The Newtown bee., 1904-04-01
Redlands, March 19, 1904.


 five nights of continuous travel across the continent, the last day of which was across the Arizona desert where we had seen but little growth except the knarled branches of the mesquite and the slender pillar of the cactus, to be devoid of verdure and tanned to dark brown by the sunshine of cen- turies. What wonder then, that when I looked out of my window the. follow ing morning to get my first glimpse of Redlands, l was speeches., for to me it was the most beautiful sight l ever set eyes upon. No painters brush can portray it, no gifted author can ade- quately describe it. It must be seen to be fully appreciated. Beautiful Redlands! Twenty years ago desert waste of sage brush, greasewood and cactus, now model city of homes, making steady, substantial and per- manent progress, with nothing of the "boom" nature, but healthy growth, that already gives it the we'll deserved reputation of being one of the best in- terior towns in Southern California Eighty miles inland from the ocean, it on all sides except the west by range of mountains whose highest peaks are for nine months in the year covered snow. Its pure sweet air is instinct with the breath of life, where the in- valid if not too far gone at the outset, is restored to new vigor and life. Upon the west, the valley lies open to Los Angeles and the Sea and is traversed by both the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads. while upon the south there is an abrupt descent into the San TimeteO canyon, a narrow Southern Pacific railroad passes to Yuma and New Orleans. Beyond the mountains are the deserts, the Cobra do on the southeast, and the MOjave on the north and east, while still far ther to the northeast lies "Death val ley," barren, waterless, treeleSS waste, that is almost certain death to any one who attempts to cross it's tor rid plains. In the great mountain range that almost closes in Redlands from the outside world, are four peaks that tower high above all the rest. On the northwest is rugged San Antonio, 10, l42 feet, on the northeast the giant peaks of San Bernardino, II, 800 feet, and San Gorgonio, 12,6oo feet, and on the southeast San Jacinto, most ma jestic of them all, lifts it's snow-clad peaks skyward 10000 feet above sea level.
 The city of Redlands, nestling in a beautiful valley, is now, and is to be- come more and more so as time goes on, a city of beautiful homes. Its semi-tropical climate, it's wonderful irrigation facilities, the high charac- ter of it's people drawn largely from the New England and Central states, it's schools that compare favorably with those of any city east or north universal public spirit of it's citizens, all have tendency to make it attract i've to the home-Seeker coming from the East. Outside of the business cen ter that covers perhaps one mile square, every foot of land almost, aside from the well-kept lawn in front of every house, is one vast orange orchard. Here, the measure of value is not area, but in productive capacity, and 20 acres will equal 100 or more as we farm 1t in Newtown. Intensive cultivation is inseparablY related to irrigation, and irrigated farms here range from one to 40 acres. Where once this plain was similar to the stretch of desert the trans-continental traveller sees in pass ing through Arizona, sheep pasture of very inferior quality, nothing more attractive than sage brush, mesquite and short-lived crop of wild flowers, there are orchards that represent all the choicest varieties of citrus fruit cultivated with the highest skill, with homes and avenues among the most beautiful in the world. Here, water is gold, and thing so dearly obtained is not to be carelessly wasted. It is sought for through mountain tunnels, arteSian wells, vast reservoirs are built in mountain canyons which receive the melting snows that gather on noun tain peaks to be gradually melted by the mid-summer's sun, as we'll as to receive the vast quantities that run rainy season. As we read in the Bible story, that river went out of Eden to water the Garden, so here the rivers of ter flow out of, and down from these mighty mountain peaks, to water this vast ga1den of Redlands and make the once desert waste to blossom with all varieties of flowers and to bea1 luscious frUitage of oranges and other semi-tropical fruits in luxurious pro- fusion.
 This great western America. o1 which Redlands is part, is the goodlJ heritage of our people and the build sured fact, the development of Alaska Russia's trans continental railwa. across Siberia's s vast plains to ASiati' shores, together with the fact tha our government is taking hold of thu problem of irrigating the arid plain of the great West, are all importan
 factors in the rapid settlement of ou
 western country. l predict the chilt is now living in our town who will SCI the larger part of our population livinl west of the Mississippi. We have al
 ready passed through three remark able eras of civilization, along thu Atlantic seaboard, in the interior iron
 the great lakes to the Gulf, and in tn
 of empire" westward makes it's way
 I have talked with ranchmen here wh
 are well up in orange growing, and thu
 universal testimony is that the beS groves yield from $500 to S40O gross al
 acre. This year is an off year witt
 them, owing to the extreme col
 weather in the East and the enormou
 crop, which is record breaker. Ol
 ange bearing groves rapidly comman
 from $500 to $500 per acre, accordin
 to locality. The time is soon comin
 when the land in city limits will be i
 such demand for building purpose
 that it will be snapped up at enormou , values. 1t is good place for an Eas1 fn invest in ra9I Q! , tate. Unbroken land lying on tn suhurhS of RedlandS still covered wit.