Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-30
A FAVORED LAND.
A Pleasant Trip to Hesperia
and Victor.
A SPLENDID WATER SYSTEM.
Climate and Soil Unsurpassed
by Anything in
the State.

Southern California looks at her best
after a gentle rain. Brilliant flowers
spring into existence as an acknowledg'
ment of the copious drau ghts of the life
giving fluid which nature has poured
down upon the thirsty earth, the trees
and vines look refreshed by their vel
come bath, and even the sun seems
brighter and warmer as, dispelling the
angry clouds, it smiles down upon the
fair country at its feet. No better means
OF realizing the wealth and beauty of this
garden of the gods can be obtained than
the trip a HERALD reporter took on
Thursday last. Having accepted an in
vitation to visit Hesperia, the oft talked
of colony on the plateau beyond San Ber'
nardino, he boarded the Santa Fe train
at the First street depot and found that
he had for bis compagnons de royag'
Judge R. M. Widney, Mr.. G.
Ganshl. W. L. Wills and Mr.
H. L. Macneil, all of whom are
heavily interested in the Hesperia prop
erty. It was hard work to find seats fol
all on board as the Santa Fe trains have
all they can do to handle the travel al
this time of the year but at last every
thing was righted and with throb anC
plunge the engine leapt forward and the
fairest panorama that mortal eyes evel
feasted upon began to unfold itself tt
view. Across streets teeming with the
commerce which makes Los Angeles the
busiest city of her size in the Unior
rolled the cars and on over the rippline
waters of the river to the stretch OF rich
country by which the "Crown of the
Valley" is approached. Soon the tow
ering walls of the Raymond, looking like
some baronial pile, attracted attention
and few minutes later the old-fashioneG
depot at the foot of the hill had beer
passed and the train was slowly pulling
into Pasadena. A short halt and theI
away into the inviting country beyond
Well-built houses, indicative of the pros
perity of the country, dotted the vista ir
every direction, and teamsters hard al
work in the evergreen orange groves
showed that the old proverb OF making
hay while the sun shines was being
metaphorically if not literally carried
out. Lamanda Park looking sylvan
enough 10 be a worthy court for King
Oberon and Queen Titania, was soon left
behind, and then a stop was made al
Monrovia and the train received a well
come addition in the person of the Hon.
E. F. Spence, who is one of the directors
of the Hesperia Company. Azusa and
Glendora seem to grow with that rapidity
which characterizes all California pro-
ductions, and North Ontario is not fai
behind in the race which appears to be
going on as to which of these suburban
cities shall take the lead for enterprise
ment and achievements. Beguiling the
time with pleasant conversation, Sar
Bernardino was reached and preparations
made for climbing the Cajon Pass which
at it's lowest available passage point fol
the steam horse is $500 feet above
the level of the sea Off again
and then evidences of the pust
and enterprise of those who
watch over Hesperia's destinies became
apparent as small boards attached al
every mile to telegraph posts indicated
the distance it was to the settlement
The sun was setting when the summit
was reached, and thirty minutes later
the warning cry of "Hesperia" from a
vigilant brakeman summoned those who
were bound for that place to alight. The
sudden change from the glare Of the
lighted cars to the cleaning without
made it impossible to ascertain the ur.
roundipgs, but in the distance the glim.
mer of lamps showed that several houses
were about, and one particularly well
lighted building was pointed out as the
hotel, and all struck out for it without
further ado. 1t proved to be as pleasant
a place as the heart of a hungry anG
tired traveller could wish for. Within
twenty minutes of the arrival Of the
guests the welcome summons to dinner
went forth, and judging by the way thai
the well-cooked viands disappeared, il
is safe to say that meal was never
more heartily relished by any present.
The sleeping accommodations were aE
good as the dinner, but before the party
retired for the night Judge Widney re-
ques.ed one and all to step outside ant
observe the clearness of the atmosphere
The best proof was obtained by looking
at the starry vault overhead. The greal
planets appeared to be shining with un.
usual brilliancy, and to an astronomer
the opportunity was magnificent one
for the heavens glistened with splendol
which could not have been apparent
with less clarified air. The slight
breeze which was stirring was just COO
enough to be bracing, but the temptation
OF good warm bed was paramount, az
after agreeing to be ready for hreakfas
at 6 o'clock the next morning "Good
nights" we're exchanged and the realm:
OF Somnus invaded in short order.
MORNING AT HEsPERIA.
The scribe was awakened by 'tap
ping, tapping at the chamber door," anC
a demand Of "What is it?" was re-
sponded to by breakfast will
be ready in fifteen minutes.
A newspaper man was never
known to be behind hand at meal time,
and the HERALD's delegate was not diff
ferent from his brethren in such matters,
so within the time named he was standing
in front of a good warm fire and ex
changing matutinsl greetings with the
rest of the party as they dropped in
looking as fresh as larks on summers
morning. A good breakfast was inter
rupted by rush to the door to see the
sun rise, and the abandonment of the
hot beefsteak and coffee was certainly
compensated for by the glories which
heralded the advent of the orb of day.
When breakfast was disposed of the
HERALD man, in charge of Judge Wild
ney, took look at the surroundings. A
better site for settlement could not be
obtained. Hesperia stands on level
plateau 3,1S8 feet above sea level, and
therefore far above the line of fogs and
heavy dews IT, ia nrotected from all