Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-23
FAIR AS AN EDEN
Prof. Swensberg Writes Enter
tainingiy
: BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA
An Interesting Description Of the Red
lands With Their Thousands Of
Acres Of Orange Groves.

National City - located on the south
ern terminal of tie Southern California
railroad. east of west and on the north
western line of Old Mexico as the head
Of two mountain ranges, between the
Gulf of California and Mexico.
We left Coronada Beach on the
nightof May l6stll o'clock. We crossed
over to San Diego BY boat and left the
latter place the same night. We passed
SIX ANAL villas and made our first stop
1T Esconondido Junction. Our next
stop Was Ocean Side, where We entered
the kits-snaped track and ran up To
San Juan. We passed by the next three
stations and made . short stop ~
Orange. aud then at Cotton, just long
enough TO view these homelike little
spots. We passed on 70 East Rlverside,
but - breakfast WAS waiting for US ~
San Bernardino. We left several places
70 be visited on our return. The break
fast reception at San BefnaFdIno Was
most gratifying indeed. The hall and
tables were most beautifully and arts
plants. After breakfast we went TO
the Redlands. around the kite, touch
ing the highlands In the mountain
ranges. We passed through ali these
places on our way to San Diego and
Coronado Beach, running over 3 part
of the kite track. Redlands 10 one of
the newest, yet one Of the most thriving
places in southern California. IL 10
but four years old, but advanced In
culture. 1t has now population OF
1000. It's improvements and general
surroundings appear TO be the growth
OF many years.
When the pioneers in orange culture
first came to the Pacific coast they did
not find natural groves of orange trees,
as for generations back had been the
case in Florida, the moist lowlands OF
the latter state affording favorable con-
ditions of growth as contracted with
the arid plains of California. Yet
doubtless the original settlers of either
coasts brought from the same mother
country of Spain the varieties In favor
at homeri for stock and fruit.
lndustv Of Rediands.
Redlands 10 essentially an orange
| producing section. and lies IN the midst
OF thousands of acres OF young orange
groves divided into tracts of 5. 10, Is,
| 20, and % acres, each tract affording
| an ideal home and competence to its
owner. The orchards, some Of which
are now ID bearing, and others ap-
preaching the bearing stage, will
| eventually make this one OF the wealth
| lest and most delightful horticultural
| sections Of the United States. In addi-
ton to oranges, peaches. apricots,
| nectarines, plums, figs, olives, pears
| and . wide variety of semi-tropic fruits
| are here grown.
On our arrival we were taken into
| the carriages for drive through the
| town orchards and upon the highlands.
| where q most magnificent view of q
rich and fertile valley lying beneath
| our feet was obtained. We were driven
to the experimental orange grove Of
| the valley, which was started about six
| years ago. Soon after it was sold for
about $1,000 and again sold for $780,
600 Just before our visit there. The
first purchaser had earned his money
by carpenter work at $3.50 q day. His
| wife planted trees and took care of
the grove. We were told that orange
trees began to yield good crop after
the third year, with returns from 500
to 81, 900 per acre. In our drive We
were taken up into the highlands to
the Albert and Alfred Smiley places,
which are indeed grand. They COM
prise the winding hiilsides. with deep
canyons below ana beautiful parks
from the other side of the mountains
across the valley and elevated to the
same height into distributing reservoirs
which are located on the highland hills
on the opposite side from the springs.
The Smiley brothers went there from
New York. They bought the barren
mountain side only three years ago,
piped the water to it, summit from
yonder mountain snow, built hand
some residences, beautiful crescent
drives and retaining walls, laid out
handsome gardens. erected fountains,
planted flowers and fruit orchards and
transformed il from . mountain will
derness into q garden of Paradise. Mil
lions of eastern money have been spent
In these mountain ranges, which are
now q succession of beautiful flower
and fruit gardens, fine residences,
handsome towns, with grand drives
and fine streets.
Public improvements.
Redlands has 6ne churches and
school buildings. A sec, 900 high school
building 10 to be erected this year; also
SOS, 900 Y. NJ. {. A. building. They
also contemplate the erection OF pub
lie library.
The residence portion Of this young
city has many elegant and costly resi-
dences, surrounded by beautiful
grounds that are veritable flower gar
dens, and the streets are handsomely
ornamented with shade trees.
Redlands Is located in the San Ber-
nardino valley. To the north and to
the east are mountain ranges, Noun,
San Bernardino and Old Grayback
rising to a hight of 10000 and IL. o0e
feet respectively. During q great por.
ton Of the year their SUBMITS are
covered with snow. and on the south
side of the latter il . glacier . mile IN
length. To the southeast 10 Mount SAu
Jacinto. with Mount San Antonio on
the northwest. The santa Anna river
flows west, along the northern limits oi
the city, and on the west open the
great valleys that extend 10 the ocean
We cannot describe the scenery II
is grand beyond the power OF werde te
express. There IL nowhere = more de
lightful and impressive view than that
had from Canon Crest Park. The rug
ged mountains from the east and from
the north, the veivety hiils for theil
background, and the fertile valley with
its thousands Of acres Of orchards aud
flowers before them, the valleys stretch
ing away 70 the horizon on the wes1