davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1896-04-22

Geographically the city Of San Diego
enjoys an unrivaled position, and, it
may be added, an enviable position, for
II Los Angeles had the San Diego har-
bOr, together with her own railroad IA
cllitics, she would already have been
the metropolis Of the west. Approached
from any direction the city of San
Diego is picturesque and inviting. BY
rail you are carried in with fine view
of the ocean on one side and on the
other with the beauty of the city grad
ually developing until finally you alight
at the station within few blocks of
the very center of the business portion.
Should you reach San Diego by steamer
you have the pleasure Of entering by
way of the placid bay, which is like
welcoming smile on the face of the
scene presented. The city rises grad
ually from the bay some of the finer res
licences resting on quite elevated msas
and thus commanding beautiful view
of ocean, bay and mountains. There are
no streets for which one need apollo
gize, each being broad and graded. In
the business center, glancing to the
south or the west, one sees at the foot
of each street the dimpling reflections
on the surface of the bay and Is greet
d by refreshing. soft sea breeze.
The city and its environment have
for the stranger many attractions.
Months may be spent In their enjoy
year, till finally he makes his home
in the city on the bay and spends his
days In fullest enjoyment.
ITS HISTORY.
The history of San Diego, though
The herald., 1896-04-22

The mean isothermal line for Jan
uary, from San Diego around the globe,
passes through Galveston, New Orleans
and Jacksonville in the United States;
thence to the southern coast of the
Mediterranean sea, between AleXan
dria and Jerusalem; thence through
the Persian gulf, lahore. India and
Foo Chow, China. The mean isother-
NAL line for July follows the Pacific
coast north to Kolzebue sound, in Nor
thern Alaska; thence east through
Northern Canada, passing through
Hudson bay and Labrador; thence to
Sweden and Norway and back to this
coast through Northern Siberia.
Thus it will be seen that San Diego
has warmer climate in winter than
Italy, and one that is much cooler in
summer According to the official
records of the United States Signal
Service, during twenty-five years,
from 1872 to 1894, out OF S035 days, 7445
were clear or fair, and there were only
935 days in which rain fell to the amount
of .01 of an inch or over.
1t requires temperature Of % de-
grees to kill oranges or lemons. From
1895 to 1S91-6205 days-there were 6006
days of temperature not above so de-
grees nor below 40 degrees. "Cold
snaps and heated spells" are unknown
in San Diego.
PLACES OF INTEREST.
Resorts and places of interest sur
round the city. There is the Sweetwa-
ter dam, which is reached by a short
ride on a suburban railroad, the Ma
The herald., 1896-04-22
COURT HOUSE. (Showing "Double Decker Lne)

stance, which is really q suburban set
tlement of San Diego, reached by the
Cuyamaca and Eastern railroad, which
gives Semi-daily service both ways.
Four years ago it was but a stretch OF
dry sage brush, cactus-bearing land,
and now it is one of the most enchant-
ing spots in the world. The settlement
owns it's own irrigation systm. and
thus enjoys that feeling of 5curity
which has induced the best class of inn
provements. II has an unfailing sup
ply of pure mountain water furnished
by the Flume company, which system
has been extended and improved dur
ing the past season, and still greater i'm
provements are contemplated to keep
pace with the growing demands of this
thriving locality.
Lemon Grove is the natural home Of
the lemon, and the product of the young
groves already eclipses the rivals that
come from Sicily, in point of color, tex
ture and acidity. The deep red soil
of decomposed granite, with correspon-
ing sub-soil. and entire absence of
hardpan produce combination of re-
quirements that insure the most vigor-
Gus growth with the least amount of
water. In fact, the only danger in
this soil is too much water; this with
the practically frostless air, and being
just the right distance from the ocean
(eight miles) moderates the summer
sun so that an unusually even tempera-
ture is produced, the raw winds of the
coast are subdued and the desert air
fifty miles distant is tempered into
sulubrious and almost a perpetual sea-
son for the growth of all citrus fruits
But equally at home are the finest flaw
ored. juicy peaches, plums, apricots,
nectarines, apples and nearly all the
deciduous fruits, as well as the Eng
lish walnut and almond
In this favorite spot where the family
of moderate means may secure home
a peaceful and full life my be rounded
out, with the quiet so much appreciat-
ed by the lover of books or the student
of nature, yet near enough to the bus
tie of city to enter in it's affairs or be
in touch with the world; where one
may enjoy the benefits of health, peace
full associations, genteel and educated
society, balmy and frostless climate,
where the SHOWS of winter are only
seen on the distant mountains, while
the air is laden with the perfume of
lemon and orange blossoms, where the
rose forever blooms beside the palm,
The herald., 1896-04-22

