Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-07-18

Pasadena Colony Specimen OF the
Success of the Principle What a
Magical Wealth It has Produced
A Specimen OF What viii Follow
in Other Localities.

A Specimen OF What viii Follow
in Other Localities.
During the winter and spring Of 1873,
the exceptionally severe weather that
prevailed in the State Of Indiana, with
the train Of fierce climatic diseases that
follow such season in that region, in
ducsd number OF gentlemen who were
suffering from these diseases, to deter.
mine on removing to a more favored
cline. The newspapers were invoked
for information, and after reading
them up" on Florida, Texas and
California. Southern California was de-
termined upon as a location for settle
ment Of sufferers. A short article in the
local columns of the indianapolis Daily
journal, ia April, 1873. stating what the
sufferers intended to do in this country,
attracted much attention. In that ar
ticle, written by the writer Of this COM
munication, who had never seen Califor.
MIA, was an ideal picture Of what the
settlers intended to create in Southern
California. and hundred-fold more than
that ideal has been realized already.
After an examination of this section
of the State, with regard to all its re
sources and peculiar climatic advantages.
1t was determined to purchase the half
interest Of DR.. John s. Griffin in the
rancho San Pasoual, on the east bank of
the Arroyo Seco, at the west end of the
San Gabriel Valley, sheltered on the
north by the Sierra Madres, on the west
by the Verdugo mountains, and on
the south by beautiful foothills,
the whole having sunny slope and per.
feet drainage. There were many reasons
for this choice, Among them may be
mentioned its nearness to the railway,
about three miles distant; its nearness
to the city Of Los Angeles MS base Of
supplies while getting started, and as
market after crops had been grown; its
elevation above the sea of thousand
feet, making it especially advantageous
for persons suffering from catarrh or
bronchial affections, while from its geo.
graphical position, the daily sea breeze
passed about forty miles over shrubby
mountains before it reached this place,
bringing with it plenty of oxygen, and
none of that chill which prevails on the
coast. The air was found so soft and
peculiar that large number Of persons
suffering from asthma were re Iieved in
siugle days residence in that locality.
The topography of the ground was so
diversified as to give fine outlook to all
parts Of the tract, while the warm, rich
soil. so resensive Of moisture and above
the danger OF frost, was found most adj.
mirably adapted to the cultivation of
semi-tropicOl fruits Of superior quality.
A stock company was formed, called
the San Gabriel Orange Grove Associa-
ion. with capital Of $4,000. divided
into 200 shares of $3.50 each. About
800 acres Of land were purchased, for
SIS, 900, and the remainder used to de-
velop the water. which was brou ght
about three miles in an iron pipe to a
reservoir on the highest portion of 2,4o0
acres of land, and from this reservoir
carried in main delivery pipe down the
center Of the tract, while other di strib.
uting branches were laid to ramify all
over tract of 1900 acres, which was
subdivided among the shareholders, CIV
ing each share OF stock seven and half
acres Of land in fee simple. and an undi-
vidsd interest, besides, in the remainder
of the land and the water. Each share
would thus represent an ownership Of
l-200sh part of all the water, and the
common property of the association.
A portion Of the timbered land in the
Arroyo Seco was subdivided into small
tracts and sold to the stockholders and
the proceeds applied to the further de-
velopment of water from springs in the
Arroyo Seco Gallon. Since that time.
the balance of the land, about |, 400
acres. has been sold and the proceeds
applied to the purchase of additional
land containing aprings, and an engine
and pump to use in case OF necessity, on
some portion of the land. The land
was purchased December 26th, 1879,
and the survey and subdivision made in
January. 1874, and the water brought
into the reservoir May 26th. 1874.
The season was so far advan ced that
but little was done till the Winter Of
ls74-5, when ], 800 fruit trees and lo0,-
600 vines were planted and twenty-five
houses erected, aud the streets graded
and bordered with hedges which added
great attraction to the settlement.
As the project of this colony was
originated at indianapolis it naturally
took the name of the Indiana Colony, f"
but the commanding position Of the
place at the head of the valley suggested
a name that should signify the "crown
of the valley and, accordingly. the In
dian name Pasadena, meaning crown of
the valley, was adopted as the name of
the settlement.
Judge b. 5. Eaton was the first Presi-
dent Of the association, assisted by Cal.
viz Fletcher, P. M. Green, A. o. Porter,
w. 7. Clapp. T. F. Croft and D. NJ.
Berry, directors. In all the plans and
operations Of the society the directors
aimed only for the greatest good to the
chat eholders, and in no manner to their
individual interests. So admirably was
the subdivision accomplished that when,
on the 9th day Of January, 1874, the
shareholders, twenty-seven in number,
were invited to select their several tracts
embraced in the 1900 acres, each and
everyone secured the position desired,
without controversy or premium for
preference.
In the Spring of 1876, the lands of
the Lake Vineyard Land and Water
Association, adjoining the lands of the
Pasadena Colony on the north and east,
we're subdived by the owners, Messrs
B. d. Wilson aud ]. De Barth Shorb,
iuto l0-acre tracts. with the Pasadena
streets extending through them. and