The herald., 1897-01-03
rs TO Los ANGELES COUNTY
Valuable Information About a
Favored Region
WHAT IT CAN PR0UUCE
Everything From Golden Fruit T.
GoIden Nuggets
There Is Plenty of Room Yet for Set
tiers Who Will Make the Earth
Yield Its Treasures

From various sources, partially from
Z little book issued by the chamber of
commerce, is compiled the following in
formation about Los Angeles county:
Los Angeles county occupies remark
ably favored location near the southern
extremity of California, between the
mountains and the ocean, the northern
section of the county extending beyond
the mountain range. The shore line of
the county is about eighty-five miles in
length and nine-tenths Of the population
reside within the reach of the sea breeze,
which blows regularly during the great
er part of the day.
The county is a large one. covering
an area of 1000 square miles of territory.
about four-fift of which is capable of
irrigation with water supplied, the re-
mainder being mountainous.
Within this area there is a remarkable
variety of scenery, soil and climate.
There are low, moist valleys elevated
mesas, or table lands, rolling foothills,
and rugged mountains, sometimes snow
capped in winter.
The northern portion of this country
is a part of what was once called the
Mojave desert, the western section of
which-known as the Antelope valley
is being rapidly settled and cultivated.
South of this, extending almost TO Los
Angeles city. is the great San Fernando
valley. East of Los Angeles is the beau
tiful San Gabriel valley, shut in from
the north by pine-clad mountains. This
In turn opens into the Pomona valley.
Both are celebrated for their horticui-
tural products and beautiful homes.
Westward from the county seat toward
the ocean, extends the Santa Monica
range of low mountains. South of this
range, between the city and the ocean.
is a wide and fertile plain. with several
small settlements. Southeast of Los An
geles is the Los Nietos valley fertile
section, with plenty of moisture, where
there are many dairies. corn and alfalfa
fields, as we'll as orchards. More than
30 per cent of the development. thus far,
has been in the southern portion of the
county, most of the steep mountains
and waste land lying in the northern
section.
In the lower valleys the soil consists
of rich alluvium. deposited by streams
in past ages. The upper valleys possess
all grades of this alluvium. and have,
also, in some places, black soil called
adobe, which forms in winter a tenac-
ious mud. 1t is well adapted to grain
and some varieties of fruit. on the mesas,
or plains, there is much soil composed
of debris washed from the mountains,
mixed with vegetable accumulations;
also some sandy clay. A large area is
rich, sandy loan, with water from five
to twelve feet below the surface. on
the rolling and table lands the soil is
warm, porous, and more or less sandy,
we'll adapted to fruit culture. Next come
the foothills, with much decomposed
granite; this makes the choicest citrus
fruit land. Beyond are the mountains,
much of the land in which is good for
pasturage, with small arabic valleys.
Where there are so many varieties, some
times several within the limits of one
farm--it is easy to find soil adapted to
any product that can be raised in this
section.
A remarkable variety of climate may
be found within the limits of the county.
the difference being caused by elevation
and distance from the ocean. On the
coast it is cooler in summer and little
warmer in winter than inland. with oc-
casional fogs at night. This climate Is
we'll adapted to those who suffer from
nervous affections. Further inland it
becomes warmer, and in places, decid
edIy hot at times during midsummer
8 days, although there is always gentle
breeze from the ocean, and the summer
nights are cool enough to make blankets
welcome. AS the mountains are climbed
which is very beneficial to consumpt-
ives.
On winters day one may breakfast
by the seashore. after dip in the ocean,
lunch amid the orange groves of the San
Gabriel valley and dine on the snow
capped SUBMITS of the Sierra Madre,
under the towering pines. The climate
is an "all the year round" one. pleasant
In summer as well as in winter AT Los
Angeles the temperature seldom reaches
100 degrees. ana still more rarely sinks
to the freezing point.
The population of the county has made
a. rema arkable growth during the past
few years From 1881 in 1880 it in
creased to 101 .454 in 1890, and it is a con-
servative estimate to place the present
population of the county at 100000. Much
of this increase has been in the city of
Los Angeles. but the outlying sections,
both country and towns, have shown
healthy advance.
Horticulture is still the greatindustry
of Los Angeles county. the entire list of
products including everything that can
be grown in the state. There are nearly
1000, 900 fruit trees growing in the county
and orchards are being planted on eV
cry side. The income from this source
-already.large-w will within a few years
be immense. l..H
During the past few years the horticul
turists of this section have been endeaV-
oring to secure some system in the mar
keting Of fruits in place of the haphaz-
ard methods that We're formerly in
vogue. The leading fruit growers have
recognized the fact that while great
progress has been made in the raising
of fine fruits ii is of little value unless
the product can be profitably marketed
A systematic study is now being made
of the markets in the east and in EuroNa
and of the best way to reach them with
the products of this section. IT may be
said that the past two years have marked
the inaugura tion of a new era in the hOr-
ticultural industry of Southern Cali
fornia, and that from now on II will grow
on a safe and solid basis. 1t becomes
more evident, from year to year. that ali
talk about OVERRIDING fruit growing in
Southern California is absurd provided
suitable arrangements are made to ship
only the best quality of fruit and to
place that fruit before the eastern con-
sumer at the right time in good condi-
ton and at reasonable expense
One important act of the orange grow
ers of Southern California was the for
nation of a strong association which is
marketing the crop in the east on a co.
operative plan. The area of orange
groves is being steadily extended and
in an intelligent manner. The expe-
rience gained through the mistakes OF
the past few Years has shown the linn
its within which the orange may be sue
cessfully raised year in and year out, on
a commercial scale.
In lemon culture, also. great stride.