Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22
VENTURA CAPITAL OF GREA BEAN COUNTY in THE WORLD

NtHluId COunlys ~ thA@Ns - -
have started when the Catholic mission
church, which is still one of the features
OF the place and used for service. was
founded by the Catholic fathers who were
sent out from Mexico by Spain over
century ago. In founding these missions
the padres or fathers, were first on the
field and, of course, had choice OF loca-
tions That they invariably chose wisely
ia plain, for the missions today snow
most advantageous surroundings. Feap-
ures to be sought for were location for
the buildings and the natural advantages
offered by the surrounding country.
The priests found much to attract them
in choosing the site for San Buenaven-
tura mission, about which the present
pretty little city has grown up. Tne
town contains about 5000 people and Is
located upon gentle and narrow slope
of land extending from the foothilis IN
its rear down to the sea, a distance Oh
perhaps a quarter of q mile. The slope
to the sea gives the town its splendid
drainage and it's sanitary conditions are
aided by fine system OF sewage. put
in a few years ago at cost OF some
sac. 900. The system was added to rnateri-
ally the past year. so that 1t ID now as
complete as that of any town OF It's SIZE
on the coast.
Water and Light
Ventura has fine electric light plant
which furnishes light at reasonable
figure. Recently natural gas flelds two
miles north of town were uncovered ana
Thoroughly exploited and plant erect
ed which pipes the gas to consumers,
while It ia of an excellent quality and Is
used for Illuminating, its chief use is LOT
fuel The townspeople generally are tnrn-
ing their attention to 1t for cooking puf-
poses. Ventura is a we'll watered Town
better. perhaps than any other OF the
Southern California towns. It's supply Is
taken from the Ventura river, whicn
skirts the town on the west, where IL
enters the sea. The river is a swift-runf
ming mountain stream with It's source an
the high mountain ranges in the nortn
end of the county.
Ventura is modern with many beautlIul
residences and good substantial. business
blocks. 1t is on the main coast line OF
the Southern Pacific railroad, wniie
st.,.noers running between San francisco
and Los Angeles touch at It's wharf sew
eyal times each week for freight anu
nassaneers. The town boasts tnree
tanks. seven churches, two flne grammar
school buildings, a free public Siprary OF
ever 5000 volumes. It's union high scnool
is in excellent standing with tne S.a's
university at Berkeley and with stanloru s7a
university and enrolled last year i'V
pupils. ,a s.a-
hathing IS popular feature In the sea-
son, THE climate of the place is Oh tne
hest furnished by Southern California, the
1.rd noted for it's SURPRISING weather
A. th;s particular point, where the lano
hueeze meets that from on the ocean, tno
climate at all times is equao.e ana p.eas
ant. The section is entirely 1ree ifo'"
malaria. .,,o ~
z,.;cT get out daily editions. 1t boasts
q 1ne class of people. For the man
eaalsinp a place to make his nome ven
t,,ra furnishes many advantages, outsloe
tho.a with which nature has oeen iaViei,
IT, has the climate-neither hot nor coio
and picturesque surrounolngs. n..a
n are pileo the mountains pieloeo ne.
and there with pretty vansss % tha
rugged canyons. while peIore as,,a ,,or-
broad Pacific, or rather that plac,u ~.
4io,s ~ n known as the Santa barpaIa
.harnal while off the coast lies the cnain
~ channel islands, twenty miles a"ay,
,rhicb keen out the rougher sea anu
winds from the west. x,,.s .
No visitor to California shouo m'ss
visit to ventura-by-the-Sea'
Features OF the County
v,o,+rra county, though one OF tne
sr,aliest in the state, Is ricn III ha'o'''
resources. .na nroducts
q gs doubtful If It is equaleo DS aA'
other section Of the globe. .,hs
Tt e. we'll supplied with timber.
iSs;ar stone of O. fine quaiity
.hounds and is already an article u
export. .,,lrable product
.nd is distributed over q. large pai
of its domain. ,r,a plentiful,
Asphaltum is, of course, pieHeS so,,uS
and a good article OF aspestoe 40
in pIaces; also cement. .ra
i' Gnid silver, lead, nickel and iron are
found. ,< .+be latter
4. anvndance--is found; as IS water
heavily charged with sulphate OF mus
nesia. y.a,. rubter.
,ac,'st naIm. and other varieties OF
treas both useful and ornamental are
cultivated and grow luxurianuy.
Ventura produces more lima peahs
49, anv other place of its size In the
world. and they are OF the nnese 9ua
itv They are one OF the pricipai e~-
ports of the county -,avos
oranges. lemons, lines loquats' guaVas'
or,eios. prunes, >apricots, nectarines'
ches. plums, apples, cherries, pome,
sSranates. pears, figs and ounces are an
cultivated here and all bear plentnuiiy'
nroducing the most delicious fruits
About every edible and delicious perry
Nourishes, yet strangely enough but rev
of them are Indigenous to the iocailly.
Hovvever, it is favoring peculiarity Oh
Southern California soil that everything
mt into it grows and fiourishes, no mat
ter of what country it is native.
Enslish walnuts, almonds, chestnuts,
nean,lts. and few nuts of other varieties
are numbered with the profitable crops OF
Ventura orchardjsts. -
Gardens, vineyards, alfalfa, barley,
wheat. corn and potato fields form ricn
background to the wealth OF fruits per
rjas. nuts, olives. ETC., which delight the
eve and charm the sense of tho visitor 10
the county.
Beet Sugar Plant
Tho city of Oxnard is the home OF
Henry n. oxnard, the millionaire presi7
dent of the American Beet Sugar COM
many and the founder of the beet sugar
factory, which has built up an industry
that has made the city OF oxnard possi-
BILE as we'll as prosperous. In Factory,
machinery and lands over S4OOO,OOO has
s... ,,,xyastad During the short career OF