Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-16
SATURDAY, APRIL 1s, 1899.
THE KITE-SHAPED TRACK AND SOUTH
ERN CALIFORNIA.

We have frequently called the build
ing of the "Kite-sbaped Track" of the
Southern California railway an inspira-
tion OF genius. This conviction grows
more and more upon US every day. 1t
is simply astonishing the way this en-
terprise has stimulated settlement and
travel in Southern California. 1t is
probably today the best paying piece OF
road the Santa Fe company possesses.
In length about one hundred and
seventy miles, it traverses a section o
country that has more possibilities of
profitable agricultural, horticultural
and vinicultural development than any
equal expanse of territory in the world.
The passenger traffic of this road is
something phenomenal, while its busi-
ness in all lines is growing at magical
rate. Towns are springing up along
its lines on all hands, and they are
backed by country which is being set
out in the citrus and deciduous fruits
with celebrity that speaks much for
the future. Where, few years ago,
sheep and cattle depastured the land,
we now see splendid orange groves,
orchards Of the deciduous fruits, elegant
villas and prosperous homes. The work
wrought by Aladdin's lamp has been
surpassed by the charming transforma
tion which has been witnessed in the
country traversed by the "Kite- shaped
Track" during the past year or so.
Great as is the change which has been
already effected, it is but the initial OF
the great evangel Of development which
is ahead for that section. And in this
evolution all will proft-the railways
by the enhanced travel and business
which will result, and the fast throng
ing tide of immigrants who will provide
themselves with ideal homes.
Not always has the Santa Fe been go
wise as in its conception and complish
ment of the "Kite-shaped Track" The
building of it's road from Deming to
Guaymas under former and less en-
lightened management, was most un-
fortunate enterprise. So was its road
through the Temecula canon. Its lines
in Southern California, known as the
"Kite Shaped" have retrieved these er-
rors, and will guarantee the company
steadily expanding revenue. No one
who comes to Southern California. if he
wishes TO know anything of the distinc-
tive features of this emi.tropical land,
can afford not to traverse this road. 1t
is an outspread volume, in which each
salient fact will be impressed on the
memory and imagination forever by ac-
ressories Of scenic magnificsnce which
can be surpassed nowhere else on the
globe.
To him who would like to know some
thing of the country in which he lie
living or which he is visiting, the HER
AID would most earnestly advise trip
over the 'Kite-shaped Track" Every
incident will be pleasurable. He will
leave the depot Of the Santa Fe railway
at 8 80 a. N. and will return to Los An
geles by 40 p. m. He will pass
through the Grown of the Valley, and
will see in rapid transition the Santa
Anita, the whole scope of the foothill
country, Monrovla, Duarte, Azuaa,
Glendora, San Dimas, Claremont, North
Pomona. North Cucamonga, Riaito, and
other interesting settlements, and will
pull up for brief halt in the historic
town of San Bernardino. He will next
swing out to Redlands; and, if he is
wise. he will stay over and take a good
look at the "Wonder City" If he does
SO, he will see an exquisite place, in it's
fifth year, which polled $50 votes in an
election the other day. He will gaze on or
ange groves whose luxuriant health will
suggest to him that he is in the very
heart OF the citrus region. He will prob.
ably also 60 up to Smiley's Heights, and
he will look down and out from that ele-
vation on landscape OF unsurpassed
splendor, and will note improvements
that are crystallizing in scene of verita-
BILE enchantment. The Smiley brothers
have already spent million of dollars
in improving their superb grounds. In
the city proper he will note nineteen
houses which have either just been COM
pleted, or which are approaching COM
pletion, the lowest price of any one OF
which is $10, 900. Everywhere in Red
lands he will encounter scenes of activity
and enterprise, aiming at production or
the beautifying OF home life.
Resuming his trip, he will swing
round by way OF Mentone to East High
lands and Highlands, crossing the Santa
Ana river on the way. He will see at
Highlands, after glance at the mag
nifcent new insane asylum, which
seems to be ready for occupancy, the
same exquisite spread of orange groves,
vineyards and orchards OF the deciduous
fruits which he had enjoyed at Red
lands. He is now on the home stretch
on an ellipse which is twenty-seven
miles in circumference, and which in
cludes about nine miles in width of
country of unlimited possibilities. The
stretch of valley which intervenes be-
tween Highlands and San Bernardino
comprises about every conceivable at