The herald., 1896-11-29
: A PROJECTED WELSH COLONY (;
THE FERNANDEZ RANCHO

This is the rancho where it is proposed
to establish a model Welsh colony, as
stated before. 1t Is situated, in santa
Barbara county, one and one miles
from the Pacific Coast railroad. four
| miles from the town of Los Alamos, and
| fifty-eight miles north of Santa Barbara.
, 1t contains 4400 acres of fertile land, AM
| for dairy industries and mixed farming
and fruit growing it stands without
peer in the whole of Southern California.
There is not an acre of poor land In the
| entire rancho, seven-e eighthS OF the tract
| being sandy loan soil, Of great depth
| and fertility. the balance light adobe,
| which is easily worked. Cattle, hogs ana
sheep were seen by the writer (during
two days thorough investigation OF the
rancho) feeding contentedly on the dried
alfileria, clover and bunch grass, i'll the
valleys and on the hills, even at the high
est elevations. And this during the dry
est month Of the year, October, where
no rain has fallen for over six months.
The land is naturally moist, as demon
strated in the fact that on the summit
of the highest hills moist earth is
reached by digging down few inches
from the surface. Springs of pure,
sparkling water are found at many
places on the rancho, and never-fail-
Ing cienaga Cor lake of water) extends
for a mile in the vicinity Of the ranch
house. This property was formerly
rived a handsome revenue therefrom
each year. and it Is now one of the best
paying tracts of land owned by the Pa
cifc Land company Well water is OBJ
tanned at depth of twenty-five feet IN
the valleys, but as the land is naturally
moist no irrigation is required Should
1t be necessary to pipe water to any par-
of the tract, however, plentiful supply
can be obtained by pumping from the
cienega to a reservoir on an adjoining
hill, which will give sufficient pressure
TO reach most OF the tract. The same
reservoir will supply the proposed town
site, situated near the ranch house.
a most delightful location. near a natural
park of sloping and hill land, dotted here
and there with magnificent live oaks.
It Is proposed to construct a branch of
the Pacific Coast railway a distance of
one and half miles from the main line
to the town site. The latter will contain
(including the cienega and park as com
mon property of the colony 400 acres
The remaining 1000 acres will be sud-
divided into 100 tracts Of 40 acres each.
The purchaser of each 40-acre tract will
be entitled to a one-acre lot in the town
for residence purposes.
Anyone desiring two or more forty
acre tracts for dairy purposes, raising
choice dairy stock or for mixed farming
will have that privilege. Forty acres, is,
however, sufficient for fruit purposes
fruits. berries and nuts will grow to per-
lection in this fertile soil ana excellent
climate. About 2500 acres Of the rancho
is cultivated land; the balance can be
cleared of the oak timber and consid-
cradle money realized from the wood, as
there is always good demand for It, San
Francisco and Los Angeles, the principal
cities Of the Pacific coast. are easily
reached by rail and water, hence the
proposed colony is assured Of two good
markets for its products There is
large deposit Of bituminous lime rock in
the vicinity, with which material many
Of the leading streets of Los Angeles are
paved. This will be of great advantage
for streets and sidewalks in the proposed
town and for roads through the colony.
Those who desire to purchase tracts in
the colony and have their land set to
fruit trees. almonds. walnuts, etc. that
require several years to come into bear
ing, and not occupy the same until on a
paying basis, will be accommodated
Others who desire to take immediate