The herald., 1895-01-01
STATISTICS OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Although Lately Organized,
Yet Most Important.
Where the Flowers Bloom and the
Magnolia Flourishes.
Its Oranges Are Famous All Over tae
World and Gan Be Found In
Every Part of this Globe.

nFotctuo Cuuuty 10 ouo VI sho uo"os'
in the state, having been organized from
territory taken from portions of San
Bernardino and San Diego counties.
It has an area of about 1000 square
mies-being hardly less in size than
the entire state OF Massachusetts,.
Within her borders Ia to be found land
OF ell descriptions and adapted to the
greatest variety Of productions
Its fertile, semi-moist bottom lands
return the farmer and dsiryman who
utilize them many bounteous crops of
alfalfa annually; its dry mesas furnish
such crops of wheat and barley as are
obtained in no other county OF Southern
California; and these, when furnished
with water for irrigation, have shown
such adaptability TO the gro wing OF tho
orange and lemon 40 to have become.
within a dozen years. the scene OF such
wonderful horticultural developments
as this great fruit state nowhere else
presents.
The raisin grape, the olive, the apricot,
prune, peach, nectarine, pear and
apple are equally successful and profit
able in their proper place and coil. The
new county not only produces the lar
gest quantity OF grain south OF the great
mountains, but it's returns from fruit
cold exceed that OF any other county,
and yet it is practically undeveloped
and invitos settlers upon its vast area
OF fertile acres.
Ite grand mountain peaks lift their
sum mite, snow-clad in winter. to q
height OF over 1000 feet toward the
clouds, while its lowest valley sinks
hundreds OF feet below sea level. Ita
beautiful mountain valleys, at an alti-
tude greater than that OF Mt. Washing
ton, with foreste OF northern oak and
pine. and with spring fed brooks OF clear
and sparkling water, afford delightful
resorts during the heat of summer.
Within its borders is the only natural
lake in Southern Observation-Disclosures
and the numerous hot springs within
the county only need the benefit of
wider advertising OF their excellence to
increase the number OF those who ehall
seek to benefit from their use.
The mineral resources, practically un.
developed. will yet attract wide atten~
ton. Gold, silver, tin and coal and
other minerals abound, and that these
are in paying quantities is shown by the
developments at the Good Hope mine,
recently sold for $500,000 and as the
Temescal tin mine. the Elsinore coal
mine and the Salton salt mine. These
are in the very heart OF the thickly
settled portion of the county, but ON
the desert there are known to be vast
areas Of mineral producing country
practically untouched.
Though the area of the county IL 60
great, the principal developments ara
in the extreme western portion, between
the San Jacinto and the Temescal range
of mountains and along the valley OF the
Santa Ana river. Here is gathered q
population of about 10, 900. The assessed
valuation of the county amounts TO some
$14. 600, 600, and the actual valuation is
estimated at high as $37, ,000, 900.
The county has no debt, and starts
out with assets amounting to about
100000. The incorporated cities and
towns are also free from debt, and the
maximum tax for municipal purposes 10
55 cents on the 500. The state aud
county tax, on reasonable valuation,
10 not likely to exceed $l.40.
The county is the one where the most
successful experience hau been bad with
irrigation. Here the plan known % the
Riverside system has been evolved BY
the experience of intelligent and practi-
cal orchardists. Several of the largest
and beat managed irrigation works in the
state furnish the water for the orchards
end ierms OF the county. Among these
the Riverside Water company, the Gage
water system, the Lake Hemet system,
the Bear Valley system and the South
Riverside company, utilizing Lake E!si.
more as reservoir, are the most promi-
neut.
Nearly every part of the settled por-
tion OF the county is easily accessible BY
railroad branches.
The city of Riverside attracts every
tourist who visits Southern California.
1t is one of the most beautiful cities in
California. Miles of handsome, broad
avenues and streets are lined with lux
urious trees and flower beds of great
variety. The fame of Magnolia avenue,
! with 10 miles OF magnolia, pepper,
palms and eucalyptus. fanked by ten
Thousand acres OF magnificent orange
groves. is unrivaled in the world.
The orange and lemon crop for one
season from the neighborhood of the
town of Riverside has been 5000 car
loads OF 500 boxes each, representing in
value $l,b00.000. In addition to the
shipment OF fruits, citrus she is. also .
heavy exporter OF raisins. dried fruit
and honey. the latter being the produ !;
of the bee ranches located in the noun
tain cations throughout the county.
The only coal mine in Southern Cali
fornia is located within four miles of
| the town of Eleinore. The character of
the coal ia the same as the lignites Of
Mount Diablo.
| Riverside county has an abundance
ot products, owing to its fertile soil, and
aided by extensive irrigation systens,