Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-23
DOWNEY.


and Climate.
Downey is 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 its soil and the
diversity of its products. Ranchito, at it's
head, in the foothills of the western spur
of the Sierra Madre range, is noted for
extensive orchards of oranges, walnuts.
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 natural
center of trade for the whole valley, and
is, besides, surrounded by thousands of
acres of rich agricultural lands, capable
of producing all the choicest fruits of
temperate and semi tropical climates.
Owing to the bend of the coast, Downey
lies about eight miles nearer the sea
than Los Angeles, the distance to Long
Beach being only about twelve miles.
The sea breezes 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 di agreeable
rawness noticeable on the immediate sea-
shore. 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 20 to
and fro several times 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 imme-
diate outskirts of town; and residence
here is infinitely 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
visited by the moist breezes and occa-
sional mist 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 remaining horizon is bounded by
low, hazy hill ranges, which give the
landscape the charm of variety.
The town at present counts about one
thousand 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
productive, and will raise al.
most any variety of fruit and vegetable
without irrigation.
Downey has never had boom but its
location in the center of a remarkably
rich agricultural section, has given it
steady growth. Property here has never,
however, been subject to unnatural infla-
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 adver-
Used. The social advantages are good.
The people are mostly from the South.
eastern States, and are kindly, hospitable
and refined. There are five churches,
M. E. church south, Christian, Baptist,
Cumberland Presbyterian and Holiness
church, all in q fourishing condition,
and an excellent school.
Owing to the 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
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 by ]. T. Banks, agent for the
Southern Pacific railroad at that point: