Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-01
In SMALL HOLDINGS.
A SENSIBLE PLAN FOR FRUIT Gull
FURE.
A Herald Representative Visits the Tract
of the San Fernando Fruit Colony and
Investment Company.

cure for the hard times incident to
the collapse of the boom. The
oretically this would undoubtedly
be good thing for the country,
but the cultivation of such small
holdings involves several very impor-
tant combinations of circumstances to
prove successful, and while the news
papers have talked about the necessity
for the forming of small fruit orchards
and vineyards, and suggested ''co-opera-
tion," in vague way, as
the solution OF the difficulties
involved, it remained for Los Angeles
company to bring forward a practical
and practicable plan for placing small
orchards of citrus and deciduous fruits
within the reach OF those of moderate
means, relieving them of the burden of
planting, caring for and cultivating the
trees until they were in bearing, and
placing them in the hands of the pur-
chasers at the end OF the waiting period
in the condition of dividend-paying
investment.
representative of the HERALD yes-
terday attended the first sale of the
San Fernando Fruit Colony and Invest
ment company, which has offices in the
University bank building, and was very
much pleased with what he saw and
with the plans of the company as eX-
planned by their gentlemanly represen-
tatives, Messrs. Robert Widney and G.
ID. Howry. The party which went up
to inspect the land offered for sale, took
the north-bound morning train on the
Dc ho
cars at Pacoima station. Teams were in
waiting and took the party over the
tract. which lies Immediately south
of the railroad track. A thousand acres
is the amount under the control OF the
and sold in small holdings of from five
level as a floor to the eye, but is said to
The soil is light colored, does not bake
hard and the Jumps crumble readily in
the hands. About forty acres are al
ready under cultivation by Mr.. Wild
ney, and are planted partly
with figs and partly with young
orange trees destined to be transplanted
elsewhere. The trees all looked remark
ably vigorous and were evidently doing
well.
The entire tract is supplied with water
through steel pressure pipes from the
submerged dam in the ca1on, a few
miles distant. The pressure of the wa
ter is very great, and the water itself is
clear as crystal and remarkably pure
from its filtration through the sand at
the dam.
The land having been sufficiently ex-
amined the teams turned up the valley
and drove to point where the entire
valley, in all its beauty, lay spread be-
fore the eyes of the tourists. Next
came trip up the canon to the sub
merged dam, one OF the most peculiar
specimens of architecture ever yet at
tempted. The stream crossed by the
structure has, in common with many
California streams, a bad habit of sink
ing into its bed of sand and gravel dur
ing the dry season. The dam is a struc-
ture of stone, having its foundations on
bed rock and forcing the river to come
to the surface, where, filtered clear
through the porous bed of sand, it is re-
ceived in large wells and conveyed from
there through a syHtem of steel pressure
pipes to the valley below. The supply
of water is practically inexhaustible,
and of the best quality.
After the dam had been inspected
and its construction explained the
party set out again, passing
this time toward San Fernando
proper. Numerous stops were made at
points of interest. Here fine peach
orchard, cloud of pink blossoms, was
the attraction. Next it was an orange
grove, of trees four and five years old,
or nursery, containing thousands OF
young trees. Then it was a small grove
of olives, with their half-white leaves
and small blossoms. Everywhere was
the same light, crumbly soil, little
darker in color where under cultivation,
but still the same soil. Everywhere,
too, was noticeable clean look about
the trunks and branches of the trees,
while the leaves were as clean and
bright as if they had been washed and
polished for exhibition this bright,
sunny morning.
The orchards having been properly
admired, the party proceeded onward
to San Fernando, through uncultivated
land brilliant with wild flowers, and
fields of barley waving in the gentle
breeze. The pure mountain air was
exhilarating to degree, and the jolting
of the vehicle under the management
of reckless charioteers, who endeavored
to talk scenery and steer pair of frisky
horses along poorly defined road at
the same time, would be cure
for the most obstinate case of
dyspepsia. Arrived at San Fernando,
the party was prepared to do justice to
the excellent lunch provided by the
company, and afterwards to discuss the
good qualities of the land and the
points of the plan upon which it is offer
ed for sale.
The plan of the company is this:
Each acre of land, planted in deciduous
fruit trees, in full bearing, will cost the
purchaser $500. This he pays in Install
ments at the following rates:
First payment, per acre. .. ...... IS 35 90
IL monthly INSTALL, of SO each, for 1st
u monthly install OF 81 each, for I'd ~
II monthly INSTALL. OF 81 each, for Sd
year. ............. Observation-Disclosures. AZ 90
Total amount paid in...... .$203 90
The third yearit is estimated that the
trees planted will be bearing, and that
the income from an acre, will be for the
third year, $40; for the fourth year,
$110, and for the fifth year, 5000. These
sums will be placed to the credit of the
purchasers, and, should no unforeseen
accident occur, the land viii then
be not only paid for, but
will have paid back to the
purchaser the sum of $53. In case
the grove should not bear as expected.