Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-06-03
FROM THE LAND
OF ORANGES
An Augusta Man S Description of one
of the Great California Counties,
Its Principal Farm PrOduCts.--The
Orange Industry.--Beautiful Roads
Made af Petroleum, Etc.

Osu"Jo shNuo1J OOuNnios NoAS
Made af Petroleum, Etc.
Perris, California. May IA, 1904
Editor SPECTATOR:
1t has been a long time since | hav
written a letter to the dear old "SPEC
TATOE," but since have been in Gal
fornla now for several months and hav
acquired some knowledge and expert
ence of the ''far, wild and woody west
perhaps can give you a particular de
lscripiion of this part of the ''sun- kisset
land by the sea, ''-Calitornia.
| can scarcely tlatter myself that any
lthing that | may be able to write wi
be of sufficient interest for space con
Isnmed. The only excuse that l car
offer is that it will help fill the spac.
and thus save the editor.
l shall attempt, however, only te
speak of and within this (Riverside
county.
Riverside county was formed il
1898 from portions of San Bernardlno
county in the north, and San Diego
county In the south, and extends from
Orange county on the west to the Col
orado river On the east, distance OF
125 miles, and within its boundaries are
lands below the sea.level, while Mt.
San Jacin5o in the eastern portion OF
the county rears its rocky head II ZOO
fl. above the level of the sea.
This (Perris) Valley is an irregular
ly shaped triange whose average length
from north to south is about IS or 20
miles and to miles wide.
Spurs from the mountain range,
geographically speaking, surrounds
the valley On either side. The range
on the north and east being decidedly
higher.
The land of the valley is level and
known mesa, ("mesa means table in
Spanish.
The soil is an alkalied sandy Ioam
and very fertile, but too dry in sum-
mer for vegetation of any description
without irrigation.
Barley is the principal hay and grain
crop of southern Riverside county. The
barley crop will be very short this year
as the past winter was one of unusual
dryness.
Although Perris Valley, practically
speaking is, at this writing vast level
floor carpeted with beautiful verdant
barley. which for hay. will be ready to
cut in ten days, Casually the first week
in May.) The first crop of alfalfa of
this year has already been cut and dis
posed Of at $l1.50 per ton, delivered.
Six and seven crops of alfalfa are cut
in California each year, from one field.
So you see at $1,000 per ton there is
money in growing alfalfa. But it must
be irrigated and that is quite an ex-
pensive item. There is an abundance
of artesian water in this valley. On
this ranch is pumping plant. 1t
pumps about u inches of water and is
kept running almost constantly these
days 60 keep forty acres in vegetable
growing condition. Water is obtained
anywhere from depth of so to $50 it.
There is only one natural stream of
water in this valley and it is decided.
ly a wet weather stream as it is bottom
side up the greater part of the year.
Riverside, the metropolis of River
side county is conceded by many to
be one of the most beautiful little cities
in America. Its beauty would apply
to the Spanish name, 'Hermositto"
Qittle beauty. 1t is the ''evergreen
city" of the United States.
She is the home of California s great
est fruit prodnct-th the orange. Oranges
are everywhere is eminence-along the
street in the door yards and vast or
ange groves surrounding the city.
Riverside is the greatest orange
growing district in the world. THIS
years shipment is estimated to be s, 500
carloads of oranges. Not surpassed
by any year excepting the season of
1S99; 90 when 5,642 car loads was ship
ped.
There are some oranges grown in
Perris Valley along the foot hills to
the north.
1t is said the fruit here grown is free
from scale and the near by hills fur
nish protection to the fruit from frost.
For convenience fruit packing es
tablishment is located at Alessandro,
about seven miles from here. Here we
get Gull oranges by the wagon load as
they are a fine feed for hogs, 4
The public roads here are fine $50
days of the year.
The roads are level and smooth and
as the Oil wells around Los Angeles
furnish an abundance of cheap oil.
The principal or heavily travelled roads
are lavishly oil-sprinkled which dis
seminates and renders the roads dust
less and firm. The railroads are also
oil sprinkled and oil is used for fuel on
the locomotives in lien of coal as is the
cnstom back east-hence there is ne
cinders to.penetrate the eye and cause
a pain and a horrible nuisance.
/ am situated here on the Perril
boulevard which Is a lovely drive way
For twelve miles it is perfectly straigh
with ornamental shade trees planted
On either side.
On this beautiful high way two and
half miles from here is located the gov
ernment Kindergarten Indian schools
an institution for the training ant
teaching of the led skins of the south
west.
I wish that many Of my old Virgin
ia friends could partake of the man
Igood riders, l have on my bike on th
boulevard.