Miscellaneous trees. bearing and non-
bearing, $4,000.
EXPORTS FOR 1895.
Following is a list of the shipments
of San Diego county products during
the year, which is believed to be cor
rect The figures for cattle cannot be
obtained with sufficient accuracy to be
of value. The figures given below re-
fer to carloads.
Oranges, 1914; lemons, 1851; raisins,
rs; wool, 23.4; hides, sos; honey, bS;
dried fruit, 1873; green fruit, 10; wine, 4;
preserves 4; leather, 1; hay, so: hogs. s;
oats, Sc; barley, 8: wheat, "a; corn, IL;
fish, 31.4; beeswaX, 1.6; curbing. SIS:
mineral water, 1872; ore, IL; olives, IL;
brick, l.; wood, 6; miscellaneous, 6.
TIMBER.
Approaching San Diego by train or
steamer one may perhaps remark the
scarcity of trees; yet few miles back
from the coast there are in the noun
tain districts thousands of acres Of tim
ber for fuel, manufacturing and build
ing purposes. From 2000 to 4000 rect
elevation the timber is live~oalS; high
er, pine, fir, cedar and oak prevail.
Many varieties of oak in the higher al
titudes have been found superior for
manufacturing to eastern hickory. and
find a ready local market for that pur-
pose at SIS per thousand feet. Two saw
mills are kept busy supplying the local
demand.
DAIRYING.
There are several large dairies in this
region. one milks 500 cows and ships
the butter of San Diego, where it finds
a ready market at 20 cents per pound
the year round. The skim milk fattens
many hogs, which sell readily at to
Z cents pound.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE.
AS the county develops the result is
felt directly in the city of San Diego.
as the rapid growth of the last year IN
dicates. When the Nicaragua canal Is
again under way ,as it will be in the near
future, millions of dollars of eastern
capital will flow into the city, develop
ing her many resources. However, San
Diego is not idly looking forward to a
future but is industriously carving 1t
for herself.
The herald., 1896-04-22

tance Of forty miles. may seem to one
VINO has never seen them. II he does
not care to grow citrus fruits, but pre-
fers mixed husbandry, combining
dalrying and stock-raising with the
growing of grain and deciduous fruits
or the propagation of bees, plenty Of
valleys. part way up the mountains,
where land is vet cheap, offer him ~
choice OF locations suitable for such
combinations.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
Comprises the southern end of the state
OF California, and has an area of about
5000 square miles. 1t has the largest
frostless area in the United States and
has over 2,000, 900 acres of arabic lands.
From the mountains in the interior to
the sea coast the change Of climate ia
such that nowhere else in the world can
so varied an assortment of productions
be seen. All fruits of tropical and tenn
perate zones grow in different parts of
the county.
PRODUCTS.
The following figures are oficially
given by Horticultural Commissioner
Gunnis, showing the number of bearing
and non bearing trees in the county Of
San Diego at the end of 1896 1t will be
observed that of the trees actually set
out a small percentage are in bearing,
and this fact must be borne in mind in
scanning the list of shipments from the
county during the same period. Com
missioner Gunnis estimates that the
rate of increase in fruit acreage the
past year in San Diego county was
about 25 per cent. At the present time
the increase is at the rate of so per cent
over last year. Lemons are fast becom-
ing the principal crop. The county has
won it's laurels on that crop in competi-
tion with all parts of Southern Califor-
MIA, and at the present time the out
look for profits in lemon growing is SO
good that hundreds of acres are be-
ing set out in the most favored spots.
The following is correct list Of the
number of bearing and non-bearing
fruit and nut trees in the county, the
first figures referring to bearing trees
and the second to non-bearing:
Lemons, $3.50, s7S,0oO; oranges. 55,-
235, 9s, 1000; apples, 81, 1000, 50,2b0; apricots,
As, 900, 52,OS6; figs, 27.29S. $4,000; olives,
29,7Oo. Il 900; walnuts, 41oo. $50; pears,
1S,5OO, 27,50O; peaches, 65,s75, 12s,5OO;
prunes, 47,eoo. 11o,4oo: vines. 1873, 200, 49,.
$50. -..-....--.-.-i,
The herald., 1896-04-22
STREET SCENE IN SAN DIEGO

