Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-12
bOWNEY
Its Advantages of Location, Sell
and Climate.

Its Advantages of Location, Sell
and Climate.
Downey ia situated about twelve miles
southeast of Los Angeles, on the Santa
Ana branch of the Southern Pacific Rail
way, in the heart of the beautiful Los
Nietos Valley. This valley is justly
famed for the fertility of it's soil and the
diversity of its products. Ranchito at its
head. in the foothills of the western spur
of the Sierra Madre range, is noted for
extensive orchards of oranges, walnute,
peaches, pears and figs, and extensive
fields of corn and herds of fine stock.
Norwalk and Artesia also lie in the
midst of fine tract of country, which is
fast developing, while Downey is the ma
tural center of trade for the whole valley,
and is, besides, surrounded by thousands
of acres of rich agricultural land, capable
of producing all the choicest fruits OF
temperate and semi-tropical regions.
Owing to the bend OF the coast, Dow
ney lies about eight miles nearer the sea
than Los Angeles, the distance to Long
Beach being only about twelve miles.
The seabreezes have therefore sufficient
sweep to cool the air even on the hottest
summer day, while it is far enough in
land to be free from the disagreeable
rawness noticeable on the immediate
sesshore. No more desirable place for q
suburban residence can be imagined. 1t
lies near enough to Los Angeles to be
easily accessible, the trains which go to
and fro several times a day, carrying
people having business in the city there
and back at convenient hours, and almost
as rapidly and cheaply as they could
make their way from the immediate out
skirts of town; and residence here is in
finitely preferable, on account of the pure
air, refreshing GOODNESS and delightful
quiet.
Downey lies in the center of broad,
level plain, which, we'll watered and Wis.,
tied by the moist breezes and occasional
mistB from the ocean, is kept green, even
during the summer months, when most
California lands are parched and bare.
To the eastward rise the blue, towering
peaks of the Sierra Madres, and the re-
manning horizon is bounded by low, hazy
hill ranges, which give the landscape the
charm of variety.
The town at present counts about
1000 inhabitants, and is prettily laid out
with broad, even streets, several of which
are bordered by rows of pepper and
eucalyptus trees, while nearly all the
homes are surrounded by blooming
gardens and thrifty orchards. There are
iron-sulphur springs in the vicinity,
which are highly beneficial in many
cases of disease, and the seaside at Long
Beach is easy accessible. The land is
remarkably productive, and will raise
almost any variety of fruit and vegetable
without irrigation.
Downey has never had boom, but its
location in the center of d remarkably
rich agricultural section has given it
steady growth. Property here has never,
however, been subject to unnatural intla-
ton of values, and land can be secured
in the very heart of town for half the
price paid in many less favored localities.
which have been more widely advertised.
The social advantages are good. The
people are mostly from the Southeastern
States, and are kindly, hospitable and
and refined. There are five churches,
the M. E. Church South, Christian, Bap-
fist, Cum berland Presbyterian and Holt
ness Church, all in a fourishing condi- |
ton, and an excellent school.
Owing to it's advantages of location.
Downey has been selected as the place
for holding the annual fair OF the Los
Angeles County Agricultural Association,
Some definite idea of its importance as a
center of trade may be gathered from the
tabulated statement of the produce ship
ment by rail from Downey station for the |
six months ending May 81, 1888, fur |
nished DO j. T. Banks, agent for the |
Southern Pacific Railroad at that point. |