The herald., 1895-10-20

artesian bet. 1t has an elevation OF
about 2400 feet. a lovely climate, an
abundant supply of the very pest water
and soil unexcelled for fertility. 10
verify these statements, one can be re-
ferred to the highest state authorities.
Professor Hilgard. professor of chemistry
of the state university of California, has
stated in regard to the soil: First-That
fthe so-calied alkali which appears in
Splaces in Antelope valley is nothing but
IAN excess of mineral fertilizer being
"com bination OF Dorax. salt and lime. Sec
ond--Thst the water is the purest known
on eaitb, being simply dissolved snow.
Any reader who may BIZ at all dubious
tabout the value of property in Lancaster
the commercial center OF Antelope val.
.hey. has but to take into consideration
the vast strides taken in the past few
years in agricultural matters in the en-
tire valley. On the 18th oay of last May
the people of Antelope valley met in con-
vention at Lancaster and organized the
ANTELOPE VALLEY ASSOCIATION,
the object of which is to advance the in
xerests OF the whole valley. The sssocia-
1tions is divided into three local associa-
sion. and the territory assigned to the To-
fcal associations is divided into school
districts as follows: First, the western
division includes tae school districts of
Dry Lake (Gorman Station), La Liebro,
Del Norte, Fairmont and TETON; second,
the central division includes the school
districts of Lancaster, Del Sur. Elizabeth
Lake, Rosamond and Belleview; third,
the eastern division includes the school
districts of Harold. Palmdale, Little Rock,
Almondale and Llano. The regular
meetings are held the first Tuesday in
May and the first Tuesday in October.
Any resident or anyone interested in the
advancement of Antelope valley is eligi-
BILE to mbershIp on signing the roll
and on payment of so cents per year.
Professor A. r. Sprague of Farmont is
president, W. s. Melick of Lancaster Sec
retary and treasurer. 0. S. Bulkley of
Little Rock, James P. Ward OF Lancaster
and E. w. Edison of Manzana vice presi-
dents.
The aims and objects of the associa-
tion can be no better described than by
here quoting the address of the president
of the association. Professor A. r.
Sprsgue, delivered at the convention on
October 18th:
Since our organization in this place
some four months ago, our almond trees
have fulfilled the noble promises which
at that time they gave. Peaches have
matured that were deemed worthy to rep
resent Southern California in her grand
= exhibit at Atlanta. Apricots unriv allied
in flavor and color; pears and apples of
gigantic size and fine grain and flavor,
and prunes ana raisins sweeter than any
which lower attitudes with damper at
mosphere can produce, all of them have
reached their full maturity. and have
thus given another assurance that we
who have chosen to come here with the
purpose of raising the finest fruit which
the world can produce are not to be dis
appointed. 1t is this assurance, added
to similar eviuence from each OF several
preceding years. that makes us sure that
in the elements of altitude, soil and
climate. the year through, we are come
to just the right place to raise the very
choicest of declduous fruit. TIE alfalfa
fields too, have shown a marvellous
product OF choicest hay. Our grain
farmers have shared the fate of grain
farmers everywhere; they have been SELL
ing wheat for less than the cost of procuc-
tion.
The past months have made clearer
several things. Among these the need
OF line OF railroad through the length
of the valley. BY this something could
have been saved to the wheat raisers
this present year alone. Our orchards
of declduous fruits will soon be producing
from TWO 10 turee tllueS as muCE weight
per acre as the wheat area, with pro-
portionate saving to producers. Add to
this the consideration that very often
green ruit shipments, which are often
by far the most remunerative, are abso-
lutoly impossible without such q rail-
road, and we find urgent need of united
effort to secure such line. While we
hail with delight the beginning of actual
construction work in the great irrigation
works planned for Palmdale, we are not
forgetful of the fact that wnlie the price of
wheat remains. the princely area of fertile
soil at the west end must have the stor-
age waters of Piru creek poured over its
thirsty surface before the land lying be-
yond the mere fringe of foothillsjwill be
dotted with thriving homes. Hardly
any effort that will scure this is too
great to be undertaken.
We are finding, too, that the noun
tains on our south, that seem to bar us
from the sea, have other and far easier
passes than those along which our great
teams have struggled with their tiny
loads these many years.
Through these we are assured it Is
pssible to build roads upon which team
can pull ton per horse. Whoever will
take the trouble to figure up the amount
which such road would save to pro-
ducers in the valley at once and In the
near future will be amazed at the results.
have suggested but few of the affairs
that call for combined efforts. You will
have others in mind. Some of them ap-
peal at once TO the self interest OF the
whole valley, while others will primarily
benefit only portion, but not one OF
them that will not be helpful, indirectly
1T least, to everyone in any way inter-
ssted in the valley. So they should all
have our good will and 80 far as possible
our practical, efficient aid. We must not
rest in the deusive thought that all
this desired development will come
whether we help to bring it or not. Such
il not the history of such works else
where in this age of keen industrial
competition.
pass now to speak briefly of those
most pressing needs which have called
forth this Organization; and foremost
among these is tfe necessity OF protect
ing ourselves from the introduction of in
sect pests. At present we are fortunately
most free from the multitude of pests OF
the orchard and vineyard which owners
elsewhere are obliged TO fight at great ex-
pense. Our mountain barriers upon three
. sides, with the desert barrier upon the
fourth, have so far afforded us compare
tive freedom from these. But it would
be most stupid for us to suppose that
they will never come. Very many of
them will come, but If we are properly
organized and are alert to detect them
they will be destroyed before thev get
fairly established in their work of de-
struction. At our meeting last May
smoke of our present freedom from the
~S.ao~~ ~ tho nod lin moth The facts an