Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-21
sscaAMasrAEs ABROAD.

EDS. RECORD UNION On the 18Th Of
March company of thirsy-six excursionists
left Sacramento for the sunny southern chimes
of cur varied and beautiful State. That
future excursionists mag have the benefit Of
our mistakes and learningg, propose to give
them TO the public, based upon facts as
near as our party can put them down,
warning all that different minds take in OBJ.
jects differently. On the route we found the
grain suffering from the drsught, but not 70
the extent anticipated. All the way, until
night spread her veil over the land, we foun
rich 6elds of green grain, and after reaching
the outer limits of the fertile lands of Los
Angeles county, we found again the springing
promise Of good harvest. / do not boast
that any place looks better on an average
than Sacramento county, but many places
remind one that the farmers have reason to
be satisfied with their surroundings. It is
not the grain prospects, however, that
propose to discuss here.
We started to visit the citrus fairs of San
Bernardino county and that of National
City, San Diego county, and as good business
men will work from some plan, we went
straight through to San Diego, and then took
in the places Of interest on the way back. We
found National City small place, new and
full of energy and thrift. The hotel accom-.
modations were more than could have been
expected, and without being patronizing
every one seemed to try to make our visit
pleasant. The fair was in full blast, and the
fruits exhibited were of excellent quality !;
such in fact as we have never seen in the Sac
rsmento markets. Not only the citrus fruits,
but apples, pears, olives, and other fruits in
glass, and vegetables of marvellous size-a
head of a caulihower weighing q pounds {;
apples Of several varieties, which were tasted
and found finer favored than I ever ate from
our valleys or mountains IN Central Califor-
MIA. The largest oranges that il has been my
lot to see were of Naval" variety, three
of which taken together weighing four
pounds. This place seems to be one
Of the homes OF the orange, lime and
lemon. Nature has given them good eli
mate, never higher than So Fahrenheit, and
seldom cold enough to freeze water. II has
also given them good soil not the richest,
but free from salts and qualities noxious to
fruits. The men and women who live here
have done the rest, for the rain has to be
drawn to the surface with pumps from depths
varying from 60 to so feet Such pumping
makes irrigation work prosecuted under
difficulties, but the perseverance and energy
OF the people are supreme, and the success Of
semi.tropical fruits at National City is fact
accomplished.
The Kiuball Brothers have been the pio-
neers, but their enterprise has been seconded
strongly OF late by later Corners. We found
Mr.. Swayne (the gantlemanly ex.clerk Of the
ex. firm of NJ. G. Hswley & co., one of The
live spirits Of the colony. Most of our party
took trip TO old Mexico, just to zee how we
would feel breathing foreign cir. We found
quite difference in the price of land in the
two empires. On the United States side of
the line it was worth $100 per acre IN Mexico,
% cents per acre. the quality of the soil being
exactly alike. What boon Is granted to all
who live under the stripes and stare. But
we cannot stop long in one place, so we turn
back and visit San Diego, a place the new
railroad has infused with new life. 1t has
many handsome residences, among them that
of J. S. Harbinson, the great busy bee man
Of California. Our party was received by the
citizens with that quiet dignity, but genial
warmth, thatwins the whole heart. After a
short stay there, we had TO bid adieu and
wend our course backward TO Riverside, where
we found the hardest of uncomfortable
vehicles to take us from the station to the
town, and giving the first bad impression
since the commencement of our travels. We
found, however, at the fair very large dis
play Of fruits, but not so large as at National
City. The quantity was greater, but on
sampling the fruit we found it light and
spongy, and not equal in favor or juciness to
that of San Diego. This lack of qualities,
which go to make an orange palatable, was
ascribed to the hard frosts, the Thermometer
having been as low the past winter as 2i0
The Land and Water Companyha shown
remarkable energy in selling lands and re-
serving the water rights, go that go much
more land has been sold than the supply of
water will iIrigate, that many think the fail
ure of the orange in quality is due to lack Of
water. Be that as it may, their crop the
present season is O failure, so far as quality
goes. After staying short time there, we
were glad to get away, even in the same
miserable conveyance that carried us to the
place. was glad We visited it, because l
should have otherwise gone through life sup.
posing it to be the best location in Southern
Cslifornis, but as It is, l am willing to let
those who like it have it.
San Bernardino is giving moro attention to
other fruits than to the citrus variety. It
seems to be the land of flowing wells, which
number about five hundred, varying from one
hundred to three hundred and fifty fact in
depth. The country about there looks much
more as though it was capable of producing
everything than any other place visited, mora
especially so the land about the old Mission
Of San Bernardino, where we found the finest
quality of oranges we met with, but none SO
large ss the heavy weights before mentioned.
We found none of the Naval variety, but
plenty of the Wedertern, which are very
sweet, and others of seedlings, which were
exceedingly fine. We have explored the
country quite thoroughly, and ii asked where
the most favored locality by Nature alone is
to be found, where to raise the orange, we
would say, without hesitation, "Old San
Bernardino." 1t produces alfalfa and grain
abundsntly. For climate, National City has
the palm. Our company have enjoyed good
health, and seem TO endure the rough knocks
of the trip well. We were in at the Press
entertainment at Riverside, and can give it
as our collective opinion that making speeches
is not their forte. Barnes seemed to have
the whole load on bis shoulders, but he car.
ried it without difficulty. Our party is TAX
ing in everything with becoming grace, and
is having jolly time generally, but we think
old Sacramento county the boss yet. "*#
Los Angeles, March Is, 1888.