The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-02-05
OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER.


This is the first rainy day of the
winter and the pOpulace is happy. for
blowing will be continued with vigor
and all vegetation will spring up,
while the orchardist need not irrigate
for some time. Nearer the coast the
barley is well advanced. This is the
main grain crop and is cut while yet
green and used for hay for horses, as
alfalfa is for cattle Timothy and
blue grass are unknown, while grass
Of any kind is very rare, except about
some of the private residences where
| it requires constant care. Our famil-
lar northern trees give way to the
live oak, sycamore, eucalyptus, pep
per, lguava, palm, and many other
semi-tropical varieties. Almost ev-
cry yard is surrounded by a neatly
timmed green hedge, and fences are
a rarity. 1t is possible to have very
fine yards in short time, owing to
the rapid growth of vegetation, and
the surroundings of the smallest hous-
es would often be coveted by the
wealthiest residents of our northern
cities.
Riverside boasts a population Of
6,0OO,and is enjoying building boom.
Several fine brick blocks are going up
on the main streets and scores of new
residences are under construction. 1t
has model opera hOuse-just such
one as MaDkato should have-public
library and fine school buildings. /
have noticed in Pasadena and other
places of less population than Man
kato, handsome public library build
ings That in Pasadena was built and
is supported by a regular tax levy.
Returning to Riverside, this city is a
regular orange growing community,
and no visitor but is entranced with
it's beauty. For many miles down the
valley there is a solid mass Of old or
ange groves, and the mixture of the
golden fruit with the dark green foil
age is a sight never to be forgotten.
The picking season is now in it's
midst and many car loads Of this deli
cious fruit are going east every day,
while the many packing houses are
running to their fullest capacity.
Nearly all Of the trees are SO loaded
as to require several props to support
| the branches. At Duarte, a famous
orange growing town across the val
| ley, l counted as many as thirteen
props under one tree. So great is the
| demand for props that the growing
of them forms regular industry, and
| they are purchased by the thousand.
A severe frost recently visited many
parts Of the valley and Riverside was
a heavy sufferer, the nursery stock
and young trees especially suffering,
while thousands of oranges were
frozen on the trees-from the frost
and wind the loss is estimated at ST.
100000, in the entire valley. One
man who estimated his crop at 5000
boxes will pick but 800 to 1000 boxes.
| Riverside will probably not ship more
than one-half its anticipated crop.
| Such disasters as those caused by the
wind and frost, to say nothing of the
! scale and insect pests and the other
| hardshipS with which the orange
grower, in common with the raiser of
other fruits, has TO contend with, will
probably cause the prices to remain
at figure profitable to those growers
who are successful in harvesting their
full crops The yield of the old or
ange orchards about Riverside is val
ued at from $500 to 81 500 an acre,
while the orchards sell at from 81, 800
to $500 an acre, and unimproved
land at from $500 to 81, 200 an acre.
Just as good lands can be purchased
in the outlying towns at from 5000 to
$500 an acre, unimprOyed.
The lemon industry is now pushing
TO the front and is considered even
more profitable than orange growing.
An orange or lemon orchard will
bear when four years old, and two
years later is very profitable if well
| located and well cared for. a large
amount of new acreage is being set
out, but the most experienced growers
seem to have no fears of overproduc-
ton. OF course all orange and lemon
land receives irrigation, and the water
is sold With the land.
W. e. Clark who left Mankato one
year ago last fail, has a twelve acre
tract in Riverside, mostly set to or
angeS, and the value of his land has
IlSCu tOOO Cu dClC
it. He is well pleased with his new
home, as is also his brother who arriv-
ed last fall from his former home at
Hebron. The latter has fifteen acres,
one-half set to raisin grapes. and
he will set the other half to
pIuneS and oranges. This land is also
in the city. d. Strunk and wife are
pleasantly situated and greatly enjoy
ing the country. Mr.. Strunk'S health
has improved much since his arrival
Is months ago. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Strunk are expected on visit in a
few days.
At South Riverside 1 found Elwood
and VIM. Lilly and Mr. and Mrs. r.
f. Billings, formerly of Mankato, and
Wilbur Purrier, lately of Belgrade.
All these are doing well in business
and say that they would not exchange
their new homes for the colder eli
mate which they left. Elwood Lilly
was for a year the engineer in charge
at the Temescal tin mine, having 4
engineers and 300 men under him. He
is now engaged in real estate, and
this week opens lumber yard, in
tending to open up in other lines in
| the near future. He has valuable