The herald., 1894-06-25
VAL vKRDR's MOVE AHEAD.

| RfeHb zeal Oh eastern ana foreign
money has been invested in the south
ern portions of this state, especially
since 1885, from no better motive than
that Of speculation or to have its value
increased by the enterprise and indus
try OF those living in the immediate
neighborhood. But all the monied men
who come here are not built that way
There are some who, barring purchased
property at low figure, are willing to
improve it and take the chances of an
increase in values by it's partial develop
ment.
One of these is gentleman of Chi
eago nam ed Eastman, who recently pur-
chased GIG acres of land in the pretty
little Ferris valley. near Val Verde
station. OF this he will reserve I6 acres
for his own homestead, planting 90
acres to oranges. The remaining $40
acres he is now engaged in grading and
cutting up into small farms of 10 acres
each. separated by hedges of quick
growth. The Australian boxthorn is the
best that can be grown for this purpose,
although we do not know whether the
protector OF this Val Verde colony has
decided to use it or even knows OF its
existence. 1t has a rapid growth and
reaches its maximum of twelve feet in
height, in about FIVE years.
On Wednesday last there were 40 men
and 100 head of horses employed in this
work, at an expense OF about 5000 per
diem. A large mess house, 30x40 feet,
is being erected for the use OF the men
employed there; and in few weeks
more the work of building a flume to
bring in water will be commenced This
water is derived from the Bear Valley
company's irrigation works and the
f1ume, as now surveyed, will be about
Sc miles in length. Its laterals will
convey the water to each OF these 10
acre tracts. Meanwhile the work of
building modern cottages of five rooms
each will be commenced. The purchas-
ers will plant, or can have planted for
them in advance, either citrus or decid-
uous fruit trees, as best suits them.
These improved 10-acre tracts will be
sold to bona tide settlers on easy terms.
This looks like going right at the very
heart of the question. The great crying
evil of Southern California has hitherto
been tho ierso holai-sa OF ~-irIPrvv0d
lands and in the northern part OF the
state, particularly in the counties OF
Butte, Coluss and Teham5, the condi-
ton OF affairs is worse than here. A
dozen men own all that is worth owning
in each of those counties, under the old
Mexican land grants of fifty years ago.
With the lands once thoroughly sub1i-
vided, there would be such a degree OF
prosperity as California has never be-
fore known,
The HERALD has no personal knowl-
adge Of the protector of this enterprise
at Val Verde, but it welcomes him to
Southern California as one of class to
whom we must look for the regeneration
OF the state. Almost any man, if ne be
willing to work at all can make 10 acres
pay him we'll, especially if he oultivates
fruits OF all kinds, so as not to be alto
gether dependent upon any one crop.
There are strawberry and black berry
farms between Los Angeles and the sea
which have paid over 500 per acre for
several consecutive yeare; and sale OF
land near Gardens, last winter (made on
account of Ill healthy was made at $1,000
for farm of Is acres, of which less tnsn
two-thirds were planted in straw berries.
In the New England states, not one man
in 30 has over 10 acres, Give us but one
thousand New England farmers, with
their long esta blisbed ideas of industry
and thrift, and we shall soon see Southern
California one continuous garden from
Newhall to the Mexican boundary and
from San Bernardino 10 the sea.