Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-21
WHAT WATER DEVELOPMENT DOES.

Few people who do not make frequent
trips around the southern counties know
the extent to which improvements OF
all kinds are being pushed. This is
especially true of Los Angeles and San
Bernardino counties. We have fre-
quently had occasion to refer to Red
lands. This is certainly the most re-
markable settlement in many respects
in the state of California, or anywhere
else. Only, at the outside, seven years
old, it has already nearly as large pop
ulation as the city OF San Bernardino had
before the recent consolidation. Its
Improvements are OF costly and ele-
CANT character, and there are cities OF
it's class which date from the American
occupation that have not tithe OF the
pretentious dwellings and business
houses that now grace Redlands.
There is much that is instructive IN
the history of this place. Its progress
shows what can be made to follow upon
the development of water, given pro-
life soil and the climate OF Southern
California. It's creation is an outcome
of the construction of the Bear Valley
reservoir, whose capacity has been lately
increased. Its rapid progress was, Of
course, greatly facilitated by the extern
sion OF the Southern California railway
system to and beyond Redlands. These
two elements of growth together have
been supplemented by the intelligent
expenditure of large sums OF money by
class of settlers who hail largely from
New England. Elegant villas, sur
rounded by exquisite orange groves,
make the little city q perfect beauty
spot.
One of the most interesting peculiari-
ties of Redlands is the great success
which has attended the planting OF or
ange trees on the hills surrounding the
place. The great elevation of the Bear
Valley reservoir has enabled the carry
ing of this water to the heights and to
the hill-tops on the road leading to the
Yucaipe ranch. There are no more
thrifty looking orange trees in Southern
California than those which crown these
eminences. They show what will be
done in the future on all the rich hills
and mesas in that portion of San Bernar-
dino county when the Bear Valley water
shall have been carried to them. This is
merely matter of time, and the COM
pany are conducting surveys which will
be utilized for this extension inside OF
year or two. 1t is found that these ele-
vaLions are by no means inimical to or
ange culture; but that, On the contrary,
the tree flourishes and the fruit is of
fine quality. 1t has been supposed that
the Yucaipe country ia at too great an
altitude to admit of the successful
cultivation of the citrus fruits, but
enough has been done, even on the
highest mesas, TO show that this Ia
mistake. The fruit is here free from all
pests. The high temperatures of the
summer months is followed by a uni
form low temperature, in many places
absolutely free from frost. All that is
needed is that the same careful cultiva-
tion shall be followed that has accom-
plished such wonders in the valleys
below.
The remarkable thing about Redlands
and the surrounding country is that
that region has made it's growth since
the collapse of the "boom." In the
height of the real estate excitement of
1856 81 land could have been bought all
over that section for mere song. The
country was thought to be worthless.
Any quantity of land that, owing to the
causes we have enumerated, could have
been had at from S. to $40 an acre then,
now commands from $3.50 to $500 an
acre, and much larger sums in the city
limits. Acre lots set out in oranges,
now bearing, bring from $1,000 to $4,000,
and there is no boom about it.
Redlands is in truth the wonder set
tlement of California. 1t is unique and
unapproachable, and breaches most
impressive sermon az to the miracle
workinp poWpr of water deyelonment