, 1886-05-06
BALDWIN'S RANCH.
A CHARMING SPOT WHICH LIES OUT
oF-DooRS IN CALIFORNIA.

One of the Finest Plantations In America
Immense Orchards and vineyards
Artificial Lakes and Handsome Build
ings-stables and Race Track.
l recently spent some time at the ranch
OF +. j. Baldwin at Los Angeles. "A
nights ride from San Francisco on the
Southern Pacific railroad brought me to
Savannah, a Spanish settlement fourteen
miles south of Los Angeles. found a
conveyance awaiting me, and we soon
started for the villa. About 200 yards
drive brought us to the outskirts of the
Lucky Baldwin ranch, as it is generally
called, and IL was fully an hours brisk
driving before we reached the main avenue
leading up 10 the palatial residence, the
entire ride covering the lands OF this Cali
fornia Crmsus. This avenue is laid out in
the center OF an orange grove,
stretching across an area OF several
hundred acres, and his immense,
prolific orchard comprises over 1900
trees, all bearing fruit and most OF
them so heavily laden that they require
%propping. | was Informed that two car
loads of the bright, golden fruit had been
gathered the day before that had fallen to
the ground.
lhE "OR'nAhDs AMI NlNt1 AhDS
OF the $4,000 acres comprising this
ranch 1880 is under cultivation. Stand
ing upon the porch overlooking this vast
area, as far as the eye can reach one sees
orchards Of oranges, lemons, lines, En-
glish walnuts and almonds, with a scat
tering here and there, in uniform rows, of
the eucalyptus, pepper and spice trees.
Passing around TO the other side Of the
porch one sees, under the shadow OF the
Sierra Madres, an immense vineyard COW
ering 800 acres. The irrigation is fur
nished from the continued melting of the
snow that covers the towering peaks, and
as II reaches the base enters the fumes
and Is radiated to different sections. One
naturally conjectures, as he gazes upon
the striking contrast, standing In a tropi-
cal climate surrounded by vegetation that
only exists under the continuous rays of a
torrid sur, and looks upward at the frigid,
snow-mantled mountains, if nature does
not try to assert herself in all things and
make amends for the deficiency that
Is caused by the more powerful ele-
ments.
The supply of water Is so great that five
artificial lakes are furnished with the
ovefiow, one covering an area of seven
acres. In the center OF the lake is a small
island covered with shrubbery, which
completely encases the nest-house for the
swans, wild duck and geese which are
swimming around in countless numbers.
On one side OF this lake is a boat-house, n
handsome structure, with an apron plat
form extending out into the water, the
whole tastefully shaded by a colored avn
ing. Several handsome %gondolas are
moored there. At the upper end of the
hike is a splendid piece Of architecture
a small, six-room house which will be
ready for occupancy in another month.
The design is novel and unique, formed in
the shape Of a Maltese cross, hay
ing bay windows at each Of
the fou projections. The rooms
are designed in different patterns. The
ceilings, walls and wainscotting are fin
ished with inlaid woods. The porticos and
walks leading up are tagged with marble
and granite, the latter quarried fron the
Sierras.
THE STATUES N RACE TRACK.
About 500 yards distant from this cosy
structure, across a small ravine that is
SPAWNED by a quaintly-built rustic bridge,
tand the family stables and carriage
house. Here are quartered several fast
teams, including st. James and mate, ele-
CANT equipages n t%urnouts, a commodi-
GUS tally-ho and the prize harness that
took the premium at the Philadelphia
Centennial, consisting of four sets, solid
gold mounting, costing $1,000. A hand
somely-arranged parterre faces these
buildings, and, hk the lake, is nearly
surrounded by banana trees, magnolias
and palmettos. There are over fifty
houses on the ranch, including n large
store and warehouse, nine vaults and pack
ing houses, a saw-mill, stables for the
drurnhf hnraaa hAor1fp1 anI InI,f-.
houses, and a neat and comfortable school
house. The latter is built for and used
expressly by the children OF the families
who are employed on this great farm, and
aside from the Spanish settlement that oc-
cupies a section hat is divided off, or
"colonized," as they term 1t, over 200 Chi
namen are also employed in the many in
dustries this ranch provides. They also
occupy quarters in a section assigned
them, which Is known as Chinatown. The
stud farm, or stock raising district, COM
prises n large territory; a long stable par
titioned of in box stalls represents many
thousand dollars in Kentucky running
stock, nearly all OF which have noted
records and distinguished pedigrees.
In connection with this department Is a
mile track complete in every detail,
judges and grand stand, private boxes,
etc, and like all tracks is claimed by the
man in charge to be the fastest in the
country. A large stock feed Darn is a few
yards distant, and Immediately adjoining
1t Is the hennery. Here may be seen every
variety of fowl and a choice breed Of chick
ems. Strutting around the lattice in
closure were Australian peacocks, Guinea
hens and turkeys. A day would hardly
suffice in making a rapid survey of the
different points Of interest ON this mann
moth homestead. Enough to say, this is
one of the most perfect, II not the best,
plantation in America. &C. Il. b" in
Detroit Free Press.