Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-28
SATURDAY, MARCH ss, 1891.
WHAT THERE is TO suBDIv1DE.

Inc breaking up ol tHc largo I6HCuOs
in the immediate neighborhood of the
city OF Los Angeles cannot we'll be de-
ferred much longer. Thoroughly set
tied up they would make an unspeak-
able difference in the business growth of
this city. There is great and natural
complaint that Los Angeles should be
hemmed in by great ranges that even
now are only used as cattle preserves.
They practically environ the city on
all sides. To the south the eleven thou
sand acres of the superb Laguna rancho
are encountered. This contains some of
the best lands in Los Angeles county, or
in the world, for that matter. The
depth of the soil is something to marvel
at. The probability is extreme that,
with the natural operation of capillary
attraction, the same results will be wit
messed on tho Laguna ranch that have
been recorded on the Centinela and
other properties. Cultivation, after a
few years, will do its perfect work. But
assuming that it should not, there is an
abundance of water available to
make the Laguna one OF the pro-
ductive miracles of a miraculous
state. 1t is one of the anomalies of the
development of Los Angeles, that actual
settlement, outside of Boyle Heights,
and some little contiguous improved
spots. should have jumped clear from
this city across the San Gabriel river to
the Nietos valley.
Immediately to the east of the Laguna
ranch one comes upon the ranchos de la
Merced, San Felipe Lugo, San Francis
quito, Santa Anita, Puente, and others
too numerous to mention. In all this
extensive region the soil is characterized
by spontaneity of production almost
incredible. For instance, on the San
Francisquito, one hundred and fifty
bushels of corn to the acre is a frequent
experience of -the.fnrmer-- Mr., ,-E-J-
Baldwin, we learn on the authority of
Mr.. Unruh, his agent, has frequently
received fifty bushels of corn to the acre
for his share of crop, taking one-third.
Before dismissing the Laguna ranch,
which runs quite up to the city line, and
should be divided, we ought to mention
that the waters of the Los Angeles river,
of the Arroyo Honda and OF the San
Gabriel river, are all available for pur-
poses of irrigation on this promising
property.
The Santa Anita ranch, which Mr.. E.
J. Baldwin is now cutting up, and plac-
ing on the market at really exceptionally
low prices, is one Of the remarkable re-
gions in California. Long before Mr..
Baldwin seriously contemplated the dis
posal of his superb home ranch, he said
to an inquirer that man could afford to
pay $1,000 an acre for such land as that
on which his own orchard stands, put it
in budded oranges, and burn it up at the
end of ten years, and yet make hand
some profit on his investment. This
famous orchardist, in addition to being
lucky, is excessively practical, and has
had world of genuine Gradgrind expe-
rience. He knows whereof he speaks.
In addition to the ranchos mentioned
in the San Gabriel valley, there is much
other property available for settlement
in that exquisite section.
The Cahuenga, Tujunga and San Fer
nando valleys, to the north of Los An
geles, afford attractive openings to in
vestors, which have only been partially
improved. Such charming spots as La
Crescenta and La Crescenta Canada
show what can be done in
that region; while the splendid i'm
provements in the San Fernando valley
proper, yet in their infancy, prove that
some day ten thousand people will find
homes there and in Glendale and other
delightful spots.
Swinging over to the west, the ex-
quisite Cahuenga range displays possi-
bilities of delevopment really wonder
full. The settlement is yet sparse, and
the openings are really illimitable.
Here we find regions where it is no un-
usual thing to clear from $500 to $1,000
an acre on early green peas and early
tomatoes. This is what is known as the
thermal belt. There is an absolutely
authenticated instance of the clearing of
$1,000 off of single acre OF tomatoes in
one year in the Cahuenga. In this
neighborhood the magnificent ranch of
the Messrs. Hammel & Denker is about
to be cut up into small tracts and sold
at reasonable prices. Still to the west,
between Los Angeles and Santa Monica,
the rancho Ballona, the ranches de los
Bueyes, La Brea, La Ballona, San vi
cente y Santa Monica are yet largely vir-
gin soil. They invite settlement ,and they
will undoubtedly be in the market very
shortly.
The region between Los Angeles and
Wilmington is specially valuable body
of land. Scarcely an impression has
been made upon it yet in the way of
settlement outside of the city limits
and the lines of the towns of Florence
and Compton. Yet dense population
ought to and undoubtedly will spring
up there.
10 the southwest an extensive terri
tory absolutely virgin and Of incalcu-