Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-26
FRUIrLAND.
Subdiyiding the Famous
Williams Ranch.
NEW SANTA ANA BOOM.
Another Town in the Center of
q Very Rich Region for all
Agricultural Purposes.

q very hlcn heSlOIi lOr dll
Agricultural Purposes.
Fruitland is the name of the latest
addition to the sisterhood of beauti-
full semi-tropic towns. The new
conner is true to her high lineage,
and bears on her features all the
marks of remarkable beauty belong
ing to the family from which she
springs.
Fruitland is none other than the
far-famed Williams ranch, in the
southern end of the county, three
and one half miles below Santa Ana
and about six miles from Newport
harbor. To name the Williams
ranch in this section is by all under
stood to be the same thing as to speak
of the most marvelously rich bit of
agricultural land in the county, or
for that matter in any county.
In the wettest years this farm
never had it's crops drowned
out, and the dryest the
soil has always been damp
enough to produce crop. To har-
vest 100 bushels of corn to the acre
has always been an ordinary matter
on this farm. To cut six or eight
crops of alfalfa year--one and a half
to two tons to the crop-is an entirely
usual occurrence there. This is done
without any irrigation, and that
means saving of the cost of the wa
ter and of the labor of running it over
the land.
The owners of this splendid property
did not underestimate its value.
Some new arrivals in these parts saw
and coveted it. They have now SUBJ
divided it and are about to put it on
the market in small holdings. There
is laid out small townsite in the very
center OF it. The tract has been
laid out. A few of the lots in the abso-
lutte center of every thing are laid
% feet front, and the remainder of
the site is cut into so foot lots for resi-
dence purposes. All around these are
plots OF 5, 10 or 20 acres each. Each
five-acre tract faces on a nice wide
street. There are seven fine artesian
wells in the property. The whole tract
embraces 300 acres. In the immediate
vicinity is fine school house, and two
churches. There is also a postoffice
and store. These will be at once
transferred to the newtownslte of Fruit
land.
There are all sorts of questions to
ask about any given locality in
Southern California. People intend
ing to purchase inquire about the
water supply, about the soil, about
frost in winter or heat in summer. It
is difficult to find even in this land OF
rich soil, of varied products, of ex-
ceptional climate, place which will
perfectly combine all the perfections
In all elements. The lower end of
Los Angeles County does this in a
higher degree than any other. The
naturally damp land and the presence
of abundant artesian water settles
the whole question as to water
supply. The dweller in this
favored section is Independent of
rain as no other portion on the globe
is. As to the soil, any expert who
has ever looked on the Williams
ranch has unhesitatingly pronounced
it to be the very best soil he ever saw. in
any part of the globe. If one is not
an expert he may very easily satisfy
himself by asking any old timer OF
intelligence in these matters as to
the repute in which this property. has
always been held. The matter will
be emphasized by the presence of the
great corn-cribs now standing in the
barn-yard at the old homestead.
They are not playthings put there for
the fun Of the thing. The
water flowing in limpid clear
ness from the wells will
satisfy all OF the water supply.
If one were there yesterday before
the month of February had quite
run its course, and see the alfalfa
ready for the moving machine-they
were actually cutting it in neigh.
boring field-and the callas in full
bloom, with luxuriant leaves which
never felt the breath Of frost, he
would have no difficulty in arriving
at the conclusion that the climate OF
this section is perfect. The waxy
leaves of the big magnolias testify to
the same fact. Another index of the
fertility of the soil, and one which
i cannot fail to direct attention,
Is the fine orchard now flourish
ing over the Williams home-
stead. The apple, apricot, peach
and pear trees cannot be excelled on
any acre Of the good green earth. The
few spots on which they can be
equalled are narrow in area and far
between. That the apples have keep
ing qualities is attested by the fact
that many of them still lie under the
trees in a state of excellent preserva-
ton, after being exposed to the ele-
ments for the entire winter.
CAN A TOWN BE FOUNDED HERE?
The question OF founding a town
here is one which may claim few
words of consideration. What is there
to make town out of? Why, there
is a good deal on the spot now. There
are great many fourishing farms
all about the country now. To
go three and half miles
to get your horse shod or to buy a
sack of -four is rather inconvenient
The 300 acres in the Williams tract
will quickly be bought up and built
on. The farms will average about 10
acres each. This calls for 80 fam
lilies on this one piece Of land. That
many households will comprise $50
souls. Here is work for score of
artisans of many sorts to begin with.
Then there are ten miles of most ex-
cellent country in all directions round
about Fruitland. Hundreds upon