The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-03-04
MANKATOITES In CALIFORNIA,
SAN DIEGO, CAL, Feb. %, 1892.

| III uulUSI Vi NduhdUO pSOpIC dIC HUI
ested, is situated from seven to ten
miles southeast of Riverside, past a
range of low hills, and has an altitude
twice as great as that of Riverside.
1t is truly beautiful valley, with a
| beauty that impresses one the more,
! the longer he remains. On every side
is a grand view of mountainous scene
ry, varying from snow clad ranges to
the less picturesque hills. The val
ley slopes away toward the south and
east very gently. Though practically
a virgin plain, the district of q, 900
acres is divided by graded streets and
avenues, and water pipes have reach
ed each ten acre tract. Temporary
abodes dot the valley here and there,
and many young orchards Of oranges
and deciduous fruits are growing rap
idly under the combined fruitful in
fuence of the irrigated rich decom-
posed Granite soil, and a semi-tropical
sun. There is no healthier spot in all
California, and. the air is delightfully."-
bracing. There seems to be no doubt
but that citrous fruits will be profit
ably grown, while it cannot be eX-
celled for deciiuous fruits and nuts.
The land, which IS months ago sold
! for $50 an acre, is now held at S120,
with the prospect of an early advance.
Five years hence, when this valley
shall have been transformed into the
earthly paradise which has quickly
| followed the advent Of water in the
older settled valleys, Alessandro will
be favorite retreat for the health
and home seeker, and none who have
invested there will regret it.
Geo. McMahill has a substantial
frame residence upon his 20 acre tract,
and with his wife and sons, Louis and
Ira, is enjoying better health than for
years. He is doing some real estate
and improvement business. Ira is
engaged in the nursery business, and
with his partner has fine start tow
ard success and fortune. They also
do real estate business.
Several of the MankatO investors
will this year improve their property
by setting out orange and other fruit
trees, among these being A. p. Half
hill and Frank Grannis. The former
has arrived at Los Angeles with his
family. and the latter is spending the
winter in the southern part of the
state.
While at Riverside [ was delighted
to meet Mr. and Mrs. Frank Strunk
and child and Messrs Lorin Cray and
Thos. A. Sherk. who arrived safely on
the same train and reported pleas
ant trip. The climate had SO inyigor-
ated the two latter gentlemen that
during the trip across the desert they
challenged each other and some stran-
gers to run foot race, and as result
both were complaining of stiffened
muscles. Mr.. Strunk and family are
still visiting their brother at River
side. Mr.. Cray FASTENED on to San
Diego and then to Los Angeles and
San Jose. Mr.. Sherk and myself have
since been travelling together and will
continue to do so until our return in
April. He is pleased with the climate
and seems to be already improved in
health.
We visited the old city of San Ber-
nardino, which was originally a Nor
mon settlement, and is the seat of
the county of that name. 1t is trifie
smaller than MankatO, but in no re-
spect her equal, as we both thought.
Two days were very pleasantly spent
in RedlandS, a growing and delightful
little city of 1900. Though less than
five years old, it has fine business
position. while the residences are
costly and their grounds highly beau
titled. 1t is city Of orange groves.
and every available acre is being set
out to these trees, The Redlands
oranges already rank with the River
side oranges in the markets OF the
country, and the town is ambitious to
be known as the "queen of the Cit
rous belt The location is indeed
beautiful, and from one residence we
could see mountains 80 miles away to
the left; snow capped peaks 80 miles
away on the right, beautiful valley
with some dozen or more cities and
villages in front of us, and smaller
valley behind us. At Redlands re-
sides the architect who designed the
Blue Earth county court house, A. L.
Haley. We also accidently ran across
a young man named Meacham, who
formerly worked in r. J. Jones drug
store. and whose family were once
residents of Makato. He is clerking
in drug store.
From Redlands we took ride
around portion of the famous kite
sloped track belonging to the Santa
| Fe route, and gaZed upon some of the
| finest mountain and valley scenery in
the world. No tourist can afford to
miss ride over the Santa Fe kite
! track
Arrowhead Springs was our abiding
place for a week, where we luXuriated
in the hot mineral baths, in natural
hot water which boils up from the
rocks and in which eggs can be cooked
| in few minutes. The vapOr and mud
baths are also renowned. The large
and well appointed hotel enjoys a
| good patronage, and many remarka
bic cures are reported. We intend to
spend another week there, breathing
| the pure air of the elevation of 1000
feet, and enjoying the walks over the
mountain trails and through,the beau
IL y hot lnc kirarr