The morning call., 1894-02-26
UNTITLED LANDS.
Some of the Possibilities of Alameda
County,

OoHe OF the possibilities or Alam eda
County.
without doubt very large number of
the visitors who will come to California
for the Midwjnter Fair will be attracted to
California as a place for home. Their
attention will be attracted TO the various
sections OF the State, in measure, accord
ing TO the displays which they may admire
IN the fair. 1t is we'll known that South
ern California is and has been well adyer-
tised Tor several years past. And now that
this opportunity is given, other sections of
the State should not be behindhand In
deed, Northern aud Middle California are
making splendid showings. The average
person thinks that the nearer any section
is to the equator the more mild and equa-
BILE the climate is, an idea that is not true
in fact at all. The elevation, the existence
or lack of near forests, the conformation
OF the surrounding hills or mountains, the
near neighbOrh0Od of rivers and the size
OF the valleys all exert a marked influence
upon the water supply. temperature and
climate of every section. And it is as alb
surd to think that the southern part of the
State monOpoliZes all the pleasant climate
and good soil as it is to believe that the
States bordering the Atlantic have the
same temperature, etc., as those bordering
the Mississippi.
The nearness to great market governs
the prices of fruit land to q remarkable
degree, on the same principle that land on
the main business street OF a city COM
mands enormous prices and that on the
outskirts can be bought for a song, al
though intrlnsically the one is as good as
the other.
In this State. zoo miles long and over
2OO wide, there are thousands of acres yet
untrodden by man. hundreds of fertile
valleys yet unseen that will in time make
homes for our people. The idea of its
being possible 10 overpopulate this State
within the next fifty years does not enter
the minds of those up in the geographical
knowledge of sthe State. When every val
ley and hillside shall be cultivated as they
are In France, where even the waysIdes
are utilized, then it is time to talk of over
population. Here in Alameda COUNTY
there are thousands of acres yet unplowed
that can. and will in time. grow valuable
crops. Every year the acreage is being
extended.
10 a careful observer who travels
through our valleys and foothills there is
newness and an unfinished look about it
all. There are three and four acre patches,
level. rich and beautiful, on almost every
hillside, suitable Tor the best fruits. apri-
cots. oranges or peaches. but being trouble
some to reach it is left for pasturage. The
time is coming, too, when TaDid-growing
trees for fuel will fill in the odd corners or
cover rocky knobs.
Take Shasta County as fair sample of
one OF the northern counties. According
to the latitude it should have as severe
winters as middle New York, but the fact
OF the matter is that in the many valleys
an extremely mild climate is found, as
Happy Valley, for instance, containing
over 10000 acres. The land is gently roll
ing. at an elevation of 1000 feet, and pro-
duces every thing in the fruit line from
peaches to oranges.
The one great drawback to the settling
up of these valleys by fruit-growers is the
distance from markets and the lack OF
proper transportation. The way to get
around that matter is to raise fruits to dry.
twenty-acre apricot orchard. planted on
land worth $40 an acre in any of the more
distant valleys, will certainly clear at the
end OF say ten years more than could be
cleared on the same land worth $500 or
$500 near at hand, that is, taking the value
OF the land into consideration also, of
course.
Everybody. young and old, who can Is
helping to make the decorations TO be used
in the Alameda County building next Sat-
urday. the 80 OF March, for Niles Almond
Blossom day. The floral decorations are
under tie immediate direction of Mrs. C.
b. Overacker: The California Nursery
Company Will donate for that day great
quantities of palms and ornamen tai plants.
Every garden will contribute its share and
every Acknowledgements will also send his
share until the building will be a mass of
glowing color and fragrance. The unique
feature will be an immense floral train-a
Niles scarlet train-which will be filled
with almo nd blossom souvenirs. A string
band will give the best of musical seec-
tons during the afternoon, an address of
welcome will be given by one OF our most
popular young men. James Clarke, and
other features of interest will fill the after
noon. The exercises begin promptly at 2
p. NJ
The few orange orchards have full crops
also, and the sample boxes sent from Fl.
A. Maynew's orchard 20 the Midwinter
Fair stand we'll in comparison with those
sent from other sections.
MRS. j. e. THANE.
Niles. Feb. "a. 1894