The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-03
Agriculture
and
Horticulture.

California and the PACING coast
States are noted for their WONDERFUL
prcductiveness in agricultural ana nor
iticultural products. The following
items will be interesting to all VINO care
to know what is going on in the great
growing regions of the West:
A STRIKE OF GAS.
Cordelia X-Ray: AS we go to press
this morning we learn that a flow OF
gas, was struck last evening Thursday
about ) O'Clock at the Page tract be-
low Cordeiia. where operations Tor DOR
ing fer Gil are being carried on, and an
hour later salt water was discovered
The depth at present reached is about
4G0 feet.
F. de Miranda. who is interested in
the enterprise. was in Cordelia this
morning and was interviewed by the
..X-Ray." He informs us he is more
than pleased with the result thus far
and that the flow of gas last evening
was immense. He says that the dis
covery of salt water is fine indlca-
ton. and without doubt ere long pc
troleum will be found in inexhaustible
quantities He has requested us to
kindly ask those who visit the place
to please refrain from smoking, for al
though there has been casing placed in
the well, there is still certain amount
of gas escaping.
A BIG CROP.
Downey Champion: We are credit
ably informed that the vast fields OF
grain and alfalfa, with the extensive
orchards, lying south and east of Pasa-
-dena are NEST promising. The damp
cool nights, with heavy fogs prevail
ing insure more than the usual yield
GOVERNMENT WANTS FACTS.
Ventura Free Press: John Hyde,
statistician of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, reports that
a plan is in preparation for the utiliza-
ton of the services of United States
Consuls in foreign countries in the
matter of reporting periodically upon
the condition and prospects of the
crops in the countries of their consul
ate Such a plan, if carried into exc
cution, would be of great value to Cali
fornia fruit growers by providing them
with reliable information in regard to
the probable market for their prod
ucts and the kind of fruit that is likely
to be most in demand There being no
would give a more unbiased and valu-
able opinion than any agent sent out
by firms seeking information. Too
often these men are looking for a
chance to do a little business on their
own account and impartial reports can
not always be obtained We hope that
the efforts of the Agricultural Depart
ment and the Secretary of State will
be sufficient to arrange the matter sat
isfactorily.
SANTA BARBARA STONE.
Santa Barbara Press: Chicago
capitalist and prospective resident OF
Santa Barbara. who has been looking
over the city and it's suburbs during the
past few days, remarked to a Press
reporter yesterday the change that had
recently taken place, particularly in
Montecito. in the sentiment among
home builders as to the most suit
able material for use in the construc-
ton of substantial buildings.
Il am glad to see that Chicago en-
terprise and capital have set such a
worthy example TO Others, said the
Ghicagoan, in commenting upon Mrs.
McCcrmickS fine stone residence. The
erection of such a house. barn, wall
and lodge entirely of stone. is not only
in very good taste, but it shows de-
sire to make improvements of a sub
stantial nature, and to use a natural
material. 1 am sorry to see that some
of the Montecito people have a leaning
to staff, and it is unfortunate that such
splendid places cannot be preserved in
all their original artistic beauty and
stateliness. Mrs. Mccormick must
have profited. by her Chicago expert
ence with the Worlds Fair buildings,
one of the largest items of expense in
the reports being repairs.
Beautiful native stone can be had
in abundance almost for the hauling,
and the use of it serves two purposes
the second being the clearing away of
unseemly boulders. Mrs. Mccormick $
place, when finished all in stone, will
recall to mind the celebrated castles OF
Europe which have stood for hundreds
Of years as monuments to the names
and the foresight of their builders
Nowadays there is too much living
from year to year-from hand to mouth
l might say. A temporary building
costing nearly as much as a perma-
nent one may serve its purpose during
the greater part of an average life
time, but it decreases in value as the
years go by. On the other hand a
structure built entirely of good stone
such as you have here for the taking
will survive age, fire and the elements
and be worth more 300 years hence
than it is to-day People of means
particularly, should build for the future
as well as for the present"
ORANGE CULTURE.
Oroville Mercury: There are very
few people living in country who
realize the advantages for making
money presented at their very doors
the people of Southern California found
this out The original settlers sold thel.
property cheaply, the Eastern tender
foot" came in, bought and found h5
had a good thing, brought his friend.
and they bought; then they raised III,
good thing and knew it. They sell or
ange groves in that section to-day fol
from 81 600 per acre up; $1,000, ever