountiful to-day as when the first
crop was planted. Irrigation seems to
renew the soil and maintain its fertil-
ity. In some PORTIONS of the valley
there is an excess Of alkali, but this
can be eliminated by the introduction
of beets and other things which re-
quire large amount of potash.
Los Angeles Valley back of the
foothills includes what is known as
San Fernando, Ell Monte and San Ga
briel Valleys, and also part of the
Chino Valley, and is 45 miles in
length East and West, averaging A
miles in width, lying between the
foothills and the Sierra Madra. 1t
contains about 200 square miles or
10000 acres. This may be subdivid-
ed into $4,000 acres grazing land, 45,-
900 acres for vineyards and Semi-Trop-
ical fruits, and $4,000 acres for grain
and common fruit. This includes the
celebrated San Gabriel Fruit Belt
This valley being further removed
from the sea coast is adapted for wheat,
and all the other grains flourish. The
entire Los Angeles Valley therefore
contains 1000 miles or 10000 acres,
with large and fine sea coast, having
four landings and two very fair har-
bors. The climate and soil of this val
ley are unsurpassed in the United
States, all things considered. In point
of fertility they are not equaled by
the best lands Of the Mississippi Val.
ley, nor Ohio River bottoms. In va
riety of productions no section can
surpass Semi-Tropical California. All
the grains, fruits, roots and vegetables
are successfully cultivated. Winter
and Summer grains do equally well,
the fruits not only of the temperate
but of the tOrrid zones are grown, and
with great profit, and in the line of
vegetables the most eXacting would
be satisfied. During nine months of
the year the kitchen garden supplies
the entire list, even to green peas and
roasting ears, and in sheltered local
tiles along the foothills the Winter
garden shows no difference from that
of mid Summer. This valley Is pecu-
liarly adapted for farming operations
by the Anglo-SaXon race. Outdoor
labor is pleasant the entire year. The
heat of Summer is never excessive,
and is tempered by the steady ocean
breeze. The mild Winter while cool
enough to invigorate the system, nev-
er retards farm work in the least.
Then the agriculturalist has the advan-
tage over his fellow-laborers In the
States of being able to SOW and reap
when it suits his convenience. This
point Is not to be overlooked in esti-
mating the advantages of this section.
There is no rush at seeding time. The
crops planted in mid Summer thrive
as well as those planted in the early
Spring, and during the Winter grain
may be put in at any time from De-
cember to March, though it is best in
this case to SOW as early as possible to
get the benefit of all the rainfall.
When to this is added the rotation of
crops, the planting and harvesting of
two or three different crops in a
twelve-months, each of which pays
handsomely, Southern California is
beyond question the farmers Eden.
But the inhabitants of this valley are
not confined to farming and stock