Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-08-29
Letter from San Marcos, California.

One OF the most prosperous ana rap
idly growing sections Of Southern Cal
ifornia is the old Mexican grant known
as Rancho Los Vallecitos de San Mar
Zoos Ranch Of the little valley OF st
Mark. The growth and development
Of this region in the past few years
has been something phenomenal.
When first moved into the valley
eight years ago, the whole ranch wa
sheep pasture. The only signs o.
life were very large flock OF sheet
roaming at will over the country,
brush corral yard where they were
driven at night and the herder's Adobe
shanty. The mail accommodations
consisted of a rickety stage drawn by
two bronchos and driven by drunk
en- Mexican, which passed through the
valley once week, and callirg at
Barham, postoffice on a government
claim outside the grant. This grant,
consisting of over 5000 acres, had
been recently purchased by few en-
terprising men who had formed cor
poration known as the San Marcos
Land company, with headquarters at
San Diego. Surveyors were then at
work re-surveying and dividing it in
to tracts Of 5, TO- 20 and 40 acres each
with an avenue or road on both sides
of each tract. A town site OF lots
25xl00 feet was laid out, comprising
about 200 acres Of the poorest land, as
there was town craze or "boOm' at
that time going on all over Southern
California. AT first, large number
Of the lots were sold, many Of the pur-
chasers not knowing whether they
were located on the Colorado desert or
in the Pacific ocean. The town now
consists of land Office and large
hotel built by the Land comnany, and
a few stores, houses, ETC., belonging to
boom purchasers. The construction
Of a fine school building at cost of
81, 900 is the latest addition to the
town.
The Land company has sold in the
past seven years over 1000 acres of the
grant, mostly in small tracts OF from
five to forty acres, to actual settlers
who have built themselves substantial
homes and made many permanent
There have been over
!, 900 acres planted to fruit trees and
zines, and over one-half of them are
,earing fruit. 1t is surprising how
asst fruit trees grow and come into
bearing in this climate. 1t is nothing
to harvest q fine crop OF
peaches the second year after planting.
There are over seyenty-five houses in
he valley and three splendid new
with an average atten-
lance in each of over forty scholars.
The teachers are paid 500 month
nd there are nine months school in
ear. Most Of the settlers are people
i some means and did not come here
o make money but to enjoy this eli
nate and make themselves home, or
ecause they. or some of the members
I their families, are invalids. ! would
ot advise anyone without means to
ONE here expecting to get rich in a
ew years with little exertion. Money
J too scarce, yet know few hard
farmers who are clearing
rom 81 900 10 $4,000 a year. There
re not many doing so well as that,
Or ii costs considerable to improve
ven small tract and it is some time be- !
ore you get returns for your labor.
get aliying OF from ten acres. Living
cheap and any person with small
leans can come here and enjoy life,
J this is the best climate in the world. |
he coolest weather have ever known
as when the mercury stood at %
bove zero for a few minutes just be-
IRE sunrise. The very hottest was
at midday. The average tenn
erature in winter has been about
:, and in the summer 10 :. Nearly !
that will grow anywhere
i'll grow here without irrigation, not
there is no rain between
.pril and November. Small grain
oes well and is very little trouble to
Use. 1t grows year after year on the
me ground without any fertilizer
hatever. The yield of wheat, oats ,
Id barley Is from 40 to IS bushels per
re. Over 1000 acres were harvested
i the grant this year. The Land
'mpany rents land for this purpose,
king one-fifth Of the crop for rent. Is
orn and potatoes do well in only a
W places on moist ground. All Ii
nds of fruit grow TO perfection, in
uding oranges, lemons, guayas, figs
id olives The raisin grape has not |
owed profitable on account of the {
ok of heat from the suns rays to dry !
EN- protitably. This is the coolest
ace in summer in San Diego county. X
San Marcos is situated on branch !
lie of the Santa Fe railroad between y
and Escondido. 1t is about !
miles north Of San Diego and is 10 ]
lies from the Pacific ocean, with an
ovation Of 900 feet. In the eight /.
airs have lived here, no damage
IS been done by the elements, either
Dst, rain, wind or flood. There have
en- less than ten deaths, and those ,
ere mostly persons whose dis
ses were incurable when they first !
me here. People, as a rule, are in