Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-21
THE CHARMS Of VENTURA,
A Beautiful City in a Most
Fruitful County.
Unequaled Combination Of Scenery
and Climate.
A Splendid Glass of Citizens-The Local
tty of the City-Features of the
County and Its Productive
Qualities.

The charms of Ventura as seaside
reeort are manifest in character. Nest
ling, as it does, in the foothills of the
Guadalasca mountains, it presents
most pleasing variety of scenic grandeur
that captivates tho eye and arouses
every latent poetic instinct. There is
no spot along the Pacific coast line that
will surpass Ventura in a combination
of those elements of scenic environment
and climate.
The city is made up of splendid class
of citizens, men of enterprise and busi-
ness sagacity, and they have erected
substantial buildings and beautiful
homes. Ventura is located between Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara, seventy-fve
miles from the former and thirty-five
miles from the latter, on the Southern
Pacific railway, and Is the old mis-
sion of San Buena Ventura (Saint
Good Venture). This seaport town
has wide streets, sidewalked and
sprinkled, fine hotels, electric
lights, and beautiful school houses
and churches. 1t is built upon swell
of ground overlooking the ocean, with
foothills on the north. Across the Santa
Barbara channel, eighteen miles away,
are the islands Anacapa and Santa Cruz.
To the eastward is the wonderfully fertile
Santa Clara valley. In the haze loom
up the summits of the Guadalasca
mountains.
The population of San Buena Ventura
is 5000. 1t has well graded streets,
miles of cement walks, complete
sewer system, and telephone connection
with Los Angeles, San Bernardino.
Riverside and Santa Barbara. The
bathing is delightful. Within easy
driving distance are the Ojai and Matt
liza, with their majestic scenery. The
climate compares favorably with that OF
the most noted health resorts of the
world.
Ventura county adjoins Los Angeles
on the north and west, and Santa Bar
bara on the east. 1t has 1880 square
miles, seventy miles of sea coast and
two landings, Hueneme and Ventura.
Its great Santa Clara valley, extending
from the sea 100 miles back, is most
| fertile.
The valley broadens as we approach
the sea. The Colonia rancho, of which
Hueneme is the port, with it's level
stretches and corn fields reminds the
Iowa and Illinois farmer of his old
home. Tributary to Hueneme are the
great wheat and fruit growing noun
tain valleys of the Los Posas, Simi and
Conejo.
Fifteen miles from Ventura, with an
altitude of $50 feet, mountain rimmed
and beautiful, is the famous Ojai valley.
The attractive feature of the Ojai is its
remarkable climate, which ia especially
favorable to those suffering from lung
troubles of all kinds. The distinguish,
ing characteristic OF Nordhof is it's
white and live. oaks, giving the valley
\ the appearance of an English park. On
the grade road, ten miles from the sea,
is lake which, if the electric road now
in contemplation is completed, will be-
come the prominent feature of great
| pleasure resort.
The soil of the Ojai and Santa is
| peculiarly fitted for olive and prune cul-
ture and many acres have been planted
to these fruits in the past year. The
oranges grown on the Topa Topa ranch
command as good price as any in the
market.
In all seasons of the year, on mountain
side in the Matilda, under live oaks in
the Oiai, by the seaside in Ventura. may
be seen the tent of the camper. Fresh
fruit and vegetables every month in the
year; plenty of dairy products, and no
sudden changes of heat and cold, make
such life powerful curative agent.
Weather observations at San Buena
Ventura, extending over a series of
years and recorded, give an average
temperature of 58 degrees.