Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-18
A DISPLAY OF VARIOUS WEALTH.
Redlands, the Creation of the Other Day.
The Switzerland of America With the
Lowlands of Italy Surpassed The
Region OF Genuine MiracIes-The Smiley
Heights "A Hint of Development
Achieved and Contemplated.

AhC OOiiCi Ody lOuHo NY Sell Stdlu-
ing on the Smiley Heights that sur
mount Redlands, through the services
of friend. Finding myself there, l
cannot help thinking that l would vul-
garize the article which l propose to
write were l to particularize personal
obligations.
The man who is planted at the top of
Smiley. Heights is probably as near
heaven as he will ever be on this sub
lunary sphere. Ii, after taking in this
matchless expanse OF everything that
can be attractive on earth, unless every
thing is remarkably neat and winning
in Paradise, he would be in danger OF
asking remission to this ordinarily hard
work-a-day world of ours.
The most distinctive thing about
Smiley Heights is that, on the rim of
the Redland highlands that look down
on the San Timoteo cafon, through
which the Southern Pacific railway
winds its way up to the San Gorgonio
pass, which is an opulent valley rather
than pass, you look on valley rather
than pass. That is the most obvious
suggestion of the observer, if he can
resist the. witchery of the valley. But
it is Just as we'll to resist scenic attrac-
tions for the moment, to get into details.
The Smiley Heights is an extensive
tract of country that is being improved
by two brothers OF that name, who hail
from New York. The tradition goes
that these gentlemen are the proprie-
tors of number of summer resorts in
the state of New York that ramify
through the charming lakes of that re-
gon and which are full all through the
summer. The idea is that these gentle
men are preparing winter resorts on
Smiley Heights that will infinitely sur
pass their summer resorts in the east.
Whether this be true or not, there is
no doubt that the Smiley Prothers are
spending hundreds of thousands of DOB
lars on the heights above Redlands,
which will result in serpentine groves,
as complex and beautiful as those
through which Theseus pursued the
fleet form OF Ariadn@. They have made
drives which will present consummate at
fractions. All these intricate alleys are
furnished with the most attractive vege-
tation incident to a sub-tropical
climate. Recognizing the fact that the
orange tree is itself plant of ofeXceptional
symmetry, the height is terraced with
citrus trees that show marked thrift and
beauty. Spaces are made for flowers
and purely ornamental trees. Every
feature of this prodigal expenditure OF
wealth shows that a fine esthetic genius,
with unlimited means at command, has
presided over the arrangements OF Smiley
Heights. Today villa, OF extreme ele-
%, @l,1 f1,o
visitor is told that it is for the accom-
mediation of the gardener and his assist
ants. If such are to be the appoint
ments of the servitors of the place, we
can we'll wonder what will cap the
enormous OUTLAWS needed for the Smiley
Brothers and their encourage, whether
they shall aim to create an ideal
chateau, or to create hotel which
shall be of worldwide fame and popular
ity. AS you descend from the Smiley
Heights, you still encounter the terrace
principle of ornamentation, until you
stike the terraced orange grove of Mr..
F. Z. Brown, who has adopted the
Smiley plan, and who has set out three
hundred and twenty acres of budded
oranges on the most scientific plan
known in America, or in any other
country.
WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM SMILEY HEIGHTS.
Disregarling the terraced symmetry
Immediately at your feet. you can take
in a prospect from Smiley Heights that
will make your breath come and 60 in
glad pulsations. Glancing over your
right shoulder, while taking the expanse
of mountain and valley, you will
see the sweep of the San
Timoteo cafion, really one of the
most fruitful valleys of California,
crowded with orchards of the deciduous
| fruits; charming as this would be in an
ordinary country, you dismiss it as un-
worthy of attention in a region so
crowded with scenic splendors as that
upon which your attention is riveted.
You are in the region OF mountain ma
jesty. The fact that below you rise
mountains of the first magnitude does
in no whit obscure the fact that val
ley of incompatible beauty, of which
Redlands is the center, lies before you.
In this article L shall give no statistics
of the growth of Redlands, but it is
there in the near foreground, and a
most charming picture it is. The Red
lands people have adopted the idea of
the red pigment; they have painted
their roofs and chimneys red, and they
are now beginning to paint even their
churches of the hue loved by Cristatas
Achiller. The effect is unique and
charming in the extreme, and harmon
ICES perfectly with the red soil from
which the place derives its name.
Consequently, standing on the Smiley
Heights, Redlands is an exquisite color
effect in landscape of indescribable
beauty and grandeur. For, all the while,
1t must never, for a moment, be forgot
ten that grandeur is the leading charac-
teristic OF any San Bernardino prospect.
From Smiley Heights, after taking in
the track OF the Southern Pacific rail
way, which winds up the grand San
Gorgonio pass, the eye passes over a
panorama Of matchless sublimity. Away
to the left San Bernardino seems scarcely
more than flyspeck, as the eye takes in
the Cajon pass, losing itself in the
mountains. Turning to the right,
Mt. San Bernardino and old Gray
back, claim the attention. At the foot
of old Grayback. Mill creek, with its
washes, is clearly outlined. Further to
the left the washes Of the Santa Ana
river disclose themselves, and you only
realize the superiority of this historical
stream when you learn that its source is
| aWav hack of Mt San BernardinO in the