Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-22

1
fruit. 1t is fact that many growers a.
Pomona, as at Riverside and othel
places, sell their orange crops for $500 tt
$3.50 an acre. Who would believe the
statement that lemons will pay 81 900
an acre? Yet it is fact that many
acres well treated pay twice thai
sum from the crop of each acre
So profitable is this citrus culture that
| the people about Pomona have set out
this past spring not less
than 100000 young trees, or 1000
acres OF new orange groves. Some esti-
mate this planting at much higher
flgures, and the very lowest estimates
are here given. The crop of next year
will be larger than that of the last one by
25 per cent, and in five years the orange
crop of Pomona will be several hundred
carloads. Of the trees planted during
the season now closing two-thirds were
OF California growth and the rest were
imported from Florida. There are
now in orchards about Pomona
not less than 100000 young
orange trees. After next year there
will be plenty of these trees of home
growth to supply the demand.
Next to the cultivation of the orange
at Pomona comes that of the apricot.
Then follow the peach, the prune, the
fig, the pear, and small fruits and ber-
ries. The cannery has put up as many
as 100000 tons of deciduous fruits in a
year at Pomona, and this year the pack
is estimated at twice that amount. The
crops now on the trees are put at 500
tons of apricots, 800 tons of peaches, $50
to 100 tons of prunes, large crop of
pears, and very considerable one of
ags. The berry cropof this place is very
Important, and large quantities Of
strawberries, blackberries and rasp-
berries are shipped out of
Pomona. Currants do we'll too.
Wine grapes form another very inn
portant factor in the prosperity of
Pomona. The year before last the
winery crushed 2,100 tons of grapes.
Last year the crop came to !, 800 tons,
and this year there will probably be
1900 tons. The quality of the wine
made is second to none produced in the
state. For some years past the vine
growers have suffered a good deal be-
cause of the mysterious disease which
has destroyed the vines in many parts
of the state. 1t seems to have run its
course and to- have done its worst. This
year the vines are making a very large
growth, and of most healthy nature.
No such robust growth has been seen
since this disease first attacked the
vines. About Pomona this hopeful sign
of a renewed prosperity in vine growing
is particularly noticeable. Yet it is not
confined to this locality, but in all parts
of the section the same is quite observ-
able.
Manufactures at Pomona.
In speaking of the products of the soil
of Pomona, something has been neces-
sarily included as to the manufactures.
The handling of the fruit crop is the
most important thing to note. The
cannery referred to above is a large three
story brick structure with plant sutfi-
cient to handle over twice the fruit pro-
duced at Pomona. 1t is supplied not
only with canning apparatus, but has
also the most approved machines for
drying fruit. The failure of the fruit
crop at the east this year, which is re-
ported to be general will insure a good
market for California fruit, and as con-
sequence there are unusual preparations
to take care of the crops of this section.
Buyers are already in the field offering
fair prices for the crops. The cannery is
in the hands of strong capitalists
of Chicago, but they will not
have the field to themselves.
The Messrs. Cook & Langley, of Los An
geles, with Mr. Pasmore in charge of
their business at Pomona, will at once
put in drying plant and compete for
the fruit. The machinery for this is
now on the way to Pomona, and will be
in place in ample time to take care oil
the fruit.
The Pomona winery, a large brick
structure near the Southern Pacific
depot, with all the most approved
modern appliances for making wine,
crushes nearly all the grapes produced
in the valley. Its products are of an
excellence that secures the very best
prices going for California wines.
Mr.. Mirande, French vintner of
great experience and skill, makes
the grapes of his own vineyard into
wine of a very high grade. He is one of
the ten very best wine-makers in Cali
fornia. He crushes perhaps 800 tons Of
| grapes and produces noble wines.
There are couple of pipe factories for
the manufacture of water and we'll pipe
in Pomona, and there are also a couple
| of planning mills in the city. Pomona
has wagon shops, blacksmith shops, and
all such minor manufacturing indus
tries.
Railroads and Street Railroads.
Pomona is connected with the outside
world by two transcontinental lines of
railroad. These are the Southern Pacific
and that known as the Santa Fe. Several
small or branch lines are planned and
in an embryo state at present, whose
construction at no distant day will
greatly benefit Pomona. The city has
| thirteen miles of street railway connect
ing her several quarters with the busi-
ness center.
Her Hotels.
Pomona has one of the best hotels in
America. This is the Palomares, a fine
modern edifice, whose spacious grounds,
fine building and elegant furniture cost
not less than $125,000. There are 125
rooms in the house. and it is under the
efficient management of 7. ]. Rockwell.
Browns hotel is also hostelry that
would do credit to any city in the land.
1t is solid brick structure of fifty light
and well-ventilated rooms. George r.
Smith is the lessee. He is gentleman
of experience, affable in manners and
attentive to the wants of his guests.
Other Matters.
Pomona has gas company which
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