The herald., 1894-01-01
A Stately Queen EmbOwered in
Orange Groves.
A Semi-Tropic Paradise or World
Wide Fame,
where All the Advantages of City and
Country Life Are Combined.
Homes, Avenues Shocks,
Schools, Churches.
[BY MARK P1AIsTED.l

the W0r!- TO '666 hlV0rbluo anu tuou
live." Certainly. no visitor of taste
from less favored spots can look upon
this semi-tropic paradise without some
longing Tor home amid its orange
groves.
The praise of Riverside has been sung
by thousands OF able writers from all
parts OF the world where California is
known. In the east Riverside is a
household word. Wherever California
oranges are sold the meager word Xiv
erside" insures the highest market
price. To visit Southern California
without seeing Rivereide would be like
visiting Italy and passing by the Eternal
city. While only fifth among the cities
of Southern California in population,
there are maryland those not all Rlv-
ersiders-who maintain that 1t 10 the
city of Southern California, after Los
Angeles, in respect to solidity. prosper
ity, wealth and enlightenment.
The city of Riverside ia large one,
geogrsphically-larger than Los Angeles
covering 56 square miles OF territory.
OF this oyeS 10000 acres are in orchard
and vineyard, of which about 5000 acres
are in orange groves and l2bO acres
vineyard. luCiuuiuB bho hAuueohy
lands under it's various water systems
Riverside has total fruit acreage OF
nearly &c, 900 acres. The population by
the census OF 1890 was 467s. The pres-
ent population is estimated to be over
1000 and is growing rapidly.
Riverside is situated on an elevated
mesa from 900 to 1000 feet above sea
level, sloping toward the Santa Ana
river, with chiefly q south and west
exposure, 1t is about. go miles from the
coast: 60 from Los Angeles. and 120
(by rail from San Diego. The city is
surrounded by low range of foothills,
which, at this season, are covered with
. mantle of living green, making tit-
ting background for the thousands OF
acres - orange groves, whore golden
glspes shine out from the dark, glossy
leaves. Back of the foothills, to the
north and east, rise the eerrated peaks
OF snow-capped mountains. Add to
this bright blue nky, and the perfume
OF acres upon acres Of flower gardens,
and some general idea may be obtained
by the reader at distance from River-
side. as it appears on midwinter day.
To fully appreciate Riverside, how
ever, it must be seen. Not the ablest
writer in his ablest mood can fully por-
tray the charms of this ideal spot, where
all that is desirable in city and country
life are found combined. The evenly
graded, well-sprinkled streets, hun
dred feet in width, are aligned by stately
peppers, eucalyptus, gravilleas and
other shade trees, interspersed here and
there by picturesque palms. The taste
full residences stand back from the
street behind well-trained cypress
hedges. In front are carefully-tended
lawns of brightest emerald, dotted with
graceful evergreen trees, which cast a
welcome shade. At Christmas may be
seen Gala lilies, geranium bushes 10
o feet in height, and heliotrope cover
ing the side of house, while the jas
mine, tuberose and orange make the air
heavy with their delicious perfumes.
Giant bananas wave their leaves In the
gentle breeze, the fan and date palms
grow t. mammoth proportions, and
roses of Thousand varieties run riot.
A great majority OF the residences stand
in orange groves of five to 20 acres or
more. The golden fruit is omnipresent.
When the visitor opens his window in
the morning he sees great clusters OF
oranges almost within arms reach, and
they brush against the faces of pedes-
ange is as surely king of Riverside as
cotton Is OF the south.
One Of the features of Riverside, oil
which its citizens are justly proud, ia
Magnolia avenue, boulevard which
has become world famous. 1t extends
/, for twelve miles toward South Riverside,
lana for seven miles of the distance is
fanked on each side with bearing or.
snge groves and beautiful homes. The
avenue is 150 feet wide, planted in the
middle with stately pepper trees, and
lined on either side with graceful palms,
fern like grsvilleas and giant blue gum.
A more recently planted drive is Vic
toria avenue, ten miles in length, ex-
tending to the farthest end OF Arlington
Heights. Victoria avenue will be con-
nected below Arlington with Magnolia
avenue, making one continuous drive oil
twenty miles from the city through the
valley and back-a drive which will be
unique and unsurpassed in the world.
West Riverside is a picturesque and
interesting portion of the city. lying at a
higher elevation, across the Santa Ana
II river. 1t has pleasing variety of ele-
e<yations, affording fine views over the
valley. The soil is exceptionally rich,
ranging from chocolate to red in color.
A number of orange groves have been
planted during the past few years, also
lemon groves, that fruit doing remarka-
bly, well in this section. Owing to its
higher elevation and entire exemption
from frost, West Riverside is attracting
eke attention of many home seekers.
HISTORICAL.
Twenty-Five years ago there were SOC
people within the boundaries of what ia
now the county of Riverside. OF these
at least three-fourths were Spanish,
yMexicans, Indians and half-breeds
Down on the Santa Ana river there was
q settlement of New Mexicans, who had
been brought in by Don Benito Wilson
of Los Angeles in l843. Louis Robi-
doux Che signed his name that way
had married one OF the Mexican women
and obtained a grant of land, upon
which he raised cattle. Robidoux acted
as guide to General Fremont, who
passed through here on one of his ex.
p)oring expeditions to the north
about the year is46. On the
bottom lands of the Santa Ana
river, between Riverside and West Riv.
: erside, stands the old Daley homestead,
built Of adobe, after the Spanish Amer.
lean fashion. This is said to have been
, the headquarters OF General, then
Colonel Fremont, in early days. Near
by, German named Cornelius Jensen,
. who had married Spanish woman.