Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-01
URB AURANTIUM.
A BEAUTIFUL, THRIVING CITY WITH
A PROSPEROUS POPULATION.
what the City OF Orange Did In the
Year 1s92-Statistics OF Re-
sources and Progress.
General Notes.


Orange is city of the sixth class,wit
q population of 1900. 1t is in Orange
county, 81 miles southeast of Los An
geles. The country has gentle slope
of 54 inches to the mile from the foot
hills on the northeast to the ocean,
making the land easy of irrigation. The
supply for irrigation rs drawn from the
Santa Ana river. Orange is on the surf
line of the California Southern Railroad
company to San Diego.
The population has increased at least
100 during the year just closed. The
ass eesment for the year 1892 was $780,
45l = real estate and Improvements,
1886, ,6S4; personal property, $54, 767.
The rate was fixed at 80 cents on the
500: 10 cents on the $100 OF this was
levied to provide for additional fire pro-
lection. a levy OF 40 cents on the 500
has been found quite adequate to run
the city government and keep the roads
and streets in excellent condition.
The soil in and about Orange is varia-
BILE in its nature, out invariably rich
and fertile. II is largely composed OF
desiccated vegetable matter mixed with
the decomposed granite from the noun
tains, and where gravel abounds the
proportion of earth among tbs sufficient
to retain moisture admirably and make
il easy of cultivation. The gravel soil
has been found peculiarly adapted for
the production of large crops of raisin
grapes of the very best quality, the fruit
also ripeping about u days earlier than
on other soiis.
The orange thrives remarkably well.
Lemons also do well, and nearly all
kinds of deciduous fruits in perfection.
The success which has attended the cul-
tivation of the walnut has led to extern
tensively cultivated, and give good re-
turns. A large business is done in the
export Of poultry and eggs.
Barley is grown extensively for hay
and many carloads are annually sent
out to other localities. Large crops OF
excellent corn are also raised at light
expense. Peandts are a favorite crop
with some and generally give good re-
turns. Green peas and cabbageH form
important articles for export in the
winter months.
The shipping facilities at Orange are
good. Twenty trains arrive and leave
daily for the north. eaet and south, and
the excellent harbor of Newport is in
close connection. The Southern Cali
fornia Railway company mas 250O feet OF
eidetrack at Orange and capacious
warehouse. There are also two large
private packing houses on the side
tracks.
The shipments of oranges from this
point last season amounted to 100 car
loads, and it is estimated that the crop
will be at least one-third greater this
season.
The Santa Ana Valley Irrigation COM
pany has its headquarters at Orange,
and it ia from that system that water is
supplied for irrigation. Examination
of the books OF the company shows that
the maximum cost per acre. for the am
pie irrigation of an orange orchard under
this system, is but 81 so per year. The
land owners of the valley are the stock
holders, with an allotment of one share
of stock to the acre, the business being
conducted By board Of five directors,
elected annually. Water is delivered to
shareholders at actual cost, and a levy
of 80 cents per share is made each year
for purposes Of repairs and improve
ments.
The domestic supply is drawn from
wells over one hundred feet deep
and pumped into elevated tanks, from
which it is piped to consumers at
reasonable cost The supply is ample
for present needs.
Another supply is derived from SAM
tiago creek, a beautiful stream having
it's source in the hills to the east Of the
town. This has been piped to
within half mile of the CEN
ter of the city, and franchise was
lately granted the companies controlling
it to lay pipes through the city.
The city trustees in their last levy
made provision for the furnishing of
hydrants and hose to use this system
for fire protection and street sprinkling.
The force from gravitation is sufficient
to throw water above the highest build
ing in the city. The climate of Orange
is mild and even. Being but IL miles
from the ocean, without any interven-
ing hills, the coast breeze prevails for
the greater part of the day in summer,
and it is very seldom that the tempera-
ture falls to such degree as to produce
damaging frosts. The lowest tempera-
ture recorded in Orange for the past
eight years was 26 degrees above zero,
and the highest 1U3 degrees. The ele-
vation of the city is 3l2 feet above sea
level. The drainage is perfect and
malaria or epidemics of any kind are
unknown.
The schools of Orange are noted for
their excellence. The staff of teachers
are selected with care and a liberal
board OF trustees keep the schools well
supplied with all modern applis noes to
assist ia the promotion of learning. The
public schools opened after the summer
vacation with al attendance of 227
pupils, and the German American school
with an attendance OF 81 pupils. Orange
County college is located here and has
building that cost in the neighborhood
Of 10000.
There is also fine public library and
free reading room. The former has over
1900 books on its shelves, and the latter
is kept well supplied with the best
newspapers and periodicals of the day.
The presbyteiians, Baptists, Meth
odists Christian, Episcopalian and
German Lutheran denominations have
church buildings. The Baptist denomi-
nation l. now building a new church.
Two excellent newspapers are pub
lished in Orange, the Orange News and
the Orange Weekly Poet, both faithful
exponen's of the advantages of the To-
cality from which they derive their cup.
port.
Two hotels afford accommodation for
tourists aud families The Hotel Palmy-
ra ie .,l.asantly located in the sOufherp