The herald., 1897-03-07

plains east Of Riverside. This,land was
government domain, occupied by home
steaders mostly. Mr.. Gage took up one
section under the desert act, 500 acres
Of Which lay below his canal survey.
Mr.. Gage then contracted with the
owners Of this 1000 acres Of land to sup
ply them with water on basis Of one
inch to five acres for the sum Of 500 per
acre. they to give him their notes. Sc
cured by mortgages on their lands, tho
notes and mortgages to be placed IN
escrow, to be delivered to Mr.. Gage
when the canal was completed with euf-
ficient water therein to fill these con-
tracts. The notes drew per cent in
terest and were due in five years Tho
lands mortgaged for 500 per acre were
then slow sale at IS per acre.
With these notes to the extent of
$400. .000 secured by conditional mort
cages placed In escrow, as a basis Of
credit. Mr.. Gage secured the money to
build the canal. delivered the water ac-
cording to contract, the notes were paid
and the mortgages were Cancelled, and
the IS land became worth from $3.50 an
acre upwards, and is now mostly COW
cred with bearing orange orchards.
Mr.. Gage failed to get the water on his
desert section in the time required by
law and other parties homesteaded the
section, and for eight or ten years Mr..
Gage has been fighting for that section
and about year ago he secured Unit
ed States patent to the same.
At a later date Mr.. Gage purchased
the lands above the Arlington tract and
extended his canal across the arroyo
down the valley, covering all that fine
tract of land, large portion of which
has been planted to orchards for six
years. This tract is known as Arlington
Heights.
About six or seven years ago Mr.. Gage
went to England and formed the Riv-
erside Trust company (limited). to
which company he sold his property
canal and lands-subject to the water
rights already sold from the canal to the
owners of the 1000 acres above the ar
royo. Mr.. Gage received enough money
on this sale to clear himself from debt.
and retained large interest in the COM
pany, taking the position of managing
director.
Under his management the larges.
navel orange orchard In the world-1200
acres-was planted. This orchard is now
six years old and the trees are coming
into fair bearing. 1t is receiving good
care, Is entire free from frost
during the coolest cold waves, and
within the next five years should fur
nish 1000 carloads Of the best Of oranges
Tor the market.
About four years ago Mr.. Gage had a
misunderstanding with his company
and resigned the position of managing
director.
The Gage water supply Is abundant.
Last season was a dry one, being the
third of a series of dry years, and yet
the Gage canal had all the water desired
for use of it's customers, and had several
artesdan wells, which were not uncapped
during the season, as the water was
not needed.
The Riverside valley has been visited
by several cold waves during the past
few years, and yet no damage to speak
of has resulted from the cold to orchards
under the Gage canal. There are 1000
acres of orange and lemon orchard un-
der that canal, which are now coming
into bearing, and which in Ave years
more will furnish as many thousand
cars of oranges and lemons annually to
the market-a reliable crop that will
never be damaged by frost.
The orchards under the Riverside
canals will swell this output to from
10000 to $4,000 carloads, as a good or
chard ought to furnish a carload Of fruit
to the acre, and many orchards are
yielding at that rate during this season
Of light crops.
IT'S NEWSPAPERS.
The newspapers Of Riverside have
kapt pace with other developments. The
Isoss was established in 1a7s BY J. 81.
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