The herald., 1894-11-17
HEMET.
Glimpse at Its Improvements and
News of lite Enterprises.

Glimpse at Its Improvsms and
News OF lite Enterprises.
HEMET, Nov. 13.-The natural fertility
and admirable location OF the great San
jacinto and Pleasant valley country lie
destined to make it one OF the leading
agricultural and horticultural districts
OF Southern California. The soil is ad-
mirably adapted to the raising OF all
grains. vegetables and fruits grown in
the state, with the possible exception OF
citrus fruits ON the low lands, but even
lemons and oranges can be grown to per
lection upon the eide hills and south
slopes.
Much Of this territory is watered by
artesian wells, which abound in large
numbers in the vicinity OF San Jacinto
and Lskeview. Where these wells dc
not exist it was next to impossible to
cultivate fruit orchards with profit until
after the advent OF the Hemet Water
company. Since the completion of this
company's pipe line the development OF
the valley has been rapid and sure. The
Lake Hemet Land company and Hemet
Water company are two separate COM
psnies, but with practically the same
set of officers and directors. The mcst
active and important members of these
companies are the president, W. i.
Whittier of San Francisco. and the resi-.
dent manager, Col. E. L. Msyberry,
formerly of Alhambra but now q resi-
dent OF Hemet.
The town OF Hemet is the head
quarters OF the two companies and the
home OF the principal officers.
Space will permit but very limited
description of the little city OF Helmet,
its history and present attractions. Two
years ago the ground upon which the
town now stands WAS dry plain cover.
ed with cage brush and wild oats
Soon after, however, the Hemet COM
panies began their work of reclsiming
that portion of the "footstool." The
land company owned 5000 acres, which
has already been brought under the re.
vivfying Influence Of water. and plenty
of it. The source OF the Lake Hemet
Water company's supply OF water is de.
veloped by the great Bear valley dam,
ITO feet. A great many excellent de.
scriptions of this famous piece of
masonry have been written and the
dam itself should be seen to be sppre-
ciated.
Hemet is situated on branch of the
Southern California railroad, which
leaves the main line at Perris and runs
to San Jacnto. 1t is distant two and
half miles from this latter place, and
already very strong feeling OF rivalry
has grown up between the two places,
which bids fai- to grow instead of re.
ceding. The most pretentious building
in Hemet is the Hotel Msyberry, fne
two'story brick building, built by
Messrs. Mayberry ami Whittier a. a
cost of $4,000 and thrown open to the
public on June 7th, OF this year. The
motel is supplied will all the modern
conveniences usually found in frst-caes
hostleries, including stationary water,
baths, etc., and complete electric
light system, the power for
which is furnished by the company's
private plant. Another important in
stitution is the Hemet Touring mills.
John McCool. proprietor. The mill,
which Is the only one in this section,
occupies fine brick building and has
capacity OF 30 barrels Of -four per day.
The plant cost 500, 900.
Mr.. Whittier lie now building a two
story brick block, 100 feet square. The
lover part will be used for store build
ings and the second story will be ueed ss
on opera house.
Hemet has a good newspaper. the
Hemet news, published by Joe P. Kerr
There are several general stores, the
largest OF which is that OF Heffelfnger
d Co., who also occupy brick block.
There is a drug store, an excellent bar
Der shop, two black smith shops, harness
shop, shoe repairing house, two real
estate Offices and two lumber yards. the
Willamette Lumber Co. and the New
port Wharf and Lumber Co. There are
two excellent school buildings, coeting
$4,000 and $500 respectively, and the
district employs four teachere to in
struct the pupils, who number about
100 at present. The railroad people
have erected very attractive depot
here, and the land company has just
finished building four handsome cot
tages, two of which are occupied. A
large brick block is one of the enter
prises of the Helmet company which is
down for the near future.
A visit to Hemet will we'll repay
the trouble taken, and the tourist or
homeseeker may find something to
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