The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-26

..-Farming Land Is Worth Only
Two Hundred and Fifty DoIiars---
The Thermometer Does not Reaeh
Boiling Heat in the Shade-..The
School Houses are Good, The
Churches are Numerous. and Sun
day is the Favorite Day for Sport
ing, Horse Racing, Base Bali
Playing.
Editor Press and Banner:
Ideas on this country. The San Joaquin val
lev extends from just below Bakersfield on
the Southern Pacific Railroad TO the vicinity
hundred and fifty miles, and from the Sierra
Nevada Mountains on the east TO the COAST
Range ON the west, distance OF ABOUT one
hundred and fifty miles, (greatest w1dth:l
About the centre Of this valley Is Fresno
county, and little south OF the centre or
Fresno county and on the line OF the South
ern Pacific Railroad Is the city OF Fresno. A
city Of about twelve thousand lnhabitantS,
including the several addioms .h s WnfSn Se citv M
almost level is beautifully situated. The CEN
trail street Is named for the county. Fresno
and the parallel streets north are named ior
streets p south are named for the counties
south Of Fresno. Those running AZ rlght an
giles with the above are designated oy the let
ters OF the alphabet, beginning with a ana
part of the city extends from F TO N. Fresno
has two railroad, two lines Of telegraph, and
a net work of telephone wires. The streets
are lighted by electric lights, while gas Is ex-
tensively used for inner illuminations.
A water company supplies the city with
water which is pumped from number OF
wells several hundred feet deep, and elevated
todwo tanks, which have capacity OF TWO
tanks are sufficiently high to send the water
with considerable force to the upper stories OF
the talest houses in the city. The water Is OF
the purest quality, and can be used most all
the year without Ice.
North Methodist; South Methodist; Baptist {;
Presbyterian; Episcopal; Catholic; Chris.
tian Congregation; Seventh Day AdVentSano
acolored church: Besides these there is a Hour
ishing Young Mems Christian Association.
with thirty thousand dollar building In
process Of construction.
The school buildings are good, with the best
system Of public schools that we have ever
seen.
The business houses are well constructed
brick buildings. The dwellings are almost all
wooden structures. Asa general thing they
are built upon the economical plan, although
there are some elegant dwellings here, especl-
ally among the more recent erections.
The yards and lawns Of many OF the homes
are beautiful with Bluegrass. and shrubbery.
The streets are wide and graded. The side
walks are nicely arranged, bordered for the
populars, which grow up to height OF forty,
or fifty feet. and have a very dense shade.
A canal runs through the city, supplying
power for large Touring mill, as well as
large quantities Of water for irrigation .pur-
poses.
modernized brick building, situated OH an
eminence in ten acre lot The site was ps,sS 30,
Rail Road, ON condition that the whole lot be
fenced and improved, which Is being done IN
exq quisite taste. 1t Is well shaded by O great
variety of trees, such as the pine. cedar, WIZ VII;
low; umbrella, orange, oriental palm and
many Others.
The merchants are thrifty, and keep well
| selected stocks Of goods. There Is q plenty OF
money in this country, which is shown by the
immense banking interest. Five or six large
Banks operating In Fresno.
The people are largely cosmopolitan. 1t is
quite common on meeting stranger mere 10
ask him, from what State are you HOW long
have yon been here? Almost every nation is
represented here. believe you can find some
body here from severy State in the Union.
Even the South Is well represented. The peo.
pie are kind and considerate;,a a very quiet
people. Some ore religious and support the
institution Of the church literally. but great
many ignore the claims Of religion altogeth-
er. Having no Sunday law TO restrain them
they run TO excess, and seem 10 delight IN
favorite day among the "Roughs" for horse
racing, base ball playing, sporting, &c.
Real Estate is very high, from five to ten
times the value Of Abbeville property.
The boom has exploded, but caused no cal
lapse. Values are solid, being HACKED by q
very productive country, and we see nothing
to prevent n steady growth. Just out side the
city limits are the famous Fresno vineyards,
both wine and raisin. The Butler Vineyard
| is said To be the largest raisin vineyard in the
world. II contains between SIX and seven
hundred acres, all in raisin grapes. Near by
is the Barton Vineyard containing over nine
| ,rtt hnc a
yards, four square. are surrounded by irriga-
| ton bitches filled with. water, beautifully
shaded by the famous popular: There are
| also beautiful avenues running thromgh tue
vineyards hedged by all kinds of fruit trees,
peaches. pears, npricots. figs cherries, nee
| tarine and others.
| The residence, standing near the center, Is
no mean thing, and is surrounded by beauti-
| full flowers. which grow and bloom all winter.
There are quite large number OF those vine
yards but the two above named are The larS-
| est. Beyond the vineyards are the grain
fields, q perfect sea of wheat and barley.
came upon IL combined harvester" On an
elevated seat in front was the driver. holding
the lines over twenty-four head OF norses ano
mules. When he saw the horses being count
| ed he said, 1--WE will add six more tomorrow.
On the top of the machine was man who
watched and guided!the blade, elevating and
| lowering as the case required. On the LETT IN
| front was q man sewing sacks, and round
about was man, who seemed to be KIND OF
supervisor. These four men were passing
through the field with this huge machine
| turning out the wheat ready for the market.
The reaper cuts the wheat throwing 1t upon
an endless. canvass belt. which eleVates IL 10
| the threshcr, where the wheat is quickly
separated from straw and chaf. Straw and
chaff go out at the rear and the wheat, nicely
| cleaned is received in TO sacks near the 'front.'.
| I don't know the capacity OF the harvester.
| but it was driven along ina good walk, and
was cutting a through OF fourteen or sixteen
| feet.
Near by was Header "a header simply
cuts tho Srain.) This is one time, Mr.. Editor,
when We saw "thc cart before the horse" or
horses, for there were eight attached TO II.
The driver in the rear, the,horses next, and the
header in front. One man operates this ma
chine. The grain is elevated ana thrown lnto
a hcader-wagon which is driven alongside the
header while in motion. 1t Is then hauled
to a stack where it is nicely stacked, and re-
mains until the steam thresher comes ana
finishes the work. AS there Is no WOOD on
the plains. the straw is used as fuel :or the
engine. Ten or fifteen years ago all Ibis coun-
try was q barren plain. with a market Va!ue
of from eight 70 ten dollars per acre, but now,
these vine and grain ianGs nave i markct
value of from two hundred and fifty to eight
hundred per acre. Surely "the desert has
blossomed as Il roSr.' and all declare the
glory of God.
MS mi" as 1l3 Tho warmcSt time Of the Gay
il from three to five o'clock in The afternoon.
The mornings are usually pleasant and the
nights are delightful. No triuble to sleep,
and sleep very refreshing. ~ IS common
thing to use blankets al night. While | am
writing the thermometer registers lIg. hut
that is not more oppressive than 3l or " III
South Carolina.
After little more observation VIII tel
YOU what think about CarGinn coming to
California. Let none make preparations 10
come, until they lrvc had gnmp:o at some
OF the disadvantage with which lnc Carolina na
dad ~