The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-25
THE PACIFIC SLOPE,
THE MODEL COLONY OF LoMPoc
C.lIfOrnI4-A Community Where Prohibition Pro.
hibi.s-rhs PscalIarlti.s Of the SETTLEMENT.
Tho Fertility Of the soil-A soliIequy
Among the MaasIre Ancient Rulas.

AMONG the Massive Ancient Rulns.
Correspondence erhe Iakligaoa.
Los ALANos, CAL, August l2.-1 have
Just visited the Lompoc Colony and the
surrounding country. This district is DIFF
ferent in one respect from the majority Of
the towns Of California. There is not "a
loon, or whisky shop, in the place. The
people appear to be thoroughly organized
against the liquor traffic. Their organiza-
ton corresponds somewhat with the Red
Men Of Barbour county, although they do
not 90 to such extremes. The first saloon
started, was torn down, and the proprietor
driven from the country. This was q
damper to the rest OF his profession; but, l
am told that two others were afterwards
built, and were blown up by some un-
known parties. This has been the last.
The town OF Lompoc pronounced Loan
polk) ia on the Santa Ynez river, nine
miles from its mouth, in Santa Barbara
county, Cal. Il is sixty.two miles north
from The city OF Santa Barbara, and is not
reached by any railroad, steamboat, or
stage line. 1t is an outos-the-way town,
but, II person will take the pains to cross
the rough mountain roads, II Is not 30 great
an undertaking to get there. Il 10 fifteen
miles from Los Alamos, which has railroad
connection with San Luis 0bispo, and
thence with the world.
Lompac is new settlement. l have
been pretty generally over the southern
part OF California, San Luis 0bispo, Santa
Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernadino and
San Diego counties, and find that the
greater part OF the good land Ia, or has re-
Gently been, covered by Spanish grants.
These arc deeds, in fee simple, OF large
tracts OF country to private individuals, by
Mexican authorities, while the country be-
lOnged to Mexico. This has been and is
still great drawback TO the colonization OF
Southern California. Many Of these grants
are not for sale, or for sale only in one
body, which bars all but capital from pur-
chasing. TO buy'a Spanish grant requires
from $50. 600 to 100000. have heard OF
a grant which was bought thirty years ago
from its original owner for $3.50. There
were As, 600 acres OF it. Some OF these grants
are now being cut up and sold in tracts to
suit the purchaser. The land tinds ready
sale. No good land remains long in the
market. 1t is not very extensively adyer-
tised, otherwise there would be much
greater rush for it than there is. There arc
also poor facilities OF travel through much
OF it, which fetards its development. 1t is
certainly better land than some in the in
terror Of the State, where it is more i'm
proved. No irrigation is required here.
Several large grants on and near the Santa
Yntz are for sale in small lots, and Santa
Barbara will soon be worth something to
the world, instead OF being the den OF Mexi.
cans, and an uuinhabited wilderness. Land
is worth from S. to 800 an acre in this
section. Good land caA be bought for $50.
NATURE OF THE LAND AND CLIMATE.
Lompoc was recently a grant Of about
$4,000 acres. Itwas bought by company
and sold to actual settlers, aud is now be.
coming noted place. The land is good
for agricultural, or fruit raising, but do
not think that grapes are success here
like in Fresno aud Los Angeles. But
apples, peaches, pears, plums, prunes aud
other similar fruits grow to perfection.
Frosts are known, but are not destructive.
Snow never lies on the ground. Fogs are
heavy In summer. The winter Is said 10
be warmer than the summer.
| was SO fortunate as to make the
acquaintance OF Mr.. W. W. Brorghton, one
OF the leading lawyers OF this county. He
resides at Lompoc, and was one Of its first
colonists. Visited his garden and orchard,
and found 30 much to fOreshadow the ex,
cellenco OF the district, that have come to
regard 1t soon to be one OF the first paris Of
the Golden State. His orchard is only
seven years old, yet the trees are bending
with most excellent fruit Trees oil that
age have from So TO Sl2 worth OF fruit on
them now. They grow without irrigation.
Los Angeles and Santa Barbara must long
remain the choicest districts OF California
at least south OF San Jose-but there are
other valleys soon 10 make rapid progress,
and shortly TO enter the lista with these
older settlements. The Santa Yncx Valley
strikes me as destined soon to be one wav-
ing and blooming orchard from mouth to
source. It is now almost uninhabited.
Then, the Los Critas, Los Alamos, Jesus
Maria, Santa Maria, in Santa Barbara, and
the narrow, but fertile wales OF San lIuis
Obispo are little less attractive. The
climate varies. II is all good. Near tho
coast it Is unsurpassed; but back among the
hills II gets hot in summer. Oranges and
lemons grow, but are not paying crop.
Bananas and 6gs ripen, but are little cult.
vated.
MASSIVE RUINS.