The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.

| Sierra Madre mountains at the mouth OF
the San Gabriel canyon to the sea- a ais
tance of thirty-aight miles. 1t is divided
into two portions, upper and lower, by
| the Puente hills, the pass of the river be-
| ing about one mile and a half from hill
| to bill. Above ttis PISS is a new coun-
| try-fertile, mucn of the land moist no.
tably at Ell Monte. Elsewhere, the river
having been submerged for number of
mi lies, comes to the surface in springs
that supply water for irrigation, etc. The
| lower portion of the valley is irrigated by
th river proper. that has been since 1867
two rivers, known now as OLD and New
San Gabriel rivers. What is old San
Gabriel was once Mission creek, so-called
from the San Gabriel mission standing on
its banks, the ruins of which can. be seen
crumbiing year after year back to their
native mother earth. This mission was
esta blished (the altar for which was sent
from SPAIN eiphteen years before its re-
moval to its present site where the newer
building now stands. The decay OF the
old mission was due to the neglect of one
of the early settlers to fulfill his contract
with the padres Who gave him a gcner-
Gus grant of land on condition that he
woull keap up the cIurch, etc. In and
| around this pass, reaching into the Puente
hills and stretching down the valley,
was small grant of only about 5000 acres
ownad by Don Pho Pioo, and nameh Ell
Pasa de Bartolo Diego. Here was the
home OF the last governor of California
under Mexico. This nome, mansion Of
thirty-three rooms, was furnished in lux
urious STYLE, with expensive chandeliers,
carpets, piano and bric-a-brac la m ode.
Olive trees, tig, orange, pear. peach or
chards surrounded the house, while a
small vineyard produced grapes Of the
choicest flavor. This ranch was the fav-
oirte of all Don Pos grants, and he call
the dear little ranch. IN 1856 Don Pho
matured plans for making this tho gar
den spot of Southern California. He
brought from Anaheim q civil engineer
who was given the task of mapping out
the town and surrounding suburba i b old
ings of not more than twenty acres, to
be sold to actual h. IN m keIs who would
improve their places and make the neigh
borhnod into community after the
mods OF Anahei m, the one colony as yet,
to be brought in prosperous condition.
Riverside, Pomona, Pasadena were IN.
heard OF. The failure OF Don Pio's plans
was logical, but the Americans had OBJ
tained "a foothold. A few acres sold. vet
more followed. until, when the last 5000
acres passed into the hanns of others the
| u0HTG OF GOo Olu man. as ola as Gne cen
tury, was broken and the recovery OF his
spirits an impossibility.
I'll Ranchito was soon proven OF I'M
equaled fertility. This San Gabriel val
ley is pronounced by travellers to rival
the most fertile valleys of Palestine. the
| products uf which are almost identical.
The farmers VINO settled here to raise
corn soon planted out walnut trees az
| long distances from each other, giving
room for the cont nued cultivation of
corn that kept the pot boiling while the
trees grew apace. These nuts were of the
variety known as the English walnut of
commerce, since which two other varieties
have been grown. Familiarity known as
oft-shell and paper-shell. The latter
stand next in grade and favor 10 the
paper shell almond.
1t is not ge ierally known that the wal
nut IL more eXacting as to conditions than
any other nut, and consequently the
acreage that produces per eut nuts is
smaller on the face of the earth than any
other nut or fruit. There must be q
rich sandy loan, CONTIGUOUS 10 the ssA,
surfaces water n OF too near nor again too
wind, some fog. no late frosts and no
severe ones in winter. These conditions
are found OH the old ranchito lands Of
Don Pic Pico, who never dreamed OF the
| future fame of this "dear little ranch" of
his. The medals and the first prizes at
places this locality and its nuts at the
head OF the list, the neighborhood pro-
dlcing more tnan half of the entire pro-
duct Of the state.
There are many localities that produce
fine tr 'es, but nuts are wanting or scarce.
San Gabriel, as presiding over the rip
ening OF fruits, has no reason to feel
asha ned of the valley that bears his
name a veritable Paradise. Having been
stationed by those devout old padr-.s at
the Paso de bartolo of the Puente to
guard the western gate that opens upon
the sea ana the setting sun, as also he
is said 60 guard the eastern gate OF Par
adise. TRIESTE.
PATRONAGE OF HOME INDUSTRY.
The ladies of the Ebell society of Oak
land. though organized for the study of
the sciences, have OF late demonstrated
their ability to see something nearer
home than scienne, and have been CIV
ing a practical illustration of the valve
of organized effort, no matter for what
purpose originally intended.
In other words. the Ebell ladies have
! been giving their attention to a systema-
tic attempt towaras patronizing home
productions, and at that meeting of the
society, November 8th. they listened to
twenty papers on Home Industries by us
many ladies, who had each taken pains
to acoua nj "ersel' 7 W her subject by
81 'Nu-