The herald., 1897-05-16

that this beautiful avenue ends at the
foothills Of the great San Bernardino
range. From this point one can take a
: view of this beautiful and picturesque
valley and view a panorama Of valley
scenery unsurpassed for beauty and
grandeur in California or in the world.
Half a dozen towns dot the landscape.
Just across the valley is Redlande; to the
west is San Bernardino. Cotton and Rial
to. with Ontario just on the sunset hori-
zon. Above and behind us rise the ever
lasting hills. eliminating in the snow
capped peaks Of Old Baldy, San Bernar-
dino. Grayback and San Jacinto, each
one exceeding 10000 feet in height.
That portion Of Highland adjacent to
the mountains is especially adapted to
the production of citrus fruits, and its
elevation and slope insure 1t against in
jury from frost. This makes it peculiar
ly favorable to the production Of lemons
The elevation and freedom from fog in
sure clean. bright fruit. entirely free
from ecale or smut.
Although comparatively a new section,
Highland has already established an en-
viable reputation as a citrus fruit Sec
ton. Her oranges and lemons command
the highest market prices.
The lower portion Of Highland is espe-
cially adapted to the growing Of decid-
uous fruits, having very fertile soil
and an ample water supply The or
chards Of this section make a rapid
growth and are yearly yielding good
crops.
Highland is also adapted to a great
variety Of vegetables and horticultural
products All the fruits. grains and veg
etables Of the eastern etates can be
grown here in great abundance Two
crops Of potatoes can be grown here in
one season. Strawberries and tomatoes
will ripen any month in the year. Black
berries, raepberries and other small
fruits grow in great abundance.
The soil Of Highland is made up of
vegetable matter and decomposed gran
lite. These, with many mineral sub
stances in chemical combination, fur
nish rich and abundant plant food.
THE WATER SUPPLY
There are four stone and cement canals
carrying irrigation water to and through
Highland-the North Fork ditch, High
land canal, City creek and Plunge creek.
The North Fork company, which for
merly owned one-half of the Santa Ana
river, now has a contract with the Bear
Valley company to guarantee a given
amount of water.
The waters Of Highland canal are TAX
en- out from the North Fork and carried
eight miles to the westerly part Of High
land and sold outright to consumers,
who take as much or as little water as
they may desire to purchase.
The Plunge Creek Water company
owns the water from Plunge creek,
which is supplied from springs in the
canyons
The City Creek Water company owns
and consumes the water supplied by the
springs in City Creek canyon.
| The water system of Highland is per-
feet, the companies owning over forty
miles of stone and cement canals.
CLIMATE
There is rarely enough frost here to
injure even the tender annual plante like
the tomato, which often grows for many
seasons without replanting; while the
youngest and tenderest orange and lem
on plants in seed beds and nursery are
absolutely secure from injury.
The severe north winds which some
times sweep over exposed locations in
Southern California are here reduced to
a minimum. The prevailing wind during
the warmer portion Of the year is the
trade wind or sea breeze, which modifies
the summer temperature, that would
otherwise be unpleasantly warm.
IMPROVEMENTS
There is considerable talk in High
land over the proposed electric railway
connecting Highland with Redlands,
San Bernardino and most important and
interesting of all the beautiful Smiley
park, on the summit of the mountains
directly back of Highland. When this
road is completed (and the prospects
are that it will be in the near future)
that park will be one of the most beau
tiful and attractive points of interest
in Southern California.
A beautiful drive has been constructed
from Smiley park along the mountain
crest a distance of ten miles at cost Of
$50, 900.
Highland, with all its beauty and at
tractivenss, is lacking very materially in
one point. She has absolutely no ac-
commodation for the travelling public
and it is to be hoped that some enterpris-
ing person will soon open up a first -class
hotel
POPULATION AND SCHOOLS
Highland has a population Of about
1000, and her school facilities are unsur-
passed by any section Of Southern Cali
fornia Of equal age. What is known as
the model four-room school house Of
San Bernardino was erected in the sum-
mer Of 1898 at cost Of $4,000. There are
three other school houses in this section
at present employing six teachers.
The Highland Congregational Church
was organized in 1884 with large men,
bership. This church has connected
with it a fine parsonage.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has
building that cost $4,000, with a beauti-
full parsonage in connection.
SOCIAL MENTION.
The Christian Endeavor Society gave