Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-30
Alpine. Big andlltsle Rock Creek. Es.

EDITOR OF THE Los ANGELES HERALD.
The writer is not Gland shark, nor
possessed with either design or desire to
"boom" any personal or other than a
public interest. Hehad the good for
tune to receive an invitation recently
from gentleman who believed that he
might exchange mercantile pursuits in
Los Angeles for farming in the adjacent
mountains to his pecuniary advantage as
well Us to his personal comfort and en-
joyment, to visit his ''ranch" and make
himself at heme" on a newly acquired
property, where he was living bachelor
life. his family being still in the city.
The landing was made at Alpine station,
on the line Of the s. p. R. R., at an alti'
tude Of about 257O feet, as he was told.
above sea level. The cabin had been
built upon half section bought Of the
railroad company close to the stations
and 1t was soon discovered that through
that beautiful valley, hemmed in by
mountains, considerable number Of the
many thousands of acres constituting a
strikingly rich and promising farming
and fruit region was already being torn
up by the plow and planted to fruit.
trees and the vine. No richer soil fer
any purposes of cultivation can be con-
ceived. Water is easily obtainable and
Of excellent quality, in wells from TWEEN
ty to forty feet in depth; springs Of the
purest being frequent along the foothills
and in the cafions of the main range Of
mountains. 1 was told by an old resi-
dent OF nearly twenty years, between
Alpine and Elizabeth Lake, that the
region was, by his own experience, the
best wheat country in Southern Califor-
mia; and, without doubt, the best for the
culture Of the apple, plum, cherry and
small fruits. The rainfall is more than
ordinary, the condemnation of the mois-
ture pervading the atmosphere during
west, south and southwest winds as they
strike the ridge OF the main range oi
mountains, causing almost daily fog and
rain during the spring months, even ai
late as into June. Taking advantage oi
these features of the region, several
thousand acres of railroad, government
and State school lands have been la tsly
taken up by confident farmers, and moi
only do green fields of wheat, barley and
oats greet the eye Of the traveller along
the line of the road, but closer inspec
ton reveals the fact that hundreds Of
fruit-trees and many thousands of grape
vines have been planted this spring
throughout the valley, which give every
promise Of successful growth. There is
also colony establishing itself along the
foot t-hills, from six to ten miles to the
eastward Of Alpine, where the waters Of
both Big and Little Rock creeks are be.
ing conducted into irrigating bitches,
and something like ten thousand acres ei
land, heretofore deemed as belonging to
the desert, are being brought into sue
cessful cultivation. At this point ol
near there is an abundance Of pine ant
other timber and wood in the noun
tains. In fact, there is no scarcity o.
wood anywhere from Rock Greek ane
below to and through Antelope valley
distance Of twenty-five miles. II
short, new and promising field Of agri
cultural and fruit lands is suddenly leap
ing into value and furnishing beautiful
homes, within few hours ride of Lol
Angeles, where only few months sinc'
the prospect gave no sign of human hab
itation. A petition for the establish
ment Of a railroad depot and another fo
a Postoffics at Alpine have been lstel,
circulated and signed by over forty bon'
fids settlers and landowners, who's
trading and shipping point will be at Al
pine, and where, no doubt, there will
shortly spring up thriving village, th
center Of prosperous belt of grain. fra
and stock farms. V. 8.