Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-24
In A GREAT STATE
Wonderful Resources Of South
ern California.
THE FAIR ITALY OF AMERICA
Prof. Swensbesg Describes Riverside
and Its Beautiful Magnolia Ave-
hue and Orange G1ove&


From Redlands We 60 to Rsverssdes.
There are four Observation-Disclosures
proper. East Rivesslde, South RIVER
side and West Riverside Riverside u
perhaps the most famous city OF its
age aud size in America. After dinner
Ne took = drive, and il vas our good
fortune to get behind . tine span OF
Palo Altos, with . man formerly from
New York, who WAS able 20 explain in
. most intelli gent manner everything
about the city and country. What was
but few years ago barren waste has
by application Of water become the
most productive land in the world.
The fame Of the Rlversids naval or
angss 10 widespread, and deservediy 90.
as ali who have tasted the. lucious fruit
can testify. They made thar record
IT the centennial in 1875.
Those who for the first time drive
over her long and nicely graded ave-
nues, bordered with interminable Or
ange groyes. and shaded BY massivs
trees of many kinds, find this difficult
70 realize. But IL 10 practically but fif-
teen years since it, development CON-
nenced in earnest. Up 70 that time
all the work done had been experiment
tel. So little value WAS piaced upon
the land previous u that time that one
owner Of q tract, now included within
the city limits, allowed his property 70
be sold for taxes, because he deemed
the valuation of something like dol
lar an acre unreasonably high. The
nearest railroad then Was thirty miles
away. running through Los Angeles
(then town Of few thousand inhab-
itants), to the port of San Petro. San
Diego was then . town inaccessible,
with nothing but harbor, while San
BernardIno was IN magnificent Nor
mon settlement. The only other town
at that time In southern California
worth mentioning was Santa Barbara.
Only American faith and prssevcr.
ence and enterprise has made posalble
such results ~ are seen here today,
and an intimate knowledge of the pe0-
pie and their methods should convince
any one that those who brought into
their present conditions the beautiful
and wealth producing orchards. farms
and gardens of Riverside, were not un-
worthy descendants Of the Puritan aud
Cavalier who LAID the foundation of
our republic. What they lacked IN the
way of capital 1t tho outset was made
up In determination and tho shrewd-
est possible use Of tho means Ct their
command.
Magnificent Magnolia Avenue
In 1875 CALIFORNIA; Riverside with it
magnificent Magnolia avenue was laid
out, and IL 10 now unquestionably one
of the finest drives in the world. 1t 10
1S2 feet wide, with . row of magnifi-
cent pepper trees IN the center, and
b0rdered on both sides of its entire
length with magnificent pepper euca-
lyptus palm and other semi-tropical
trees. A drive down this smooth,
shady and we'll sprinkled avenue.
through Thousands Of acres Of contin-
uous orange groves. flower banks,
blooming century plants, fine residen-
ces on large and beautiful grounds and
lawns unsurpassed. 10 treat no other
place on earth can offer. Not even
Berlin "urter den Linden" But this
thorOughfare 10 only one Of many
| OC0u IA StI0Svo WnySu tulD OIty VI
homes possesses.
Magnolia avenue is eight miles long,
and this distance il soon 70 Oe increased
to sixteen miles. As stated before,
Magnolia avenue was laid out in 1876,
avenue. During the past year still an
other has been laid out, TO be known
- Victoria avenue. This n parallel 70
| h,< I'D - a.
nearly it, entire length, and enters the
city over . magnificent bridge nearly
600 feet In length and 90 in height
across the Turquiequite arroyo. Few
young cities Of 5000 inhabitants can
wood" the Arlington" and the Row
ell" They are now contemplating
the erection of still . larger aud finer
hotel, to be called the "Rubidoux,"
especially for the accommodation Of
tourists.
There are over 200 miles OF irrigat-
ing canals and pipe lines at IN assessed
value of $1,000. 900. The annual pro-
duction of oranges alone - upward of
$50. 900 boxes. Riverside 10 called the
nome Of the orange, but there are also
large areas devoted to raising grapes,
cherries. pears, . great variety OF deli
cious fruits and general garden and
farm products.
South Riverside 10 one of the pro-
greaslve colonies OF southern CaIifor-
mia. Though in its infancy, itis max
ing rapid strides in Improvements and
importance. Il 10 rich in minerals a.
we'll AZ IN oranges and lemons. lie To-
cation il unusually fine.
Four miles from the business portion
of Riverside lies East Raverslde. A fine
hotel Was erected here and opened
January I. The inhabltauu intend TO
engage largely in the rais;ng Of fruits.
Nearly 1000 acres Are already growing
and large acreage will b planted Che
coming season. What vas lev years
ago IN arid plain 10 now The abode Of
thonsands OF intelligent and prosper
Gus people.
west Rsverssae.
This 10 one of the most picturesque
and otherwise beautiful localities 10 b
found anywhere. IL lies about I'VE
miles 10 the westward Of The busineel
center Of RiversSde. Il commands q
| fine view Of the vast mountain ranges
that are subiimity itself. A dnve "a
the base Of Rubid0ux mountaIn and
across the Santa Anna r1vef, over which
. fine So. 900 bridge IN now ia course 81
| construction, brInRs ono 70 the
rich Alfalfa lands OF the river
bottom from whence much Of
the hay eupply 10 derived.
They can secure from thres 10 eight
crops . year. Here are also located
| the Riverside Dairy aud sock fArms,
a. oefl ~ .sson> eho.cs v.,~~A "a a - Ne .