Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-11-17

DEAR HERALD: It Ia some five or
six years since Mr.. E. ]. Baldwin
went down into Los Angeles coun-
ty and bought the Santa Anita
rancho. OF the extensive improve
ments made on this property oil
Angslefios have heard. Mr.. Bald.
Wins Investments in the Santa
Anita must, by this time, stand
him in the neighborhood of half a
million dollars. Consequently,
great interest attaches to the prob
lem 30 to whether or no he has
succeeded in making the venture
pay. To point blank question OF
that purport which I put to him he
replied that the ranch had now be-
gan to yield very satisfactory in
come. As q general thing, when a
man Of large means turns his at
tention to farming, it is regarded
~ "fancy" experiment, and he is
supposed to be fritteripg away in
the crotchet some of the money
he makes in other ways. This is
certainly the case, nine times out
of ten, In the East. Mr.. Baldwin
informs me that he is realizing
heavily from the sales of his wines
and brandies. Phe success which
he achieved at the Mechanics
Fair in this city, and at other fairs
throughout the State, where be re-
ceived the first premium for his
brandies, has been a capital adver-
tisment for Los Angeles county.
1t is his intention to extend his
vinegar which already comprises
six hundred acrss,to one thousand
and to that end he will set Out
fully two hundred acres in vines
during the coming year.
THE TEMPERATE ZONE FRUITS.
Mr.. Baldwin Is OF opinion that
the orchardists of Los Angeles
county have already set out about
all the citrus fruits needed for the
present, and that greater attention
should henceforth be given to
pears, apples, peaches, apricots
and other fruits adapted to can
ming and drying. There is much
good sense in this idea. On the
short route Los Angeles canned
fruits would doubtless soon com
mand the markets OF the Mlssissip'
pi valley. A very great canning
industry ought shortly to sprini
up in Southern California. Mr.
Baldwin informs me that many o
the farmers and orchardists of tht
central and northern counties have
their eyes fixed on Los Angeles
and that they make frequent In
quiries of him for lands. DnriDg
the current season very large
proportion of the visitors to the
Orange Grove City will consist Of
this class Of men who are intent
upon locating themselves in Los
Angeles county. 1t is heartily te
be hoped that they will be met in
. cordial spirit, and that the price
Of real estate may be kept within
moderate bounds. 1t would be
very niudiclous indeed to scare
them away by exorbitant de-
mands.
AN ALARMED PRESS.
Since the announcement of the
Intention Of the Southern Pacific
Railway to chip wheat in bulk
overland to a Gulf port, some Of
the newspapers of the Golden Gatt
exhibit q great deal of trepidation
They see In this project menace
to the shipping interests of Sal
Francisco. Once put such a scheme
in successful operation, and the
myriad masts which now give
such an air of activity and bust
ness to the water front would be q
thing Of the past. No doubt there
IL ground for some Of this uneasi.
ness. The great feet of sailing yes
sells waiting to take on wheat has
been considerable element In the
prosperity Of San Francisco. To
these vessels she owes much
OF her growth. All the same, II
the Southern Pacific officials find
that they car ship wheat by rail
1t profit they will be very apt TO
do 1t. No sentimental regard for