Of these vessels have repeatedly stated
that no port in the world is superior to
San Diego in this respect
The entrance to the harbor is we'll
provided with lights and signals. On
Point Iona, at the nearest point to the
at cost of $50 900. There is also an i'm
mense fog bell at Ballast point, which,
by system of clockwork, strikes every
minute, and can be heard for miles.
Some idea of the wharf accommoda-
tions may be had from partial de-
scription of the structure of Spreckels
Brothers, which is $500 feet long, and
was built at cost of over 800, 000 The
coal bunkers on the wharf have a ca
pacity of over $4,000 gross tons. The ma
chinery is of the most modern and best
improved type. and in point of eff
cheney second to none in America. The
wharf has a track connecting it with the
Southern California railway. Ships are
unloaded directly into the bunkers from
which train may be loaded in fifteen
minutes.
In addition to the Spreckels Brothers
wharf there are the Santa Fe's. the Pa
cific Coast Steamship company's the
Dock company's and the Russ Lumber
and Mill company's, costing from $4,000
to $4,000 each, and are from $4,000 to 5000
feet in length.
Large quantities of tea, coffee, spices
and dates come into this port direct
from the countries of the Orient. In
deed, one of the largest houses on the
coast dealing in these commodities is
located in San Diego. Taking for in
stance one article, it is said by the i'm
porters that to every fifty pounds of
Diamond A Mocha coffee imported di-
rect at San Francisco that 5000 pounds
come in to the San Diego harbor.
Spices of all kinds are imported whole
and prepared for the markets here in
one of the most complete coffee and
spice mills in the country. The process
used is by the latest NJ. s. Burdick in
ventions. There is the coffee scourer,
which in operation seems almost en-
dowed with intelligence. separating and
cleansing and selecting only the whole.
perfect, clean berry. Then there is the
roaster and blender in one, and the
cooling by an exhaust fan, and the final
ly sealing into cans for the market of
brands of coffee which have now be-
come famous, and though it may not
The herald., 1896-04-22

where: wide stretches of lawns and the
greenery of unnunbered shrubs.
Above all the bluest of blue skies that
mingles with the dancing waters of the
Pacific as it melts away on the horizon.
The summer air, combination of the
dry desert wind and the tonic salt sea
air, is as soft and sweet as those that
blow in dreamland.
Whatever your mood, you can al
ways find some condition or phase of
nature at Coronado that will be in
harmony with it. If you are a jaded
tourist, sick OF Old World scenes and
smells, you will find everything here
fresh and novel, If you are IA sports
man. you will meet with unlimited op-
portunlties and endless variety, and no
one shall deny your right to shoot and
fish at your own sweet will. If you are
aweary with the turmoil and strife that
comes from the busy haunts of men,
you will find that you can be idle here
with less ennui than at any place you
can possibly dream of.
CLIMATE.
It is not an unusual thing In San
Diego to see no clouds at all for 300
days out of 365.
Southern California has often been
referred to as 1.-The Italy of America" "
and San Diego as its Naples, but ref
erence to the mean isothermal lines for
January and July, as given on Rand,
McNally & Co. s school globe, will show
that we can boast of more than an Italy.
The herald., 1896-04-22

between the four fathom lines at low
water. This indicates sufficient ca
pacity to accommodate large COM
merce. The depth over the bar at low
tide is twenty-five feet.
The following official figures. fur
nished by the customs office for 1S93-94,
will give some idea of the business al
ready being transacted at this port:
The number of vessels arriving was
S22, classified as follows: American 21S,
British 26. Nicaraguan ~. Mexican l.
German 3, Hawaiian l, Chinese l; total
net tonnage, 241, ,035.
The value of dutiable imports was
$309, ,91S.04. and of free imports $50, 3S,
a total of $500, ,S4737. Receipts of lum-
Der, feet, 17.724.0O0; coal, value, $685.
264.6 so; cement, value, $45,172.7S.
The value of grain shipments during
the year was $171, ,960.S8. Larger guam
titles of raisins, fish. hay, honey hides,
wool, cement and general produce were
exported than the year previous. The
revenues collected for the fiscal year
ending June S0 1894, amounted to $685.
02724.
The total value of imports for 1895 was
S421, III, and the exports amounted to
$16S,0 ,065.
Another indication of the superiority
of San Diego bay is the fact that 1t is,
and has been for the past two years, a
coaling station for the British naval
squadron in the North Pacific, having
been given the preference over San
Francisco. Most of the vessels Of the
British navy en- route to and from Es-
quimalt, the North Pacific station, have
coaled at San Diego bay. The officers
The herald., 1896-04-22

