Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-05-27

1t is pleasant to see the people of one
of the richest sections OF the county
waking up. There is no richer land
than in Los Nietos, and it is so rich and
the means of getting living are SO
abundant and easy that the people have
become careless of appearance and in5
different in their farming and are Justly
open to the following criticism, written
by citizen of Downey for the Revie,o,
of that place:
cit is fact that strangers visiting this
part of the country for the first time
form a poor opinion of the prosperity
OF Downey, aud there is no wonder it
is so. The slovenly, slipshod manner
Of taking care Of the town. in con-
nection with the willow swamp
and mud hole in which the depot
is stuck; the boundless, unsightly
weed patches, are each and sill calculst.
ed to cast gloom over the town and
Indicate to strangers that the last wall Of
despairing hope had been rung in the
ears Of her Responding citizens. Visitors
to this coast are met at the depots Of the
different roads by cheerful, gentlemsnly
citizens, and kindly shown around both
town and country. Scarcely village
but is kept neat and clean. and houses
and grounds tastefully located and beau
tifully adorned. Farms are also kept in
fine order, and citizens feel commend
able pride in showing their premises,
and strangers are charmed and delighted.
But suppose the traveller or home seek
er when the name of Downey is called
looks from the window of the coach He
sees barn.ike structure for depot,
settled down in q primeval mud fat,
surrounded by clumps Of willows and
noxious weeds, and no roads that
would be respected on an average hog
ranch, no one to welcome him or
show him around. or even offer
word to encourage him ever to return.
He looks for the town, but unless II Is
pointed out he will fail to see it till the
train has pulled him beyond the willows,
and should be chance to get glance of
street, the only evidence Of thrift that
Is likely to greet his eyes will be the
luxuriant growth Of weeds on the side
walks-testifying to the rich quality Of
the soil-and his mind is at once made
No that he will never look for home at
Downey. But, my friend, remember
that things are not always what they
seem.
While the above picture is only too
correctly drawn, it has another side. and
we would respectfully invite all strangers
to examine both sides before forming an
opinion. II would be useless to deny that
appearances indicate that Downey Ia
slowly undergoing petrifaction; but as
such process depends upon natural laws
that only act under favorable circum-
stance, and as q change OF circumstances
must soon occur, it is only reasonable to
believe that our little town will be sound
not only sound, but reiuvenated.
There is no richer soil on earth than
that of Los Nietos valley. while we
have no knowledge Of any that can pro-
duee so large variety ct crops. All eli
mates may be said to be represented here.
Most tropical fruits are at home here
and those Of both temperate zones, as
well as many from the frigid belt do
well here. OF all this large range, exu-
berant crops of nearly all kinds are pro-
duced here. The same quality OF soil
dees not suit all kinds of fruits or farm
productions, but nature has blessed us
with such large variety Of soils that
we can suit the peculiar taste Of nearly
all.
The agriculturist can count very surely
on a crop Of barley and fifty bushels Of
corn per acre every year, besides a fabu-
lous amount Of pumpkins, pie-melons,
ETC.; or, il he prefers it, he can
make alfalfa equally profitable. In
short, any crop grown in any part
of the United States will yield
largely here. The grape is at home
in this valley, and is probably, after all,
the most profitable business a man
can engage In. Evety farm should have
some fruits for home use, and if sur
plus Of any kind should be produced,
there will always be market for it.
Oranges next to grapes should be on
every farm, especially since the discov-
cry Of the process OF converting it into
wine--making it possible to save the
crop under any circumstances. This
valley is wonderfully adapted to the
growth of oranges.
Now remember that Downey is stu
ated centrally in this-Los Nietos val
ley--and il wealth and abundant sur
plus productions are factors in the
growth and prosperity of a town, ours
Is yet bound to flourish ''as the green
bay tree" All that is necessary to
start the ball now ia few live men
with capital. We need canning estab-
lishment. good corn and Touring
mill, at least one more winery, q house
devoted TO the purchase of all kinds Of
country produce, and sbove all relia-
BILE banking establishment. and at once
Downey will step forward. Live men
with meney could do fine business here
as bankers, or produce brokers make
money like coming it, and be blessing
| IN both town and oountrv