Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-15
DEAL IN LAND
PAVES WAY TO
GREATER STATE
TRACT SALE INVOLVES OVER
S1,000,000
WHOLE YUCAIPA VALLEY WILL
BE coLoNlZED
Building of City and Railroad Are to
Follow Purchase of Vast
Acreage Adjoining
Redlands

A real estate transaction involving
81 100000 actual expenditure and 1000
acres of the richest land in Southern
California, adjoining the great orange
groves of Redlands, was closed yester-
day by a syndicate of buyers and de-
velopers from Los Angeles, San Fran
cisco and Redlands. The land COM
prised in the sale includes the entire
Yucaipa valley and was sold in sew
eral parcels, making a total of some
$780, co., Added to this great outlay a
railroad from Redlands throughout the
valley, wherein will be established q
model colony and where a city will be
built The deal is one of the largest
ever consummated in California or the
world generally. and the scheme as
outlined is to add to the states wealth
another modern farming district
The land lies two and one-half miles
from Redlands and takes in all of the
Yucaipa valley. George w. Hopkins
had been at work two and one-half
years in getting the owners lined up
to the point where they would dispose
of their holdings before the last one
yielded to the buzz of the money bee.
The last frills of the transaction were
completed only yesterday and the syn
dicate now announces it is free to pro-
ceed with the gigantic undertaking.
Includes Dunlap Ranch
Included in the purchase is the Dun
lap ranch of about 1000 acres, selling
in cold cash for $336,000, and the Hough-
ton ranch of about 5000 acres, selling
for 100000. The remainder of the land
is represented in recent purchases of
NJ. n. Newmark ]. NJ. Neeland and q.
A. Atwood, these three men being the
principals in the syndicate.
The syndicate will construct and
operate an electric railroad from Red
lands to Yucaipa City townsite, dis
tance of nine miles, with a branch to
Oak Glen, on the summit of the hills,
which is reputed to be a splendid apple
country. Eventually the road will be
extended south from Yucaipa City to
San Jacinto and Hemit, there connect
ing with the proposed network of rail-
roads planned for the near future
through San Diego county. These sec
tions will then be in direct communica-
tion by rail with Redlands through the
Yucaipa valley.
The Yucaipa valley has been under
cultivation for forty years, the prin-
cipal crops being alfalfa, hay, cherries
and other deciduous fruits. The lands
have been held at a high figure, fact
borne out by recent sales of parcels ad-
joining those acquired by the Yucaipa
valley colony, headed by George w.
Hopkins.
$50 Acres for $42,5oo
One of these sales was of $50 acres to
c. L. Hanson of Los Angeles and
Charles Searle of San Francisco for
$42 500 The purchasers will plant 400
of these acres to apples, creating there
by the largest orchard in Southern Cal
ifornia. They have already begun ope-
ration by developing artesian wells and
springs.
In developing the Yucaipa valley
there will be beside the land company
a railroad company and water COM
pany. The water company is now be-
ing organized. This company will own
the water system of the valley. There
has already been developed nearly 600
miners inches of water from springs
and flowing wells.
These water facilities are already
furnishing Redlands with 100 inches for
irrigation purposes. The water com
pany will continue developments and
will install a system of storage reser-
voirs in the mountains above the valley
to conserve the storm waters Of the
rainy season.
The valley is located at the base of
the San Bernardino range. The rain
fall on the watershed runs from forty
five to seventy inches.
Redlands Capitalists Invest
Several Redlands capitalists have al
ready joined the syndicate. Mr.. Nee
land, who is associated with Mr.. New
mark, is president of the Bank of
Southern California and was the
builder of the Pan-American railroad
of Mexico.
Mr.. Hopkins, who is the moving spirit
back of the colonization scheme, before
engaging in the present undertaking
was in the colonization business
throughout the Sacramento and San
Joaquin valleys for twenty-three years.
He says that of all the properties he
has ever seen or handled the Yucaipa
valley proposition is by far the best FOR
colonization.
About one-third of the valley, that
which lies nearest Redlands is ideal
for oranges. The upper portion of the
valley is especially adapted TO apples,
cherries grapes and all deciduOus fruits.
The remainder Of the valley is best
suited for farm crops, especially al
falfa.
A remarkable feature of the Yucaipa
valley is that six crops Of alfalfa can
be grown yearly without irrigation,
proving that water Is near the surface,