Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-30
FROM THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
cAIiFoRNIA's ATTRACTIONS FRoH THE
PEN or A FORMER vERNoNlTE.
Miss Louisa Bartholomew. Formerly of De Soto,
Tells Of Some Of the Advantages OF California Life
-Eaf New Home II Corning. f.surishing Col
ony-A Land Of Fruits, Flowers and Health.
CORNING. CAL, Jan. 2l, 1901

CORNING. CAL, Jan. 81 1901.
EDITOR CENSOR: Since I've been a
resident of Vernon county for about
thirty years, / Thought lew words de-
scribing Maywood colonies might be of
interest to my friends there and else
where.
CORNING. which is the name of the col
ony postoffice. is in Tehama county. on
the main line of the Southern Pacific
railway. running between San Francis
co and Portland. Oregon. 1t is ITO miles
north of Sacramento City and four miles
west of Sacramento river. The colony
lands, however, extend to the river The
| Sacramento valley is a fertile strip of
level land. situated on both sides of the
Sacramento river, and varying in width
| from 80 to 60 miles and about 100 miles
| long. 1t is bounded on che east by the
| Sierra Nevada mountains and on the
west by the Coast Range The little
| town of Corning is growing very rapid
| ly, and has doubled its population in
the past year. including the colonies
| The population of town and colonies is
| 800. Houses to rent are scarce and
hotels are crowded and many Of the
private homes are filled with boarders,
so that the people coming here are al
most obliged to build in order to find
/ accommodations New arrivals from
the east are still coming. The greater
number come during the months of
| October and November in order to avoid
the long cold winters of the east. Nor
is the building entirely confined TO dwell
| ing houses Churches and business
houses are being built. The town is
| lighted by electricity, and some have
put in electric motors for pumping wa
| ter TO use on the lawns and gardens dur
ing the dry season. The colony land is
| located around the town. of Corning
| Previous to the starting of the colony
ten years ago, ali of this land was a part
of great wheat farms. Now stretching
off in all directions can be seen rows of
vigorous fruit trees, while here and
| there among them are the cozy cottage
| of, perhaps, c1ntented colonists.
| Over II, 00U acres have been plated
| into ten-acre lots, and much of it is
| sold. Over 5000 acres are already set
to fruit, and $50 acres are to be planted
this winter. January February and
| March are the months for planting.
| There is an organization known as the
Maywood Colonies Fruit Association
! which makes a business of planting,
cultivating and pruning the orchards Of
non residents. They will also harvest,
dry and market, the fruit if desired.
! Many residents of this place also employ
them TO attend to their orchards. The
association shipped direct to Boston
| Mass, "a tons Of dried fruits and about
as many elsewhere. The colonists who
cared for their own fruit made ship
ments. The principal commercial fruits
grown here are apricots, prunes peaches,
pears and almonds Olive and orange
orchards are beginning to bear, and the
fruit is of fine quality. Oranges and
lemons require surface irrigation, and
pumping plants are put in for that pur.
pose Other fruits are not irrigated al
it is only from seven TO twelve feet TO
water, and the trees draw their moist
ure from below. Besides the fruits al
ready menti oned. grapes, nectarines,
figs, cherries, plums, early apples,
berries and all kinds of garden produce
are raised Among the ornamental
shrubbery we find the palm. date palm
pepper tree, umbrella tree, eucalyptus
and cypress. Flowers of all kinds are
raised The chrysanthemums were in
their beauty all fall until after Christ
mas / saw several rose bushes in bloom
on Thanksgiving.
There have been FIVE frosts, and on
the nights of December Both and 3ist
and January I'd it froze ice, but still
the grass is green. On the mountain
peaks the snow is visible the year round
During the night of the 10th of January
fully an inch of snow fell in the valley
which had not occurred for six years
The old settlers say that it will make
better crops and grazing On the foot
hills and insure later rains in the valley
the fall of snow being so much greater
on the mountains and foothills. The
rainfall has been much greater thi'
year than is usual at this time.
There is an abundance of wild gan
at this season of the year. Wild gees,
and ducks are here by the thousands
and to spend the winter too. There il
also good fishing for salmon in the river
About twenty miles west of here in th'
foothills, there are great many dee
and an occasional bear. The snow in th
mountains drives the deer down int
the foot hills for food
haywood colony is being settled al
most entirely BY fine class OF easterl
people, Judging by the way the churche
and Sunday schools are attended, aut
everything else which is calculated b
uplift and elevate humanity; and ! be
| lieve in a few years when all the OF
chards are matured it will be delight
full plac N which to live The genera
health seems to be very good. i hav
been here three months and have onl
, heard of two deaths. One was an age
lady.
If can be of any assistance to an
one wishing to know more about May
wood colonies, will do what | can.
Very truly,