Morning journal and courier., 1889-09-06
FATHER OF nEDLANDs.

Frank Brown, a Former West Ha-
 vener, On His Way From California
 lilo Mndc the Waste Places Blos-
 som As the Rose.
 Frank E. Brown of Redlands, California. but formerly of West Haven, is on his way east to visit his old friends at West Haven. MT. Brown is known as the father of Red lands, place which though once a desolate waste, now blossoms like the rose, change due to the inventive genius and engineering skill of Mir. Brown. He is a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific school and civil engineer. While on visit to California, twelve or four teen years ago, he noted the great natural advantages of the place, and by system of irrigation devised by himself, made it re- markedly productive. The country therea- bouts has been irrigated artifoially and yields fruits abundantly. The supply is a great reservoir high up in the mountains. Mir. Brown has grown wealthy there in few years. He will return on the completion of his visit here to Redlands in company with MT. +. w. Wilmot, formerly of the firm of Wilmot & Warner of West Haven, who bas been interested during the summer in the sale of large tract of land in that borough. M. Wilmot came east early In the summer and In company with his wife has had very pleasant time among old friends. The great reservoir in Bear Valley Is of national inter- est, as 1t contains the largest stored supply of water for irrigation purposes in the world, and as only this week similar supply arti- fcially created at San Diago was bought this week by syndicate of English capitalists who paid therefor about a million and a half of hard money. Moreover, the national commission appointed by Congress to inves- tigate regarding the great cry sent out by the far West for national appropriations for irrigation purposes, the same as Congress appropriates for river and harbor improve monts, is now in California on It's tour of inspection. As stated, the reservoir in Bear Valley, Q result of masterly engineering skill, contains an immense supply of pure water. It furnishes an inexhaustible supply the year around for the new fertile valley far below where myriads of acres teem with growing plants and trees; where grapes, figs, apricots, bananas, oranges, etc.. are being produced in vast quantities for the home and foreign markets. Over 25,000 acres in the valley below are now irrigated by means of this reservoir, and the San Bernardino peo- pie, nine miles distant, are negotiating with Mir. Browns water company for stated and regular water supplies. The reservoir is wall is 300 feet long and is 60 feet high and
 
 The water capacity of Bear Valley at present is ten billion of gallons. MT. Brown and his company propose eventually to raise the dam wall ten feet which, 1t is estimated, will double the water capacity of the reservoir; and should oooasion require the wall can be raised to 120 feet in height, thus vastly in- sreasing the supply. Its location is right in c vast canyon where at some time in past ages must have been Q large natural lake, Mir. Brown is also the father of the noted and successful Redland Orange Grove and Water Co.,, the lands of which are among the most fertile and desirable In that entire section of California, section where vast quantity of oranges and other fruits are now being raised annually. The company pays guaranteed dividend of per cent. and after seven years, when the orange trees come to full bearing maturity, a dividend of 90 or 30 per cent. is anticipated; while the unoccupied property overlookspg Redlsnd, or Redlsnd Heights, is pronounced by Redlanders of much value as sites for indefsssible interest in and right to water supply from Bear Valley reservoir, though contract made between MT. Brown and the Orange Grove and Water, company; Mir. Brown, for $500, ,000 conveying to the later company 200 acres of land set out with orange trees, piped and aumed ready for irri- gation, and 200 shares of the capital stock of the neulanu6, IuBAnlh ana Crh1ton Domeetlc Water company, and 300 shares of the ospi- tai stock of the Bear Valley Land and Water company.
 "old Gray Back, the big mountain back of Redlands, is one of the grandest and high est in the United States. The height is Ill., 600 feet.
 The growth of Redlands has been phonom- snal. In years time scores of buildings were erected. Redand is 1,500 feet above sea level has 5000 inhabitants and is connected with the Santa Fe railroad by branch, has three fine schools which cost over $26, ,00O, has an academy, also four churches. a Y. M. 0. A., building, a private academy for young ladies, and has Masonic, Odd Fellows, Good Templars and Knights of Pythias lodges. The rapid growth of some of these towns in Southern California reads like a fairy story and Mir. Brown and his friend and partner, Mir. Judson, who is Bridgeporter have en-. graved their names indelibly in the history of this thriving and lovely section of Southern California. Mir. Brown is son of R. Quincy Brown, much esteemed gentleman, who died years ago and whom all old West Haven residants remember as the principal of e private school which fourished for years In- hs oba