The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-20
IN THE VALLEY
Of Pine RA|S|NS.
-
Ell Cajon, Cal, Whose Product Is
World Famous, Will Soon
Gather Crop.
LAND OF GREAT PROSPERITY.
Independent, Resourceful Young
Women of the Ranches Are
a Sort Not Found
Elsewhere.

FL Cajon, Cal, Sept. 1e.-Wben people Of
the frozen East sit down to plum pudding
next Christmas there will undoubtedly be
Incorporated in the makeup of that de-
lightful dessert some of the raisins from
this charming valley of Ell Cajon. This
is the valley of the cluster in all its
glory. When one comes out from San
Diego to this garden of Southern Califor-
MIA, miniature locomotive attached to
day coach. divided into baggage car.
smoker and first class, brings you up the
hill through lemon groves and fruit or
chards, across the Hume that supplies San
Diego with water. and drops you into FL
Cajon. which, translated into English. is
Tho Box" AS you look out from the sta
tion platform you see how the place got
its name. Hills and mountains hem it i'll
1T is nine miles long and six wide-a YER
liable box
at this time OF year California is yell
low and brown, save for the orchards and
fields of alfalfa. The barley and oats are
harvested and all the way up the hills
the landscape is decidedly monoten0us in
color.
When you look out upon Ell Cajon it is
all different. To your left 500 acres of
raisin vines lie in one level square. In
front and to the right the lemon and Or
ailge trees have put on new growth. and
the small, green fruit viii be golden
globes by Thanksgiving time.
VALLEY is WORLD FAMOUS
1t is the grapes that have made E1 Ca
jon famous, and this little valley is noted
all over the world for its raisin product.
The harvest will begin early this year, and
Vrh A,ft,a To-,
number trying to capture The crop. 1t is
said that there is more money in raisins
than in any other crop California affords
If the prosperous appearance of the
ranches. the clouds OF dust raising after
Wintens and Packards and the hand
some turnouts seen everywhere are a
sign, then El Cajon Is a place TO live in
and raisinS are worth raising.
Most of the ranchhouses are far back
open to the traveller. and you wal find
Your warmest welcome. not at an inn,
but from the owner and his wife.
met ranchmaR'S wife the other even
ing who has the entre care of her. own
house. save the cooking; srle taxes care
Of the milk from the cows. and as a side
diversion raises turkeys. She had Just
come in on her pony from rounding them
up at night to protect them from Coyotes.
Tnere We're 565 young turkeys in the flock.
They will be ready Ior market al Thanks
giving. None viii weigh less than ten
pounds live weight. and mGst of them will
weigh sixteen pounds At 20 cents a
pound. which is the lowest price sne has
ever received. the money will at least fu,-
nist enough to buy her Christmas pres
ems.
- PICTURE OF RANCH Girl.
The California ranch girl is a type you
vii! fnd nowhere else in the world. A
16-pear-old girl in girls short skirt
and blouse can drive and ride any sort of
horse shoot a cotton tail RABBIT at l dare
not say how many yarus and dress Ii for
dinner before you can recover finn your
wonder. She can select and cut a water
melon tns0 exactly even pieces, which is
more than many girls can do oulsiie of
Georsia. She can put her evening gown IN
saudIe bag, rfde fifteen miles on f1o.s se-
back into Coronado with iler tatner, uarce
at the military ball and be home in the
morning for breakfast.