Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-06
FROM Amrslopu VALLEY.
Living Springs-Abundant Grasses :
Luxuriant Wild Flowers : Great
immigration : Flattering Pros
pects.

Living Abundant Grasses
Luxuriant Wild Flowers : Great
immigration : Flattering Pros
poets.
EDITOR HERALD: This may be local.
ity little known to your readers, though
it is an old camping ground for all sheep
men in Antelope Valley, situated l6
miles west Of Lancaster, alike noted for
its living springs of water and abundance
Of grass. About twenty-five years ago
a French Basque named Pierre Clos set
tied here, being attracted by the fine
cattle range and the shelter of the sur
rounding hills. Here tho Frenchman
built comfortable adobe house and
outbuildings, and here he died about five
years ago, leaving his widow, young
Spanish woman, section Of good land,
all fenced, and which contains the ever
living water known as Mud Springs, en-
numbered only by five stalwart sons and
one daughter. The widow has since
married French sheep man named
Duhard, and his sheep and her cattle
roam the thousand hills of the vicinity.
As said in my last letter, it has been
hard season for sheep men, Mr.. Duhard
among the number, he having last 600
out Of 900 lambs. The cattle business,
however, ia prosperous, and beef cattle
bring high price to make glad the
heart Of the stockmen.
GRASSES AND WILD FLOWERS.
The grass is up and doing well, though
not so forward as IL would be with
warmer weather. We have had no
heavy rains in the last two weeks, only
few slight showers having fallen. The
mountains fanking Antelope Valley are
covered with snow, the dark pine trees
and cedars forming an agreeable contrast
to the white landscape. The valley is
well carpeted with succulent grasses, on
which the sheep, cattle and horses Craze
with avidity. The wild flowers are pop
ping up their heads in profusion, and
large beds Of orange, tinged with purple,
deep red, white and pink, give rich
ness Of coloring that is very agreeable to
the eye.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VALLEY.
In recent trip to Lancaster station 1
saw nearly hundred cabins erected or
in course of completion, and the plow-
men in every direction turning up the
rich soil, preparing for generous har-
vest. Considerable of the grain plant
ing Is over and in many fields it is sew
eral inches high, and thick enough to
delight the most inveterate growler.
These settlers have come to stay, and as
an earnest of their purpose most Of them
bring their families and household
goods. Most of the settlers are from
the vicinity of the city Of Los
Angeles, but a number are from
the cold States of Iowa, Minnesota
and Nebraska, aud they, of course. are
delighted with the salubrious climate
and rich soil. They showed the greatest
astonishment when viewing the settlers
using cultivators, instead of plows, to
turn up the sod. that being to them
new style of breaking virgin soil.
AN ITALIAN COLONY.
A party of Italians from your city inS
tend locating near Mud Springs. being
attracted by its adaptation to the vine
and other productions of their native
country. The party have made several
trips to this neighborhood and have
carefully examined its gentle slopes and
rich valley land with great satisfaction.
As they are an industrious and thrifty
class. their advent will be heartily well
coined here. Altogether. the immigra-
tion is pouring steadily in, the bountiful
rains having assured all of a generous
harvest for the first seasons labor.
ELIZABETH LANE
Is situated about three miles south Of
here. and is now large sheet of water,
frequented by focks of waterfowl. Mr..
Frakes, the Postmaster, reports the
prospects for the season as first rate.
He also had the pleasure of getting reg
ular mails when Lancaster had none,
Elizabeth Lake mails being brought
from Newhall up San Francisquita
Canon on horseback once week. MIR.
Hefner, one of the best known settlers,
had valuable orchard badly overHowed
with wash of sand, but he still thinks
it will come out all right. Despite such
heavy rains the prospect is that the gen.
eral benefits will far exceed the losses in
isolated cases.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Lancaster has its hotel furnished at
last, and Mr.. Peter Richards, its propri-
eter, il happy in having the finest hotel
between Los Angeles and Mojave, out
side Of Newhall. This is sufficient ad-
vertisement for new place on the des-
ert ~. A new grocery has been opened,
showing that the country must be rapid
ly filing up when two stores are receiv-
ing generous patronage.
Game is very plentiful. Thousands of
valley and mountain quail are seen dali
ly; ducks and geese disport themselves
in the numerous ponds, and hundreds Of
antelope and deer have been driven from
the mountains by the snow. 1t is no
unusual sight to come across herds of
antelope numbering one hundred to one
hundred and fifty.
Capt. Kelleher has been up west of
Mojave, selecting yucca lands for the
English paper company. His surveys
have been satisfactory to settlers,
particularly as they have been verified
by government stakes, set nearly thirty
years ago, which he found.
The settlers of the valley have gensr-
ally signed petition to the supervisors
asking the appointment of Mr.. Dey,
competent gentleman, to the position of
justice of the peace and it is hoped
they viii not delay in responding.
An election precinct is also one OF the
great needs of the valley and Lancaster
would be the central point.
L. IL r