The morning call., 1892-09-19
A RICH SECTION.
LIvermore Valley Famed for It's Wines
ard Fruits.

correspondence OF IHE MORNING CALL.
Lyermore Valley. in the eastern part of
Alameda County, is one of the most beauti-
full and accessible of the inland valleys of
the State. About II by y miles in area only,
it is yet rich and prolific enough to support
two thriving towns-PleasantoD near its
western edge, and Livermore, near the
center. Pleas lnton numbers but a few
hundred people, and is just beginning to
grow and flourish.
LiyeImOre lies in the center of the val
ley, and is forty-eight miles, or two hours
ride, from San Francisco. There are three
trains each way daily, the fare being 50
the round trip, or 81 80 for commuters
There are quite number of people going
back and forth each day. doing business in
San Francisco or Oakland.
Since the Spaniards gained possession of
the land it has always been planted to
cereals, until now the land is so impoy.
no wheat is shipped at all. During the
season twenty tons OF barley are shipped
each month and 2000 tons of hay.
AS the farmers have discovered that the
grain crops have been decreasing they have
turned their attention 10 fruit, and with
success. j. ID. Smith, the proprietor of
IiYerm0re College, was The pioneer fruit
grower in the valley, and 1t has been less
than seven years since the first orchards
were planted. Ten carloads OF dried
peaches were shipped last year and four
carloads Of almonds. Pears and olives do re-
markably well. Cherries also do we'll. The
trees do not make the sturdy growth they
do in the Niles section, where trees three
years old are as large and bear as heavily
as those in the Livermore Valley that are
five years old. AprIcots do well also, and
the MoOrpark variety-the largest and most
richly flayOred-seems to be a freer bearer
than in most other localities.
The people in the valley speak OF It as
being spotted as a leopard" and so it is.
The varieties of soil are many. indeed, and
only an old resident and man of expert
ence would dare to plant piece OF land to
frnit
Vine-growing has been the source of im-
mense profit to the valley, and tie wines
and brandies of Livermore Valley have
worldwide reputation.
The Government tax upon the brandy
shipped amounts in many months to $1,000
During the past year wine has been shipped
TO Switzerland, to BaTmak India, to Yoko-
hama and to the Samoan Islands-not in
small lots, but in large consignments. 1t is
the heaviest shipping station for wines or
brardies mp to date in the State; 240, 600
pounds OF wine are sent out on an average
each month. The success of the wine and
brandy industry Is due directly to the inde-
fatigable industry OF Charles Wetmore.
Irrigation is necessary for all sorts OF
garden truck" The two streams. the
Arroyo Mucbo and Arroyo Vale, tributaries
of the Alameda Greek, flow through the
valley, aud In their dry creek beds much of
the fruit is dried i'm summer The banks of
the streams are we'll wooded with sycamore,
oaks. bays. willows, etc. and the scattered
trees through the valley add much to its
beauty.
To the north Diablo and the foothills.
rolling and bare. hem In the valley. To the
south Mount Hamilton lies, with its we'll.
wooded. dark, green slopes of cedar and
pines and tangle OF Caliiornia's choicest
flora.
These hills and mountains are the homes
of dozens of large daries. Sheep and cattle
raising is carried on, too, successfully, be-
ing one Of the large Industries of the valley
A new road has lately been built making
Livermore the trading center for several
well-settled valleys lying at the foot of
Mount Hamilton. 1t has always been the
trading point for the valleys to the north
and east, even in the edge of the neighbor-
ing counties, probably In all 5000 or 10000
people.
The town has increased more than third
in population In ten years, and now num-
bers $500 people and is still growing. 1t
has every requirement for busy, prosper
Gus inland business center.
There are good coal mines in the Diablo
foothills, which must reach market through
Livermore. There is a successful quarry in
the Altament bills to the east. a brown
sandstone. used almost exclusively in all
cemetery work for the Odd Fellows in San
Francisco, twenty carloads alone being
shipped in one month this spring.
The town was the first in the State to or
ganizs a union high school under the new
law. There are three churches, as many
large merchandise stores, five hotels, gas
and electric-light works. and finally, very
important thing to country dwellers. mag
nificent roads. In fact nature about at
tended TO the matter of road-makng her
self. The land is rich. heavy. red gravel,
a scraper with a couple OF dozen horses
attached leveing all inequalities, drawing
the gravel TO the centers Of the roadways,
and. a roller packing it down, travel and
the rains Of winter keep them smooth and
firm. Several blocks can be laid out in
day.
Now that the fruit industry has good
foothold 1t will be but short time before
the bright little town will lead many of her
slower sisters in prosperity.
Not an Indian remains to tell the tales of
bull-hghts OH the ground where the station
now stands, or Of lhe Spanish grandees who
were lords of the land a short time ago.
MRS l.. L. THANE
Niles. Sept. 16