The record-union., 1892-11-04
LARGE TRACTS DIVIDED.
4 Chance Offered to Those Who
Want Small Holdings.
C. p. Huntington's New Scheme-soIne
of the Choicest Land in the Sacra-
mento Valley Cut Up Into small
Ranches and Placed on the Market.

During last year it was publicly stated
that c. p. Huntington, President of the
Southern Pacific Company, had become
interested in the subdivision of large
land-holdings in the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Valleys. 1t was also given out
that he would exert his personal influ-
ence and employ some of his capital in
securing the subdivision of some of these
holdings. Mr.. Huntington, however. re-
turned to New York from his annual
visit without anything being accom-
plished in the direction indicated. It APP
pears now that the subject has been un
der serious contemplation and that eX-
tensive examinations into the large land
holdings of the Sacramento Valley in
particular have been instituted under
Mr.. Huntington's direction, and all the
facts bearing upon the practicability Of
subdividing some of these holdings have
been carefully inquired into. The in
ouiry has resulted in action and the at
tention of the President of the Southern
Pacific Company will be actively directed
toward practical methods of securing the
subdivision of large land-holdings into
small acreage plats sufficient for the in
dustry of single agricultural holder and
his family.
AS the practical administration of these
matters has been placed in the hands of
William II. Mills, Land Agent of the
Central Pacific Railroad Company, a rep
resentative of the Examiner yesterday
sought that gentlemen for information
upon the new enterprise. In response to
the general inquiry as to whether any
practical movement in the direction indi-
Gated had taken place and about which so
much has been said at intervals in the
public press, MIR. Mills said the best eX-
PLANTATION he could give is embraced in
the following letter from Mr.. Huntington
himself on the subject:
SAN FRANCISCO, October 2S, 1892.
William II. llillS, Lana 4ge1tt. q. y. H. r.
FRIEND MILLS: AS you have often heard me
Ray, IL has for a long time been my earnest de-
.lire to inauguratc the breaking up OF large
& anded estates in California into small parcels
o as to give people OF moderate means, who
Vish to buy small tracts, the same advantage
price that the purchasers OF large tracts can
>. IWays obtain, as I believe that these exces-
- lively large holdings are very much against
he interest not only of the State. but also the
transportation companies. am satisfied that
policy Of this kind, having tor It's object the
OTmation out of great ranch properties of
small. or, at least, moderately sized farms,
would be an investment for the Southern Pa
.ltic Company that would ultimately prove of
financial advantage to itself; but the company
has It's own legitimate business, viz: tnat of a
carrier OF persons and property, and even if 1t
would, it could not now undertake project of
such manifest benefit, not only to Itself but to
the future of the State, because it has no sur
plus money 10 spend after il has paid the
current expenses, the fixed charges and for
those betternentS that are necessary in view
OF the Increasing demands for railroad fncili-
ties throughout the State. Ishould not, in fact
feel warranted in proposing to my associates
such plan, involving, as il does, conSidera-
bic outlays of money. and besides, il might
perhaps be eXpected-whether reasonably or
ably-that, having once entered upon
such an undertaking, the company would be
almost bound rs by precedent to satisfy all
claims of land-hOlderS without diStinc lion.
But l have such confidence in the success of
this proposed experiment, which have often
and carefully cons dered since the idea first
occurred to me, that have personally under
taken to carry it out, and hope and believe
that il will prove successful; but If il should
not, ! could stop at any time without crti-
cism or reflection at any time upon the rail-
road company.
In the fulfllment OF this purpose I have
finally bought the Wilson n, of some
thing over 5000 acres. which, as you are
aware, lies near Chico and ts-cvery acre of
livery choice land. For this ranch ! have
paid 5 10 an acre. One end of it fronts on the
railroad and the other end on the Sacramento
River, and the entire tract is about three and
One-haf miles in length by something over
two miles in width. AS 1t is very choice fruit
land IL can be adVantageOuSly cut up into
small farms, and / wish to have it SURVEYED
and subdiviled into fOrty-acre tracts. Through
the center of this propose 10 put a street or
highway of fair width, running from the rail
road to the river and to have narrower streets
across IL at rlglt angles. w nen THIS done
propose To O1er the land to the public in
such quantities as may suit the purchaser
although one of the conditions of the sale
will be an agreement on the purchasers part
To occupy the property purchased. Eighty
acres will be the maximum quantity of land
sold TO any one party, and from that down to
tten acres the land will be disposed of as
buyers may prefer. l shall fix such price on
the tract sold that Shall lose no money. and
when all the property composing the ranch
Is finally disposed of the surplus money re-
celNGd over interest charges and other
penses-which EXP enses must b. kept at the
minimum-will be distributed pro rata
amongst the purchasers of the land.
know OF no better land in the whole State
than this, and it seems to me that il will very
soon be taken up at the prices at which il will
be offered, which, as such land is now selling
are very low, and understand the property
is now assessed at considerably above the
figure l paid for it. You are more familiar
with such matters than | am and | shall be
glad to get from you any suggestions relating
70 the sale of the property.
1t is my intention, as soon as this land is
Opposed OF to buy another large tract and treat
it in the same way. Yours very truly,
c. p. HUNTISGTON.
Commenting on the above letter, Mr..
Mills said:
LAS is well known to everybody from
statistical facts which have heretofore
been presented in various forms, a tend
ency to the aggregation of large land
holdings has been going on in the Sacra-
mento Valley for the past ten years.
1T has been said that this is lepacv
from the landed system of Mexico, the
original sovereign of the soil in Califor-
mia While this is in measure trtle if
is not full statement of the case. What
are known as Spanish grants in the Sac
ramento Valley comprise in the aggregate
hut small area of the large landed esta es
in that valley. one hundred of the larp-
est holders in the valley hold an aggre-
gate of !, 100000 acres, while the entire area
in the aggregate, granted by the Mexican
Government prior to the acquisition of
the territory by the United States falls
short of 100000 acres. The extent To
which these holdings have arrested the
growth and development of this State has
attracted the attention of G. =. Hunting
ton, President of the Southern Pacific
Company, very strongly. and he has ad-
dressed himself TO the task of remedy
ing it,
1T was clearly perceived at the outset
that since the Ownerships We're complete,
the only way to secure their subdivision
was either by inducing the present own
ers to subdivide or!by purchasing large
holdings and securing their subdivision.
The latter plan was found to be the only
feasible method. Entering upon this an
experimental instance is projected.
''Mr. Huntington has purchased the
lands belonging to the late Colonel C. L.
Wilson on the northern limits of Butte
County. The purchase comprises 5,l00
acres Of the richest valley lands, fine al
luvial soil, all capable of the highest cul-
tivation. and all lying under climatic con-
ditions admitting of the cultivation OF all
objects known TO Californias horticulture
and agriculture. The land lies between
the main line OF the California aud Oregon
Railroad and the Sacramento River. Con-
sidering the high fertility of the land un-
der consideration, its geographical loca-