The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

selected books in charge of Librarian w.
+. Clowdsley and his assistants.
While money has been so freely ex-
pended in maintaining good schools, it
has been just as freely contributed toward
providing good churches, and some of the
religious edifces are OF great beauty. St.
Mary's Church, belonging to the Catno-
lies, the Methodist church on Weber
avenue, and several others are especially
worthy of mention. Almost every de-
nomination of religion is represented in
Stockton, and several of them have two or
three churches. All the benevolent So
cieties have lodges, chapters, temples or
preceptories in Stockton, and the higher
orders of each OF them have often held
their meetings there.
Not only because Stockton is at the
head of water navigation is her location as
a site for big city fixed, but because of
the vast country adjacent to the east,
south and north, for which she is the nat
ural depository, as well as supply point.
In other words, her resources warrant
great city.
While the capacity OF San Joaquin
County as wheat-raising section is, when
most sanguine, fruit-grow;ng is destined
to become much more important in dus-
try. Apples, pears, peaches, prunes and
oranges are grown with great success in
many parts of the country Immediately
surrounding Stockton. Formerly it was
thought that this section was poorly
adapted to fruit-raising, but now it is
quite famed for the abundance and quality
Of its fruit, and is making rapid strides in
this industry. Almost every farmer now
plants an orchard, and many are now
bearing, so that in a few years this county
will have fruits to ship in large quantities.
Oranges and prunes, for which other parts
of California are supposed to he best
| adapted, can be grown in perfection
around Stockton, and now that irrigation
has been introduced the prospects are
much more favorable.
The grape. too, is destined to yield far
more splendid results. though few large
vineyards of this section have already
earned an enviable reputation. With the
help OF the irrigation facilities which this
season has added to San Joaquin Countys
resources, this portion of California is des-
tined TO become celebrated for its fruit
orchards and through the diversified farm
ing which will be the result it will sup
port dense population.
Owing TO the reasonable price of farm
ing lands and the recent completion of the
irrigation system of the Stanislaus and
San Joaquin Water Company, which, in
conjunction with other systems, makes
the watering of 100000 acres possible, San
Joaquin County offers unequaled induce
ments to settlers. The irrigation system
of the Stanislsus and San Joaquin Water
| Company, recently com pleted, is one of the
largest in operation in California and covers
a most magnificent section of farming land.
While it is not necessary in this county, as
in N any other parts of California, to irri-
gate in order to produce crops as good as
can be grown in many other States in the
Union, yet, owing to the peculiar adapta-
bility OF the soil, the irrigation now so
reasonably furnished to the horticultur-
ist and agriculturist will greatly enhance
the productive capacity of her lands.
The commercial location OF Stockton is
not inferior to its agric ultural position.
Its situation at the head of deep-water
navigation is superior to every other inte-
rior city. 1t is central; 1t is convenient;
it is accessible from every quarter; it has
the prestige of being the chief inland COM
mercial city. Its steamers traverse every
nook and corner of San Francisco Bay,
exporting manufactured articles and sup
plies of every description to all tributary
points and importing products of the
whole world. The jobbing trade of Stock
ton alone is quite sufficient to maintain
large and thriving city.
The shipments by rail Of the San Joaquin
Valley alone on the east side of the San
Joaquin River in 1894, an exceptionally
poor year Tor crops, to the city of Stock
ton were as follows: Grain, 314, Ass. SIS
pounds; lumber, $4,000; produce, $4,000;
miscellaneous, 9,40O,393. Total. SO, 907,-
26S pounds, or 161. 953 tons, or 1896 cars