Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-01

draulic method of drilling wells has but
lately made it easy to get those wells,
and very cheap. The depth to artesian
water is from 80 to 900 or more feet.
Wells have been sunk and flow OBJ
tanned in a half day. There are now
about 60 artesian wells in the valley,
and six machines.
Third-Those portions of the valley
where irrigation is done from surface
wells. Inmany parts of the valley an
inexhaustible flow of water may be had
at from to 80 feet. Here windmills,
horse power pumps and gas engines act
to advantage in irrigation.
Fourth-The great body of land lying
along the foothills westward. Here no
irrigation is needed 10 produce large grain
crops. From the various mountain
streams along this belt water is developed
for irrigating the young orchards. Del
Sur, Fairmont, Elizabeth Lake, Mama
ma, Neenach and German station are in
this last belt. In this broad expanse
there is no sage brush. The broad, fer
tile acres beckoned- to the plow and it
has come with will.
The timely rains of this season make
large crop assured. In every direction
the great gang teams are turning up the
black loan. Fully 10000 acres of grain
will be sown in Antelope valley this
year. In 1892 we had in about As 900.
In no other place can as much work be
done by teams as here. The writer
farms over 1900 acres. Two men and
two six-horee teams do the work. We
harvest with combined harvesters, which
cut and thresh as they go. By this
method farmers expenses are kept at
the minimum. The writer's 16 foot
combined harvester in the harvest OF
1892 cut and threshed 1855 acres, at ar
average cost OF 80 cents to the acre. Be-
sides the steam threshers and headers
there are seven combined harvesters in
the valley.
The grain land will have reached its
full extension this season. Then to
fruit we must look for an increased
wealth. Most of the orchards in this
valley are young. Last spring there
were about 1000 acres planted to fruit
trees in this valley. This spring we ex-
psct to see that area doubled. All kinds
of deciduous fruits do we'll. The colder
weather here improves the favor. This
is the home of the xlmond. The Fruit
Growers Mutual association of n q 1zaua
in the west end of this valley, planted
400 acres to almonds and other fruits
last year. They did so well that the
managers, Edison and Arnold, have
bought trees and are now blowing to set
out 800 acres more this winter and
spring. Adjoining this orchard are the
lands of the Manzana colony, of which
Thos. W.. Haskins is colonizer. This
company will also plant out 400 acres to
almonds and prunes this season. In
this vicinity 2400 acres have lately
organized the MaDzana irrigation dis
trict under the Wright act, and as they
have plenty OF water we may coon see
all this set out to trees till it is solid
orchard. An average almond orchard
may be expected to yield net income
OF 800 per acre annually.
Fairmont Land:and Water companyis
preparing to plant large area to fruit
trees again this year. They have
steam plow. Three eight-horse teams
are also at work turning up the favored
lands OF this company, under the man
agement OF E. NJ. Durant.
Another source OF wealth to this valley
is the rich gold mines in the mountains
at the side. By German station, on
ber Of rich mines are being opened up.
lNcW AaClinCiy 10 OCl-lS pun III tuht W III
cave all the alloys.
In this valley lies limitless field for
development. On every hand are re-
sources. Energy and capital can find
here profitable opening. The period
OF pioneering is past. In each commun-
ity are men who can show by their works
what can be done. We have here 10
school districts. Rosamond, Lancaster
and Palmdale station are the trading
points on the Southern Pacific. To mote
| the business done at Lancaster exam
ined the freight books the other day.
| They show that over $50 cars of wheat
alone we're shipped from Lancaster this
season. The number of pounds of
freight received at this one point and
the charges paid for the last six months
have been as follows:
| Months Pounds. Charges.
| Juua. 322 3S6 @1121