AS there are several trains a day each
way, one may. after a view of historic
Old Town, go on to La Jolla, one of the
most popular resorts on the coast or
California. Here the surf is grand: the
beach and rocks abound in fine shells
and mosses. The caves are wonderful,
and delightful hours may be spent In
exploring them. The place is full OF
surprises and is natural park.
A pilgrimage along the banks of the
San Diego river, through the lovely
Mission valley, brings one to the pathet-
icaly beautiful old mission.
POINT Iona
On this point is situated the pictur-
esque old light house, the highest in
the world. The view from the top is
simply soul inspiring. Such panor-
anna of light, color and beauteous form!
Mountains, valleys, city, bay, ocean,
peninsula and islands form a wonderful
picture.
OLD MEXICO
Fine drives or several trains daily
take visitors over the border line into
Mexico, where short visit at Tia
Juana, typical Mexican town, is great
ly enjoyed.
May be divided into two distinct dis
tricts, the citrus belt which comprises
the valleys and mesas near the coast,
and the cereal or mountain district.
The citrus belt extends from ten to
fifteen miles back from the coast, and in
some of the valleys even further. 1t
comprises the Tia Juana, Otay, Sweet
water, Jamacha, Spring, Eel Cajon, Par
adise, Mission, Escondido, San Marcos,
San Pasqual and other valleys. These
valleys are unsurpassed for the culture
of vines, vegetables and fruits of every
description, while the mesas and slopes
are better adapted to the cereals.
Foremost among the citrus localities
are Chula Vista, where is located the
largest lemon grove in the world ard
the two fine tracts Lemon Grove and
La Mesa, east of San Diego Other Cit
rus sections are Lakeside, Chollas,
Point Iona, Pacific Beach, Linda Vista,
Teralta, Redlands, Fallbrook, Otay,
Highlands and South San Diego. In
the San Diego bay region are a
hundred thousand acres of choice FROST
less mesa lands, that for lemon grow
ing are not eXcelIed in the world. The
last five years have witnessed wonder
full transformation in the appearance Of
the country Immediately surrounding
San Diego. Take Lemon Grove for in
The herald., 1896-04-22

brief, Is full of interest. San Diego
(Which translated is st. james, is the
spot where the earliest steps in civili-
zation Of the territory that now forms
the State of California were taken. 1t
was here that the good Friar Francis
Junipero Sierra (Padre Serra) founded
on the 18th day of July, 1863. the first
mission in the chain which afterwards
extended along the coast as far north
as Sonoma. On November 4th, 1774,
during an uprising of the Indians. the
buildings OF the mission were destroyed
by fire. The present mission build
ings. or rather the ruins of the build
ings, stand on the site of those de-
etrOyed. They were commenced in
1776, dedicated in 1777, but not entirely
completed until 1854. They stand on
an emInence in the valley OF the San
view Of the entire valley to the sea on
one side and the mountains on the
other. On the river bottom lands in
front Of the church is the orchard
planted by the mission fathers. There
are some 800 olive trees here which bear
full crops Of fruit every year. From
this orchard nearly all the olive trees
III California have been propagated.
1t is the oldest orchard in the state.
The city of San Diego is the Oldest mu-
cipality IN California. The Pueblo
was organized on the first day of Jan
ddA 4OoO, ny IuC lSldlldClOH OIL lIS Illu-
nicipal officers. who had been elected
BY the ballot of the people on Decem-
ber 21st, 1884.
The first official map and survey of
the pueblo was made in 1884 by Capt
Fitch, who died in 1S49, and is buried
with his family in the ancient presidio
on the bluff at Old Town, where the
grave may be seen today, the inscrip-
tions carved and painted on the wooden
headboards being yet quite legible
When, in 1876, California passed under
the American government, the pueblo
organization was still maintained and
the city's title to the pueblo lands was
guaranteed by the treaty with Mexico
in 1S4S, and in 1858 confirmed by the
United States board of land commits
sioners. The amount of land thus con-
firmed to the pueblo was 81, 900 acres.
The chief business of San Diego for
many years was the expectation of
hides. This port was the depot for the
entire coast, and Boston vessels en-
gagged in the traffic gathered up hides all
slong the coast and brought them to
The herald., 1896-04-22

