Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-12-18
Southern California.

Mr.. EDIroR--My last was written imme-
diately after our arrival here. Thanks for
,he CITIZEN, which has reached Us IL
is good news from a fac country. We hsd
the first rain of this season last night ano
OF DAY. Imagine no rain since last April,
how refreshing a.shower would be; dust
dust, dust everywhere. This is now over
for few months The farmers to whom IT
rigation is impossible are reioiced. There has
been little plowing and less sowing.as yet.
There are great scopes of country IN the
San Joaquin and San Gabriel Valleys not
brought under irrigation. These are the
great wheat aud barley fields of Southern
California, and unless there is reasonable
rainfall from this until April the crops Will
he a failure. And q crop failure means
much to a country where mixed husband
~ is impossible, as is in nearly all OF TINS
state.
We have been three weeks in Southern
California and have seen considerable oil
the country. We were as far south as Dan
Diego and crossed the line into Mexico,
passed through the Custom House, received
the Government Stamp of "All Right" and
saw the "Greser7 on his native soil. The
chief husbandry of this section is fruit
growing, andy the principal fruit pro
ducts are the orange, lemon and grape
While the citrous fruits predominate, the
deciduous fruits are being now extensively
cultivated year after year. The English
walnut is a rapid grower, an early frulter
and when in full bloom yields a good IN
come on the Investment. We have seen
some very fine orange groves, One OF ~
acres at Monrovia is estimated to yield this
vear from 500 to LOCO dollars per acre
And rancho of so acres in. san Diego
Co. can be boaght for Slo0,Ooo, ms
,roI,Id seem TO be fabulous price, but the
crop in the f cid, it is expected VIII De
sold for $1,000 per acre. While the ab owe
ztatarpents | think. are facts, not all the
land in the orange belt is alike pro
duetive and stranger may be greatly de-
ceiyed in making investments mere Ineh
the tree is subject to a parasitic pllgnt
caIled the "scale" which IS very injurious.
Crane cuiture is an extensive industry, the
raison and wine grapes predomihaeing-
Both these industries are SAID 10 oe quite
remunerative But the VINE grape Is
subject to blight which has destroyed nun
dreds of acres Of Vineyards. As YET no
remedy has been discovered. lt must DC
aid that a government inspector visits the
orancc proyes in some counties and when
the .sscsIe" is discovered, the grove IS cut
down by legal authority. Thus IL Will DC
seen that fruit farming in this golden state
ia not smooth sailing.
Los Angeles is a city OF about 6oOoo In
nonulation. Its chief business Is merchan
dizjng and exporting the fruits OF the
surrounding country. 1t has many good
buildings, both public and private, Is hne-
Iy situated and is capable OF almost I'M
limited extension Many tourists abide
here during the winter. Its harDor Is
Redondo Beach. The bay is not so well
protected ss San Francisco or San Diego, |
bnt will renieye the largest ocean vessels. |
At the beach there il good hotel ana u Is |
A noted summer and wintcr resort. |
Monroyis is q lively town at the base OF
sbe foothills, Is miles from this city. lts
chief business is fruit culture. The land
is all under irrigation. Every land owner |
has free water privilege IN lee simple.
The soil il "decomposed granite and Is |
peculiarly adapted to orange and lemon
culture. Passadena, River Side, Pomona |
and Orange arc noted for their extensive
orange groves. While We write OF ''e1ten
sive orange groves" it must be understood
thsC not more than one tenth OF the iano
South of San Francisco is under cuiti |
yation. There are several reasons for thls |
first. nearly all that is not under cuiti- |
vation is largely held by resident iand |
owners, that is, by owners, whether In the |
stace or out of it, who do not reside ON |
their lands. Such lands are largely held |
for speculation and are put Oh the market
at prices which prohibit settlement
gain, since nearly all of this is and land, |
IL is NOT under cultivation tor want OF
irrigation While It is claimed that tue |
water supply is amply sufficient, 10 utliize
the supply is very expensive ana enurely
beyond the resch of small cspalists. The
water supply for the city OF oan Diego ana
the intervening country Is coiIected IN
CANYON il the Mountains and conveyed IN
q 1ume distance of 90 miles. Part oi
this flame is a canal and part an aqueduct |
Some idea of the cost of irrigation NAV be
formed from description oil the sweet |
Water dam. This dam supplies y ational
CITY and the adjacent country, which lies
a few miles South OF San Diego. Tne dam
itself was erected at a cost OF 0,OoO
Inc wall is built of native granite and
Portland cement. Length of base 20 feet, |
top 39j feet, thickness OF base 10 ieet, top |
II feet, 90 feet high and reservoir covers
700 acres. 1t il semi-circular with the
bow up tho stream. Capacity 6,O0O, O0O,OCO
gallons. To this enormous amount OF
labor and expense must be added that OF
the cost of fumes and all the lateral pipes
necessary TO water every foot of land
brought under cultivation. 1t is apparent
that large corporations of capitalists must
DO formed 10 embark in irrig8ting systems
before the remain ing nine. tsnths OF this
great state will be ready for the plow and
the scotsman. California is yet IN Its
infancy. It has genial climate,
salubrious atmosphere, u fertile soil, water
only is wanting to make its sandy wastes
blossom as the rose.
Hoping to hear from the "CITIzES" next
week aud wishing my friends peace ana
prosperity | am yo2rs, etc
GEO. oHoUP.
tn oh nc frntn Nv gttirg-