The Progress., 1888-01-14
A CALIFORNIA ENTERPRISE.
The Celebrated Perkins s. Wise Citrus
Tract, Sub-Diyided into Colony
Lots--A New Town In the
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j. 81
ORoy1LLE, Butte County, CAL, Jan. 1888.
At the great citrus fair, held here during
Christmas week, the finest display of oranges
was from the Wheeler ranch, five or six miles
distant. Where display was SO great, to be
the leader, was quite a triumph.
1t was consequently pleasure to accept
when party of visitors to the citrus fair
were invited to inspect the famous stPER-
K1Ns & WISE CITRUS TRAcT,' (Which ad joins
the Wheeler tract, and is just being put up
on the market by its enterprising owners.
1t is not presented with ''boom' at
"boom" prices, but as legitimate invest
ment for those who wish to secure property
and homes, in the most favored portion of
the United States.
This tract is five miles from Oroville, the
county seat of Butte county, California, and
comprises 1000 acres. It is five miles wide
and four miles long, and as the writer can
testify, from recent visit), lies as beau
tifully as any land in California. There is
just sufficient hill to relieve the monotony
SO wearisome in prairie regions, while none
of it is difficult OF access and every acre sus-
ceptible of producing the finest citrus fruits
in immense quantities. The California
Northern railroad passes through the tract,
and the company has located station, and
are building depot upon it. The owners.
have set apart, goo acres for q town site,
which is offered in lots from 25 to 100 feet
front by $50 deep. There are numerous
groves upon the tract, but one in particular
located on the town site, attracted attention
of the visitors. It is composed Of live and
white oak, and is really four distinct groves
all combined in one:
As evidence that there is no desire to boom
the locality, only $500 acres have BEEN
placed upon the market, aside from the
town site. These acres are offered in lots of
from to 40 acres, and for those who wish
}oS Tow, ,so~I,k 40.,
years is granted. The soil is chiefly red,
gravelly loan, though there is some brown
and sandy loan. That it is productive is.
shown beyond question by the display at
citrus fair frcm the adjoining ranch, where
the soil is exactly the same.
The owners of the land also own the Ophir
ditch, bringing water from high point on
Feather river, 25 miles distant, which car
ries water for irrigation three hundred feet
above the level of the low land, and more
in the tract Practical experience shows
that the hills are especially y adapted for
citrus fruits, the very finest oranges dis
played at the recent fair here being of hill
side growth. Olives, which produce more
to the se beI than ya g g
on the level ground. But in this tract the
purchaser can have his choice. There are
delightful valley stretches nestled between
moderate elevations, there are hills from
Wn1cl miles OF CnOlce loVol laQQ can Dc seen,
affording magnifcent view. the charm
being that every foot Of the hills lie capable
of cultivation, so that the pleasure Of the
view is associated with practical business.
To those who prefer it, the level plain is
can be gratified. The railroad station being
absolutely located on the tract itself,
the question Of sending the products to
market, is answered before it is asked
When it is considered that early purchas-
ers can secure these five to forty acre sub
divisions at 500 per acre, and that citrus
fruits properly cultivated yield enough to
pay 10 per cent. interest annually on $1,000
per acre, some idea can be formed of what
q rare opportunity is here presented. It is
only because the people of Butte county
have just begun to realize that they have q
citrus region that such an offer is now made.
1t is common thing for orange orchards
in this State to yield from $3.50 to $500 per
acre, while Olives nuts, and other fruits are
equally productive, SO that the claim Of be-
ing able to pay ten per cent. inte rest On
this land at the rate of $1,000 per acre.
though its original cost is only 500, is very
much within bounds. There is no such
chance offered in California to-day either
for home or speculative investment. 1t
is only for q little while that the land can
be secured at these prices. Land much in
ferior to this commands 81, 900 per acre in
the Southern part Of the State, and it will
+ be but q few years before this is he'd at the
same or higher figures. Messrs. McAfee
Bros, alto Montgomery ST., San francisco,
have charge OF this great citrus tract, and
any informat lion not here supplied can be
obtained from them.