Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-07-11

From the Pacific Rural Press.

| EDITORS Press u. w. & A. @
Huggins, formerly Of Iowa, have pur
chased that beautiful and valuabl
tract of land known in the neighbor
hood as the Alden place, located in tn,
foot hills Of the Santa Cruz range
which bounds the west side of Sant,
Clara valley. The tract consists o
eight hundred acres, more than half o
which is.steep mountain land, valua
BILE only for wood, wild pasture rang,
and beauty. 1t lies about two miles
south of Saratoga, and fronting OF
the public road between that plac,
and Los Gatos.
OF the 800 acres of tillable land, tn,
250 acres now under cultivation com
prises Of itself tract of much beau
ty and value as to its location, shape
quality of soil and surroundings.
1t consists Of q large plateau Of
smooth-surfaced land, filling q fan
shaped recess of the mountains, which
forms grand background to the
view, and bounds and shelters it on
all sides, except to the east which
lies open, overlooking the great San.
ia Clara valley; the handle of the far
answering to the narrow, rocky can.
yon at the head of the cove in the
mountain, and the gradual widening
out ofthe tract towards the open val.
ley, to that of an extended fan. This
| fine plateau is sufficiently elevated
above the valley to afford fine views
of 1t from every point. From the
public road which bounds it on the
east, the surface of this tract forms Q
gently inclined plain from the county
road up to the base of the mountains,
with the exception OF some smooth
little mound like hills on the north
and little valley bordering brook
on the south. The soil Of this slope,
as far as I observed, seemed to be a
rich, warm sand and grayelly loan.
was informed by Mr.. Hpggi4s
that his party after examining many
other localities, came to the conclusion
that this place, ss far as they were
able to judge, combined more desir-
able conditions for the purposes de-
sired than any they had seen.
1t is the intention Of the proprietors
to permanetly improve the place by
planting about 200 acres to such nuts
and fruits as may be best adapted to
the soil and climate.
A large proportion of this area
will be devoted to almond culture, as
it is thought that the location and
soil are peculiarly adapted to this
business. English walnuts, prunes
and other fruits will each have such
allotted space as may be thought best
adapted to the locality. 1t is also the
intention of the proprietors to devote
some acres of the most favored local
tiles to the growing of oranges, lem
ons and other semi-tropical fruits.-
Perhaps the rich little valley, with its
warm, sunny slopes, through which
the brook flows, may be thought q
good place for these.
Although the new firm did not get
possession slast winter, in time to
make any very extensive plantations
of trees, yet they made good start
in this direction, and what they have
done looks business like and well.
Their first work was to build a
temporary dwelling house, large
enough to accommodate them till per-
manent improvements could be made.
A large, neat looking cottage, in q fine
natural grove, near the mouth Of the
canyon, now answers that purpose
well. The site is a good one for
health, beauty and convenience -
From the front door, looking east
ward, the view is simply Splendid
From this elevation nearly the whole
of the place down to the public road
can be seen; beyond in the distance
the lovely Santa Clara valley, with
its cities, towns, farmhouses, orch
ards and live oak trees, lies like q
picture. Then beyond and above all
the view is bounded in the east by
the picturesque Coast range of noun
tains, with the blue. rugged crest of
Mount Hamilton towering over all.
A few rods above the house is an
immense water tank, from which the
house, yard and fountains are sup
piled with an abundance of pure
mountain water. With Mr.. ii. I
took walk up to where the water is
taken from the creek in small wood
en- tlume to the tank. A rough, mar
row path led US down to the clear
brook, which we crossed on flat step
ping stones,then following an old
wood road up the south side, the
whole way up to the head of the
flume, was through groves and shady
dells, wild tangled vines and bright
wild flowers, with the clear water of
the mountain stream bubbling and
foaming over the sto mes at the road
side, below our feet. G. w. M.