Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-23
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENT IN
BRIEF SPACE OF TIME.
Fresno and Vicinity-The Colonies
Extensive Vineyards and Or
chards-BeautiFui Homes, Etc.
CORRESPONDENCE of the REcoRD-UNroN.

cabin was the proprietor Of well, the
water from which he disposed of at the
rate of "one horse, one bit" while trav
elers were charged nothing for the
water they drank themselves. 1t was stu
ated in the midst of vast, dry, level prai-
rie, with nothing to vary the dreary monot-
onv bat the line of timber on Kings river,
miles away to the south, and the distant
mountains - Sierra Nevadas and Coast
Range. Not a human hab.tation was Wis
ible in any direction. Coyotes. horned
toads, lizards and bCrTowing owls were
the only neighbors. UnheTded thousands
of cattle and mustangs roamed over the
plain, where there was neither fence nor
cultivated field TO turn them from their
way But in seasons of drought, not IN
known in that region, the cattle whose
bones were not left 20 whiten on the sands
were driven to the mountains or beyond,
and the great parched, Yerdureless valley
became the most expressive representation
of desolation and loneliness.
THE ADVENT OF RAILROADS.
But after a time the railroad, the great
vehicle of modern progress, came south
ward through the plain and placed it in
direct communication with the world.
People followed the construction train, and
the rough, cheap buildings of the settlers
marked the location OF future farms, and
their plowshares destroyed the homes Of
the lizard and the owl, and fields of grain
waved above them. Stations were estab-
ished at intervals along the road, and one
Of these vas named Fresno There was
nothing in its early years 10 indicate that it
would ever be more than village, for the
barren sand plains were thought incapable
of ever supporting q town. The light rain
fall, the long, dry summers and occasional
years Of drought proved discouraging TO
farmers, the only successful ones being
those situated near the San Joaquin and
Kings rivers, who were enabled to irrigate
their fields and thereby grow large crops
every year. Immense irrigating canals
several Of them larger than the famous
Erie Canal-were dug, tapping the rivers
named, the largest in the valley, and water
was conveyed many miles out on the plain
and Fresno's success as an agricultural
region was assured.
In the vicinity Of Fresno large tracts of
land were divided into small holdings, and
TIE purchasers Of these engaged prin-
cipally in the growing of fruits and small
lots OF ten or twenty acres, each planted
with fruit trees or vines, were made to
yield larger profits than whole section Of
land under the old regime, The station of
Fresno kept pace with the surrounding
country in its Advancement, and to-day is
the largest and most thriving town in the
San joaquin valley, excepting Stockton,
although it IS not the oldest. The business
blocks are substantially built, many of the
buildings are Handsome, the streets are
rapidly extending outward from the com
mercial center, and business is good. be-
cause on sound and permanent basis, the
main reliance being on the rich and extern
sive agricultural section of which 1t IS the
doorway. and the products OF which, in its
present imperfectIy developed state, are
already large. The city's present popula-
ton OF $500 viii ere long be double that
nor may that be given Us the early
probable limit.
THE COLONIES.
The improvements made in the several
colonies about the town are astonishing
and to those who knew the valley before
the days of irrigation and railroad COM
muniCa6On, It must seem almost incredi-
bic that 50 finished al appearance has been
given to the country in such a short space
OF time. Tree-bordered avenues extend for
miles, lined on either side by we'll TILED
and orchards. and fields of al
talta. In the latter where used for pastur-
age, the finest grades Of stock are TO be seen.
Many of the homes are elegant and all are
by bright lawns, flower gar
dens or ornamental shrubbery, the tender
est plants growing in the open air through
all seasons. The fronts Of many Of the
houses during the long summer, appear to
the passer-by to be only a tangled mass Of
leaf and bloom. An atmosphere of pros
perity peryades these colony settlements,
all due to the use Of water for irrigation:
to the selection of the best varieties of fruit
and grades Of stock, and to thorough Gull
tivation of the soil Where the remunera-
ton for labor and attention are satisfactory
the irducement to increased effort will en-
able one TO accomplish wonders. What
can be done with 4 little farm well titled,
has been demonstrated here. The growing
Of fruit and its preparation for market must
become the leading industry, and next TO
that the raising of stock, which can be
done in no part of the State or Union with
less expense and greater profit.
GRAIN, VINEYARDS AND ORCHARDS.
The growing Of grain in Fresno and
adjoining counties IS still the chief
branch of agriculture followed, but the
large fields are gradually being divided
into smaller ones for fruit growing But
there are also vineyards and orchards III
Fresno conducted on gigantic scale. Of
the former there are several embracing
from 100 to 500 acres. Fresno raisiHs and
wines already have 9 wide reputation,
about .G0U, 900 gallons of the latter having
been manufactured last year The total
acreage Of vine land is in the neighborhood
# 10000 acres. In all parts Of the county
he same activity in fruit tree planting is
Along the line Of the Southern
Pacific Railroad many Of these growing
fruit centers are to be seen. Small vine
-ards, in which are grown the best varie-
les Of grapes for TaisinS are not less
numerous than small orchards, and the
'cturns from SUCH when properly cared
or, are indeed handsome. Few wine
,Tapas are grown by the small vineyardist.
although some Of the large ones
contain hundreds Of acres of
aisin grapes. There are no rural homes
more beautiful than those of the large
situated amidst The immense
Vineyards surrounded by miles of poplar
rces and divided by avenues. also tree
med, that lead to the residence half con
ealed by MASSES Of shrubbery-all on the
sand plains, as the valley was called
CIV years ago, hHGEG NDL u leaI OF green |
vas to be seen from the departure Of one !
pring season to the return Of another.
In the foothills Of the Sierras, which ex-
end along the east side Of the valley. is a |
warm belt, suitable for the growing Of sub. |
ropical and early fruits. This mild zone !
1ists the full extent of the range but the |
mean temperature IS greater in the hills |
bordering on the southern end of the val |
ey than farther north. In the counties of |
fresno, Tulare and Kern, oranges, lemons |
nd lines of good size, color and favor are |
Town successfully, and peaches and other |
arly stone fruits from this region are the |
irst to reach the San Francisco market al |
he opening of the fruit season. The fruits |
rown on the plain are among the first in |
be State to ripen, but in the thermal belt
hey are fully two weeks earlier.
GENERAL VIEW
Higher in the mountains, where the
Innate is cooler, very late fruits do better
han in the warm valley. This whole |
ection is naturally adapted for fruit
ulture, and the industry is receiving much
lore attention than formerly in Tulare and
.