Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-28
AN AFTERNOON.
An April Day Ride in the
Country.
THE RODEO DE LAS AGUAS.
Pastures, Green Fields, New-MOwn
Hay, Streams of Water and
Wells of Oil.

ished gaze of every man, woman anC
child who dwells beyond the barriers
of the great Rockies! How it would
open their eyes to the attractions Of
our sunny skies and fertile lands!
The road lay out Pearl street, over
the hill at Orange street, out by the
"lake" on Seventh street and along
the edge of the Brea ranch to the
| RoDEO DE LAS AGUAs.
Until the city limits had been left
| far behind, along every block new
houses were seen going up. There
were residences of all grades of cost
and all degrees of splendor. Out in
| the country the great valley up to the
foothills at the Los Feliz hills, around
by the Cahuenga Pass, out to the
Soldiers Home site near the ocean at
Santa Monica, and to the southwark
as far as the eye could see, all was
pasture knee-deep with lush grass,
| or grain fields bending to the ground
with their weight of heads, even at
this early stage in the season. The
hills far up their sides are cultivated
for orchard, berries or early veget-
ables.
THE FROSTLESS BELT.
Along the top-most edge of the mesa
and up into the hills some distance,
all the way from the Lick track to the
sea, is an absolutely frostless belt. 1t
| is not that the temperature rarely, or
hardly ever reaches the freezing point
of water. The breath of frost never
touches it. The trees along this are
covered with fruit. Apricots are as
big as pigeons eggs. Strawberries
ripen here every day in every month,
and fresh tomatoes, green peas and
string beans are as good on Christmas
day as on Fourth of July.
The ranch which was the objective
point, the Rodeo de las Aguas, is the
property of the Messrs. Hammel &
Denker of this city. Mr.. Andrew
Denker was the reporters guide, and
showed him all the wonders of the
ranch. 1t contains over 5000 acres,
and extends from the crest Of
the foothills far across the
mesa towards the railroad to
Santa Monica. Mr.. Denker has
on the ranch hundre dis of fine cattle
and horses. Several hundred calves
are here spending their first spring in
the world. Ii they were capable OF
chosing how they would bless their
luck in having such skies and such
pastures to welcome them into exist
ence! On the ranch is great milk
house, where the milk of great herd
of COWS is converted into butter and
cream for the Los Angeles mark et
The churning is done by steam
power; the floor of the house
is cement; and everything in
and about the place is 50 clean, SO
sweet, SO cool, that there did not ap-
pear to be fly about the place.
From Coldwater cation and other
places in the mountains are led to the
ranch streams of crystal water for the
use of the animals.
After inspecting all this, and visit
ing the pastures where the bands OF
horses and cattle were feeding, the
mesa was assembled to the very foot of
the mountain, and here was found a
steam engine, big derrick
and a gang of men sinking
for oil. The hole is down about 600
feet, and there has been developed a
very encouraging stream Of the olea-
genous product of Dame Natures
laboratory. The trouble is that a
good deal OF water rises with the oil,
which it has not yet been possible to
shut off. There are many and great
indications OF oil at many points near
by, and no doubt by patience and
perseverance a good supply OF pc
| tro!eum will be developed in time.
But pastures, grain fields, stock and
dairy products, with oil and fruit
thrown in, are not all the resources OF
this region. Up Gold Water cafion
are many of the best granite quarries
on the earth. A fine sandstone is
also among the products OF the noun.
tains at this point. So important
are these deposits Of building material
considered that the S. p. Company
has located branch line from La
Ballona, or the Palms as it is now
called, to the head Of the caflon in or
der to reach hese quarries.
| MOROCCO.
Nor are the enterprises of Mr.. Den.
ker yet exhausted. He is builder in
the broadcast sense of the term
While putting up the big 81 900, ,OO(
hotel in the city, and running
the big cattle and milk ranch If
the country, while breeding fine
stock and boring for oil
he does not by any means purpose tt
be left behind in the race of buildin,
colony or town. In the heart of tht
Rodeo de las Aguas he has laid ou
the best 1000 acres of light, warn
fruitful soi1.A The plats range at from
one to ten acres each. Two grea
main avenues 100 feet wide cross eaci
other in the center of the site a
oblique angles like st. Andrew
cross. Other streets cross there. Waite
| is to be brought from the caf1on
The streets are to be laid out 100 fee
wide, and they are all to be made b.
J Mr.. Denker, including sidewalks AM
j the planting Of trees, ornamental AM
shade. This will be piped unde
great pressure to all the lots in tn
tract. The houses are all to be Sc
back at somewhat regular distance
from the streets. The design is t
, make this the most perfect sui
urban town in the world. Al
, ready a large number of lots hav
been sold to actual settlers, and
, the class of people who have tn
! means and intelligence to erect mode
and artistic homes.
The situation cannot be excelle
!, anywhere. Behind rises high ridg
: of mountains which make both fl
ting setting for the town and a perfe'
protection from rough winds from th
3 north or from the sea. To the wei
!, lies the Pacific Ocean an
Santa Monica, and between
|, the Soldiers Home is now being pr,
! pared. The Palms lies on the plai
! below and far off is seen Ballona Ha
4 Dor, The eve skirts along the Pal;