Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-16
ORANGE VALE.
An Excursion to the Sacramento Colony
Near Folsom

<AH A<ASuNSioH 10 the sacramento COLONY
Near Folsom.
group of eighteen citiyens of Sacrs.
mento visited Orange Vale Colony yester.
day, by invitation, leaving in Kent's carry.
all carriage at half-past in the morning
and returning at s o'clock last evening.
At THE Villa" at the Orange Vale town.
site, they were entertained by several offi-
GERS of the colonization company, under
the immediate direction of G. NJ. Mott, V.
S. McClatchy, G. B. Ka;zenstein and P. G.
Drescher.
They were afforded an opportunity IN
ride leisurely over the entire colony tract
so far as subdivided. The subdivisions are
all ten acres. Each plat is surrounded by
streets and avenues, and water, in mains
and pipes from twenty-six inches to four
inches, is carried to every subdivision upon
it.
AT all the higher points the pipes empty
INTO small reservoirs from which the own
ers OF tracts can distribute ii, if desired.
But 1t was explained that thus far no irri-
gation mas been needed, and watering has
been confined mainly to the ornamental
trees planted along all the streets and
avenues. The force of the water, which
comes from the North Fork of the Ameri.
can river, is sufficient TO throw an open-
butt stream from hydrant from six to
ten feet perpendicularly into the air. and
with an inch nozzle to reach the second
story of any building.
All the gentlemen in the party yersed in
horticulture declared that they had never
seen more rapid or healthier growth than
the majority of trees and all of the vines
IN the colony tracts show, though none of
them have been in the ground three years,
and many but one year. They added that
no Southern California colony of equal age
ever made so good a showing. There are
now $50 acres in all, in the ten-acre lots
planted to grapes, figs, almonds, peaches,
cherries and apricots. The view from an
elevated point of more than fifty of these
tracts, green with foliage of vine and tree,
was one OF the most charming, delight
to the eye and the strongest possible testi-
mony of the fertility of the soil.
Perhaps the most attractive of the culti-
waited tracts are the two of Adam Andrew,
planted mainly to figs, two of DR.. G. V.
Ewing, mainly in peaches one of Miss
Jennie Govan, being very rich in varied
foliage of orange, almond, peach, etc; one
of H. Carmichael, in vines, melons, berries.
oranges and peaches, and two of those of
the company, not yet awarded, set out to
oranges, grapes, almonds and peaches.
The land is an elevated plateau, the sur
face gently rolling, and leo feet above the
American river, the bluffs rising almost
precipitoUsly from the waters edge. There
are about dozen neat residences already
erected and occupied, a school-house has
just been completed and into it the visitors
clambered and had the honor of ringing the
first peals from the big bell in the tower.
The colony tract, as stated, presents a
ypht nd ha nfAs & -
pany, who frankly stated that they had in.
ylted the guests to exhibit to them their
pet colony and to evoke from them an
honest expression of their opinion, were
greatly pleased with the unanimous verdict
of approval and congraiulation.
About three-quarters of mile from the
settled tracts is the town site, upon the
river bluff. From it is unfolded perspect-
i've not surpassed in This section of the
State. The scope of vision takes in valley,
village, river, foothills and snoy-cspped
Sierras in half circuit of hundred miles.
1t is noble, an inspiring view; one that
1t would seem should never cease by IA
milisrity to be a delight to the eve. At
the town site well $50 feet in depth Yields
pure, cold water; beneath the bluff is
long, winding, rocky dell, the walls of
which are tapestried with q marvellous
wealth of ferns, and it is a favorite re-
sort and the chief romantic spot about the
town site. Fine bridges span the narrow
canyons on the bluff road, and along all
the streets and ways ornamental ever.
green trees have been set out.
Beyond this, and the erection of "The
Villa" nothing has been done at the town
site-that evidently is secondary, ana to
respond to the demand of the colony as it
grows-all attention being centered upon
the ten-acre tracts, in and about which and
the bridges, roads, exterior fencing, tree
planting and water Introduction the CON-
pany has expended over $200,00O In the
tract there are $500 acres, and it was ex-
planned that it is the purpose TO lay it all
out on the plan already entered upon.
The impression and expression of the
visitors, and they were all practical busi-
ness men of shrewdness and independence,
was that the colony is just what is claimed
for 1t; that ii is good thing for Sacra-
mento county, a good thing for those who
own tracts in il, and a better thing for this
city, from which its supplies must be
drawn, and where ali the stockholders and
managers of the company live and are in
business.
Whatever value this purely voluntary
record of that verdict of the visitors, and
OF what was apparent to the view of the
RECORD UNION representative, is to the COL
onization company it is welcome to, since
Orange Vale is clearly enterprise in right
direction, the result of right spirit on the
part of citizens who have faith in Sacra-
meDto county, aud Is public spirit off of
piece with what this journal advocates, and
which, as mere policy pays