flow of the Sweetwater river, forms a
reservoir of over 700 acres, containing
about 5000, 100000 gallons of water.
CORONADO.
Across the bay from San Diego, on n
peninsula, is found Coronado, an incor-
porated town of about 1000 population.
1t is reached by rail around the bay or
direct by ferry every twenty minutes.
The place is beautifully laid out with
wide streets, lined with shade trees of
all kinds. Tho leading feature of Coro-
nado is the large hotel, already de-
scribed.
NATIONAL CITY.
Towards the head of the bay, about
five miles from San Diego, is found this
thriving place. 1t is the terminus of
the great Santa Fe. Trees oC the ave-
nues, fine residences, and many ORCH
ards are seen on every hand. National
is the largest place in the county except
San Diego, the population, census of
1890, being 1853. Reduction works, car
shops and olive mills are among the
chief industries.
Several of the oldest citrus orchards
of the county are found in Sweetwater
valley.
AVONDALE.
Beautifully located on a gentle slope,
and being near the station, many tour
lists to Sweetwater Dam stop off a
while to enjoy the scenery.
Paradise Valley is short distance
north from National City, and there is
The herald., 1896-04-22

from the Cuyamaca mountains; forty
five miles of graded streets, five miles
of which are paved: a splendid electric
car system. extending from the water
front all over the city; courthouse
costing $3.50. 900; twenty churches and
thirty church organizations; a public
library containing over $4,000 volumes:
coal bunkers costing $250,000; five local
railroads, in addition to the Southern
California system; twelve miles of gas
mains; one of the finest theaters in
the United States. costing 100000 and
seating 1400 people: two daily news
papers; three steamship lines and five
incorporated banks.
SCHOOLS.
In the public schools, primary and
grammar. there are about 5000 pupils
enrolled and eighty teachers employed.
In the high school $50 pupils and twelve
teachers. The school buildings are
modern and convenient. as well as
imposing in their appearance.
Besides the public schools there are
several private schools and kinder
gartens.
STREET CAR SERVICE.
San Diego has a magnificent system
of electric street car service. 1t was
constructed without regard to expense.
The entire system cost about $500, 600
and comprises thirteen miles f1&~s oublc
tlons of the city, with transfers in any
direction.
RESIDENCES AND BLOCKS
The number of residences erected in
1895 was 20S. and it is expected that '96
will give even a better record. Two fine
business blocks were completed in '95
two others are now in course of erection
several others are having plans pre-
pared. and a large brewery is being
built by eastern capitalists.
In the center of the city is fine park
of 1400 acres. which when improved will
be one of the most beautiful in the
world.
SOCIAL ADVANTAGES
Socially San Diego is delightful
place. Among the permanent residents
there are number of well known
American families Of wealth and cult
ure, and the tourists attracted here by
the world renowned equability Of
climate find as good social
conditions as they left behind
them in the east. One can find
better and more pleasant hotel accom-
modations in San Diego than in many of
the large cities of the east, and, indeed,
better than to be met with in a Euro
pean trip. Southern California owes a
debt of gratitude to San Diego for this
marked feature. Climate and scenery
viii never tempt the comfOrt-loving and
wealthy traveller to place with notably
poor hotels. Los Angeles is awakening
to her need of fine tourist hotel. and it
is hoped that some day in the near fu-
ture one of her fine hills may bear on it's
summit a well-conducted, luxurious
place of entertainment for her guests.
THE CORONADO HOTEL
The whole page might be devoted to
the telling of the beauties and wonders
of the magnificent hotel which graces
Coronado beach, just across the bay
The herald., 1896-04-22

where you can make no mistake in Sc
lecting good land and where content
ment can find it's earthly good in max
ing a home so delightful that every
craving for happiness and beauty may
be gratified as nearly as it is possible in
world of change, Lemon Grove and
her sister settlements around San
Diego offer exceptional Inducements
MIXED FARMING.
A man must be hard to please II he
cannot find a place in this county to
suit him. If he wants a cool climate
snow in winter, pine and oak forests
surrounding him-in short, q region like
his former home in the northern tim
bered states, without their extremes
in climate, he can find it here in the
higher mountains.
If he wants land where frost is prac-
tically unknown and snow never
whitens the ground, he can find 1t In
the citrus belt. nearer the coast, I'M
possible as these extremes, in a dis