Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-01
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THE SEMI-TROPICS.
How March Passed Out In a Blaz
of SUN shine.

| How March Passed Out tm a Blaze
of SUN shine.
Yesterday HERALD reporter took a
| trip on the Santa Fe route to San Ber-
nardino. 1t was as we are all aware the
last day of March, date when in most
latitudes Winter is found lingering in the
lap of Spring. But in this section there
is no suspicion of Winter even in jan
uary, ,and yesterday was very like perfect
June day along the Atlantic sesboard.
The distance passed over is about sixty
miles. The road lies close to the base of
the mountains most of the way. No in
telligent beholder can pass over this
stretch of country on such day and for
moment afterward doubt as to the
great future of the semi-tropics.
The valley, surveyed from the
car windows varies in breadth of from
ten to fifty miles in extent. 1t is at all
points, without any exception, the most
productive territory on the footstool. All
along the road the natural grasses are
foot high. The mesas are clad in flowers
of all the tints of the rainbow. The blue
grass flowers, lilies really they are, the
Indian pink or Queen of the Meadow,
babyeyes, or the memophela in count
less forms and hues, the California
poppy, the wild heliotrope and many
other fair forms and exquisite hues daz-
zle while they delight the sense of sight.
The barley in some places is coming into
head, and in all the fields it is vigorous
and promising. The apricot, peach, pear
and cherry trees are in full bloom. The
sunny slope along the foothill with lis
friable, warm soil, disintegrated
granite, made rich to generous extent
by decayed vegetable matter, is the ideal
home of all the fruits. 1t is most graft
tying to see the number ef new orange
trees being set out. The plants look
most healthy and show no sign
ties. All the new towns are growing
more slowly than during the boom,
but certainly as rapidly as can be ex-
pected in the long run. The latest one
started is Rialto. and it is the nearest one
to San Bernardino. Already there is a
good showing made on the eide of the
mesa. A church, hotel, fine brick
block or two, many snug cottages, a
large number of new fruit orchards set
out, all bespeak steady progress
in spite of quiet times. Here
at the mouth of Lytle creek is
a large body of most excellent
fruit land. Warm, generous, easily
worked with an absolute abundance of
water, brought down with a pressure of
any desired head.
Some time ago it was reported that
81 900 young orange trees were to be set
this season at Rialto. The report came
in such a shape that the impression was
conveyed that a single interest was to
put in so large an orchard. Then one re-
calls the fact that Sunny Slope, in its
palmiest days, under L. J. Roses
own supervision, has only 0,0UU
orange trees on it, the mag
nitude of the undertaking referred to
will be appreciated. It was gratifying
to learn that at least forty persons are
interested in the planting of these trees
at Rialto. A man can take care of 500
to 900 trees, but no man can take cue
cessful care of 10000 trees.
San Bernardino wears all the lnsignl
of prosperity and progress. The fne
streets are well paved and have good
sidewalks. There are solid and artisti-
cally constructed blocks aligning
these streets. Fine hotels, fine
churches and schools all bespeak pros
porous, intelligent and progressive peo-
pie. San Bernardino has an excellent
street-car service, and she has several
fine motor roads. One runs out to Har.
lem Springs, and is to be extended to
Arrowhead Springs and thence across
the mountains. Another goes 10 River
side and South Riverside. These all
bring business to the metropolis of the
eastern end of the great semi-tropic val
ley aud build up it's Industries, while
they develop those of the country
through which they pass.