Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-02-04
NoTEs on LOCAL TRAyEL.
Beau.y, Health and Productive

HeautY. Health ana RrOduCtlFe-
ness.
In the HERALD Of yesterday mention
was made Of the increasing importance
Of San Gorgonio as business center and
of the vast business that will be brought
together from the great San Jacinto
valley and the great highland plateau OF
San Gorgonio, from which localities Of
least ~, 900 tons of grain and hay will
be shipped This year.
These figures are large for lands I'M
der the second years cultivation and
show the remarkable progress of the
country. Mr.. George Egan. the Post
master. is sanguine that San Gorgonio
will be city at no distant day.
THE BEAUTIFUL FEATURES.
There is no mud in San Gorgonio, and
a ride with Captain d. X. Risley, OF the
San Gorgonio Heights tract in the clear
transpicnous air OF that lofty region is q
luxury indeed. He resides at the High
land Home, the best country hotel in
Southern California and matchless
health resort, kept by Mrs. Z. ID.
Grimes in matehlesB style. This charm
ing Home is 3, 100 feet above sea level
and yet 10 not lofty enough to satisfy the
aspiring nature of the people who still
shout "excelsior" and climb up and on
to the upper mesa of the Sierra Madre,
where the choicest decduous fruits are
grown to perfection and grapes are
almost delicious nectar before they reach
the wine press.
AT an elevation of 4703 feet Tom
Mellen, subscriber Of the HERALD,
made wine in October last that is now
clear, rich and delightful Higher still,
the Welcher brothers, Mr.. Wankey and
w. Hicks are raising apples at an ele-
walton OF about 5000 feet, which is as
high as the perpetual frosts of Mount
Washington, in New Hampshire, while
on these lofty mesas the temperature
January 81, 1886, was II. and the white
SHOWS on the rocks above were weeping
from the oppression of the fervent heat.
Capt. Hicks is the well-known bear
hunter, with record Of half "A score of
bearskins as his trophies. The view
from these highlands is widespread and
glorious, stretching away over the
mountains and valleys to the distant
ocean beyond.
HEALTH AND PRoDUCTIyENEss.
So surprisingly productive is Califor
MIA soil that even at 5000 feet elevation
the fruits are perfect and abundant.
Apples laid away in that altitude may
be preserved fresh and sound for two
years. The fruit gathered last fall in
that locality is now fresh, plump and
crispy as ii fresh from the tree, and is
purchased by Capt. Grimes of the High
land Home for the delectation of his
guests. All the residents of these lofty
lands are pictures OF health and strength.
Few people in this city have an idea of
these rare beautiful hights, which are
sometimes above the clouds that skirt
the sides Of old Gray back that lifts his
snowy mantle 5000 feet above these
highland homes.
MOUNTAIN BROOKS.
Under the guidance Of Captain Risley
the mountain streams were found laugh
ing and dancing through tbs deep echo
ing caiions, and hiding at last under the
rich soil OF San Gorgonio Heights, where
Angelenos are carving out beautiful
orchar DIS and vineyards.
NECTAR OF HIGHLAND HOME.
On descending to the beautiful High
land Home after feast of beautiful
scenes, Capt. Risley opened his sealed
vintage of 1885, which proved to be a
tit accompaniment of the charming
visions Just beheld. Itsvirtues had never
before been tested but were equal to the
expe citations of the Captain and showed
A.. g 1, l.l t., ha LAT
success in his first attempt at wine
making. His new wine is highcolored
and rich, with fine bouquet. and gives
promise of popular old age.
MOUNTAIN ORACLE.
Captain Rsley was DESTROYS that the
HERALD should consult the oracle Of the
mountains, DIR. 7. Wildwood Murray,
the well-known author of ''Murrays
Travellers Guide-Book in Europe" n
standard work that has stood
the test of generation of critics and
competitors. DR.. Murray has travelled
far and wide in many lands, and las at
last settled down in the San GorgSnio
pass, at the mouth OF little canon
north of Banning, where he has planted
$4,000 fruit trees, both citrus and de-
ciduous, and vineyard of Mission,
Mataro, Trousseau and Zinfandel grapes.
He has also commenced making wine.
which is superb He claims from ex-
animation and knowledge that bet
ter wines can be made in the calcare-
Gus soils at our mountain bases than
he has ever seen made in Buurdeaux,
burgundy or Lombardy. His researches
are entitled to profound consideration,
as he is man of science and most care
full observation. His acquaintance with
the oanons and passes and trails of the
mountains is most valuable to all who
wish to climb the rocky heights of San
GorQonio. He and his excellent wife,
who used to live in Los Angeles, enter
tain visitors in a most hospitable and
delightful manner.
THE LOST RIVER.
The Doctor resides on the south side
of the foothills which are separatedfrom
the Sierra Madre by the headwater
canon of the Whitewater river. In ans
wer to the question, "What has be-
come of the missing White river the
Doctor stated that in ordinary seasons
the clay brought down from the noun.
tains on one eide and the foothills on
the other lazily loitered along and filled
in the intersuces in the boulders and peb.
bles, making bed for the stream
which ran down to the desert but
when deluge Of rain came as it came
in 1884 and 1856, the water in its mad
fury dashes down the steep stony bed,
tearing away the old bottom of clayey
deposits and opening q deeper channel
among the rocks and coarse pebbles so
as to rapidly absorb the waters OF the
river, which would soon disappear.
This singular fact then remains, that, in
time of flood, the White Water is less a
stream at a little distance from its
source than it is in dry year. when it
flows for many miles down the stoney
slope. In a flood it dies and buries
itself and becomes lost river, while in
the weakness OF drouth it plods YEARLY
along, dropping little particles OF clay
and mold from its grasp into the leaks
in the channel instead of blowing it
with rolling rocks and floating trees,
and destroying its integrity of support.
This theory is supported by the obser.
walton of the talented Doctor, the oracle
Of the mountains, pomologist and scien-
fist.
They Never Fail.
1t has been demonstrated beyond the
noaaib,litv Of n donht that Ahietene has