Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01
oranges and lemons. figs and kindred semi

oranges and lemons. figs and kindred semi
tropical fruits. Oranges quickly became
one of the distinctive products of California.
enjoying wide marketing, much flattery and
plenty of profit.
In the central valleys the residents learned
to irrigate and to find artesian wells, evolv-
ing the Wright law defining riparian rights
as the mining period had evolved the ny
draulic and other mining laws. and produc-
ing wells flowing as high as 2,JOo.Uo0 gal
Ions of water daily. Here chiefly in the re-
gion now known as Fresno raisin-grow1nS
gradually developed, until, In combination
with other sections of the state, II has be-
come almost as conspicuous feature or
CALIFORNIA; products as wine and oranges.
the annual output running as high as 3d.
600 tons. to the almost incredible sum
of 100 200 600 pounds
Drying grapes for raisins was accom-
panied by drying prunes and picking olives,
and the picturesque and romantic aspect or
the state was added to by the fact that its
rolling hills were dotted with the tree whose
wreaths decked the brows Of vfctors in the
Roman and Grecian circuses. and whose
wood is sought memento Of the sacred
scenes upon the mount in Jerusalem. One
county alone puts out enough prunes to
feed a score Of states, while the general
product Of California Is gaining in celebrity
almost as rapidly as the raisins and the
wines.
In the foothills of the state where for
merly the hydraulic hose carried away acres
of rich. soil, all the deciduouS fruits were
found to acquire an exceptional sweetness
and lusciousness. In the meadow regions
of the high mountains on the fog-swept
banks Of the coast counties were the dairy
and vegetable farms. There fruits and the
vegetables were canned. The canning in
dustry became one Of the stable occupations
Of the people. BY the beginning of Its
fortieth year as state California easily led
America, II not the world, in the amount OF
horticultural output, as thirty years pre-
vtously 1t had led in the output of gold.
At the expiration of its forty-fifth year
including delicious
which formerly had been the exclusive pro-
duct of the Adriatic regions had settled
themselves upon the stands Of public mar
kets in all cities. At the close OF the fifueth
year-the end of the first half century-the
states output Of wines. vegetables and fruit
combined amounted to 5000 carloads an
nually. That would be enough to stretch
highway of peaches, brandy and canned
pears and other fruit from New York to
Buffalo. Furthermore, the fruit industry
had grown SO important as an economic
factor In the United States that the pro-
test of the Californans virtually defeated
the recently proposed reciprocity treaties
with France and Jamaica.
New Towns Started.
The exploiting Of the fruit industry COM
pleted the determination of the general
possibilities Of the state. 1t fixed its local
characteristics, gave towns and counties a
basis to work upon and rounded out the
maturity of the community. The interior
the midst of the prune belt, became rich
and lovely with homes and roses. Sacra-
mento. the state capital. lying almost at
the junction Of the two big rivers draining
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
became the fruit shipping center, well
as the railroad center. Stockton became
the center of the grain and melon district
and one Of the principal points Of trade with
the mountains. Los Angeles grew into a
sectional metropolis, with a dozen or more
thrifty cities surrounding it. Around San
Francisco, as it's population increased, the
adjacent cities acquired size. improved their
streets and assumed the position of home
and manufacturing cities. Oakland grew to
a population of 10000. One of the charac-
teristics Of all the towns was the liberality
Of their construction. The homes were sur
rounded with plenty Of garden room. The
streets were made wide. Modern improve
ments were introduced as rapidly they
could reach the coast. San Jose was among
the first cities of the country to use the
high electric arc light tower which was
popular not many years ago.