The herald., 1896-05-17
LuME-soUrH ANTELOPE VALLEY IRRIGATION COMPANY

most perfect in the state. and covers an
area of five miles in circumference.
When filled with water it will be thirty
five feet deep and have capacity sufti-
cient to irrigate 10000 acres of land. A
million feet Of lumber were required to
build the fumes, trusses and bridges on
the line of the canals. The lumber was
shipped from San Pedro at the rate of
three carloads per day. Six very large
tunnels have been constructed, the larg-
est being $50 feet in length. over 100
men and many teams are occupied in
the work, pushing it forward with all
the expedition possible, so that by May
the work will be completed. There are
over 10000 feet of fumes leading to the
reservoir and the water is delivered to
the valley from the reservoir through a
tunnel 700 feet in length.
This week the 36-inch iron pipe and
enormous flood gates for this tunnel will
be put in and then all will be in readi-
ness to deliver the water to the orchard
lists as required. Nathan Cole. jr, of
Los Angeles is the president of the COM
pany carrying out these improvements
which mean so much for the Antelope
valley. The town of Palmdale, on the
Southern Pacific railroad, is the center
the most important points in Antelope
valley and is growing rapidly. The
Southern Pacific has recently built a
$4,000 depot at this point, said to be the
finest on their line between Los Angeles
and Bakersfield. At Palmdale there Is
also hotel. store. blacksmith shop, lum-
Der yard. hay warehouse, brick kiln,
school house. and roundhouse for the
helpers on this division Of the Southern
Pacific. The bricks are also ready for
a new bank and business block, to in
clude hotel. and to cost 100000
Surrounding the town the land is be-
ing rapidly cultivated. and this spring
vA00 q q xyn To ta1 II
monds and olives. This district as de-
scribed is in the southern portion Of the
valley. Near the western end Of the
valley the most prominent colony is
known as Manzana
This pretty Spanish name translated
into English is apple" and indeed in
this district one finds some Of the finest
apples In the world. though the colony
devotes its land principally to almonds
and olives. ManZana lies largely on
the northern slope of the range Of noun
tains that bound the valley on the south,
stretching out and up into fertile can
yons and along the low foothills with
which this range abounds.
The surface here is free from sage and
yucca, and the land which is not planted
to trees is sown to grain.
The Manzana colony was organized
by the first owners of the land to estab-
fish an industrial, cooperative commu-
nifty Of intelligent people for the purpose
OF fruit raising, with almonds as basis.
at least risk. lowest terms, economical
management and most favorable con-
ditions for the purchaser. either as in
weston or prospective colonist.
It Is in a pre-eminently healthful To-
cation, where pulmonary and kindred
troubles are unknown. The absence of
fog ana dew makes It most desirable as
q health giving residence.
The projectors of this colony are maxi
ing an honest effort to be successful in
the highest degree, both for themselves
ana their patrons, and to help others to
settle and avoid the losses due to mis-
takes and inexperience. They are in no
sense spectators. They decline to sell
land to any one wishing to hold without
planting.
To the purchaser they guarantee for
. stipulated sum to deliver the land
after term Of years set to growing trees
better and cheaper than he could do
4 for himself. The company furnishes
land and water. buys the trees plants
and cultivates Them keeps the land free
from weeds and the trees from pests.
pays all taxes, charges no interest and
fences the whole orchard.
The officers Of the Manzana colony are
Nj. Elihu Smead, president. and Miss
a. A. Smead. secretary. The board of
directors numbers among it's members
some well-known eastern people. The
emeads were prominent Massachusetts
people who came to make their home in
california about eight years ago. They
have done much for the advancement
OF the Antelope valley socially and in
teiectually, ana have attracted many
superior people to that region.
the trees on the colony lands are do
ing splendidly The almond trees have
peen held back by scientific pruning. so
as to produce strong trees. and IL is ex-
pected that next year they will bear a
heavy crop. Peaches and apricots are
doing splendidly.
WORD ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL
VALLEY
The Antelope valley is the most north