Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-28
Napa and lis Valley Of Bud
ding Wealth.
VACAvlLLE The FRUIT CENTER
Another Interesting Letter on California
From the Fseiie Pen Of
Prot. SWensbsTg.

III. Our party was most royalty vel
coined. Teams OF two and four horses
had been brought IN from twelve miles
out, from every point Of the compass.
The horses aud vehicles were trimmed
with flowers. We were driven through
a number Of the many elegant orchards
for which the Naca valley Is noted.
Several hours were consumed by the
drive. Although the weather wac ex-
ceedlngly hot, our party OF seven or
eight hundred was well repaid.
Naca Valley is said 10 be the hottest
place IN California. Ii produces the
earliest fruit of the season some twenty
or thirty days ahead of any other
fruit region and they receive the
highest pr.cs IN the market. Some Of
the improved fruit lands sell as high
as $1,000, 10 $1,000 an acre. This valley
is but twelve miles IN length and Is the
scene of earthquakes, evidences OF the
recent, as well as OF years ago were
apparent here. This scene was OF IN
terest TO our party perhaps more so
than TO those present at the time CT
the occurance. Several business blocks
and residences were undergoing repairs.
Drive Through the Valley.
A drive through this valley was some
different from anything else seen and
enjoyed before,
Loads of great big luscious spanish
cherries were brought on board OF the
cars for the enjoyment OF our party,
the fact Is, there was so much 10 be
enjoyed and so little time TO enjoy 1t
in, that some sixty Of our happy jour
nalIsts forgot themselves and were LETT,
to be gathered IN on our return.
We babe a pleasant adieu to the hos
pitable people Of Nacaville with a
promise of long remembrance and con-
tinued our journey to st. Helena,
where feast was prepared for our
party at their exposition hall. The st.
Helena women did ell that could be
done TO make our short stay as pleas
ant as possible under the circumstances.
The hall was beautifully trimmed and
the decorations showed skill IN art. ST.
Helena lays claim 10 the largest wine
cellar in the world. A wonderful won
derland, wine tunnel over three
fourths of mile long, made of cut
stone ard very handsome, containing
over 100000 gallons.
st. Helena to Napa.
From st. Helena We returned over the
same road to Napa, where we were met
by a brass band and Thousands of peo-
pie that had come great distances TO
welcome us. A great feast OF every
thing that one could wish for WAS
spread under these immense live oak
trees.
Napa lies fifty miles northeast of San
Francisco. The valley is about twenty
miles IN length and has an average
width of about fifteen miles lying in
the eastern part or the Coast range. ii
is region of hills and valleys, rich
and productive and largely under
cultivation, yielding bountifully with
out irrigation. Pope Chiles valleys
lies to the eastward, virtually forming
one valley with a combined length OF
about twenty-five miles. There are
many other small valleys a few mile:
in length, but productive. Along the
eastern line of Napa county lies Ber-
reyesSa valley, about twenty miles long
and from one to three miles wide.
Napa valley extends from the bay al
the south to Mount ST. Helena at the
north, distance of about forty miles
and varies in width from one to five
miles. 1t is level, very rich in soil
and yields bountifully without lrriga-
ton; all sorts of fruits and vegetables
flourish.
Nnpa River.
Napa river rises in the mountains tC
the north and traverses the entire
length of the valley, being navlgable
~ 10 n Of "a
Francisco. Putah creek passes through
the center of the Berryessa valley
There are numerous other small
streams throughout the country
There is an abundance of pure, whole
some water from mountain springs.
no irrigation Is required for crops OF
any kind. There Is something pecu
liar in this irrigation business. In
some portions of California 1t rains &C
lrrigate, IN other parts the dew Is sutii
Gent for iIrigatan, IN other paris
there is neither rain nor dew, yet
everything grows; IN Other parts moth
ing grows without irrigation, but a
soon as water touches even the deser
sands everything responds and grow:
"a If by magic. In other portion.
water irrigation would stop the growth
of everything. California is certainly
wonderful state. 1t has every
climate that every other country SCENT
10 have and grows everything ali other
countries seems TO grow.
Nepe Vineyards.
While other industries have thrive
In Napa, vlticulture - said 20 hav,
been from the earliest of overshadOw
I a.rr al
there be seen ia California in 20 small
space such al immense area OF wine
grapes, and there is a very large capi
tal invested IN cellars and dlsllleres
Many OF the choicest varieties ~ wiD.
are produced IN the fertile valleys and
on the sunny slopes of the Napa hiils
Nlticulture y the one paramount in
terest IN that valley. We were toiC
that over 4,0O0.0 00 gallons of vine arr
made annually IN Nspa valley
There are $50 iarge vine cellars.
The list OF fruit productions az
grapes. olives. oranges, lemons, frenCi
pruues, peaches. sprlcots. plums
apples. pears. almonds, wainuts, figs
/ cereals, vegetables. etc. Anything tn
siller ~ the SOL sees ft O. plant return
an abundant harvest in the rich soi
Decidous fruits of ali kInds are raise
here u Quanrtv and good qushty.
Material soda water
Nspa soda sprugs are stusted 20
feet above TIE sea level. on She waster.
q ts % The mountain. fn Sire m fst q
pleasant scenery. sus claimed ci
mate uusnrpas lor heslfh or com
fort For fwentv five or thutv year
these sgr ga have hNen famous d.
Their curative waters i1e m iNo
hsttfe AZ annms1v sn1fet away
Atass resk elevation 3 - left 80
fe4..s,ff,r ...fa1 Nv fsn STATE ttraff g.