Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

north of Los Angeles on the main
~ valley line of the Southern Pa
cific railroad from that city to San
Francisco. 1t is near the head of great
San Fernando valley, 1868 feet above
sea level. Mountains rise to the north
and east, while in the opposite direc-
ton the valley stretches away, rich In
vast grain ranches, far as the eye can
reach to the Santa Susanna mountains
beyond Chatsworth.
A little over one hundred years ago
the mission fathers selected the upper
end of the San Fernando valley as the
most desirable spot in which to locate
a mission. Before them lay the en-
tire valley of about 100000 acres. They
controlled the situation, and chose Tor
their new undertaking the LOCALITY
where the town of San Fernando now
stands Here they planted orcharus'
vineyards and palms, and erected enor
nous compound of adobe buildings ana
here grew up the third richest mission
on the coast. Some of the buildings
remain In a fair state of preservation,
many are traced only in interesting
ruins. Four or five giant palms sun
lift their green crowns to heaven, nu-
merous olive trees still live and thrive
after over one hundred years OF con-
tinuous bearing, and Seeding orange
trees of unknown age still bloom year
lv and bear heavy crops. The wisdom
of the padres has been demonstrated
and San Fernando has shown that sne
can produce as good oranges anu
lemons. vegetables and fruits, hay and
grain as can be grown in Southern
California.
Owens River Water Supply
On June 70. 1907, the city of Los
Angeles voted 500, 900, 900 for the stupen-
dous task of bringing down from the
stones of Mount Whitney, 24O miles
distant. the water of the owens river
about 40 900 inches. All along the con-
duit system will be great storage Teser-
voirs. and the last of these Will pe
located near the head OF the san ~
nando valley, some two miles horln-
west of san Fernando, thriving town
of 20O0 inhabitants, and large, nearby
rural population. The city OF Los An
qeles has already bought some l4OO
acres for the site of this reservoir,
which will have capacity OF lo'VVo
acre-feet of water. The value OF TINS
s,raat undertaking is inestimable not
only to Los Angeles, but 10 al the
adjacent country, and especially TO
that portion lying along the route Oh
the canal.
At the northern end of the valley the
water will be turned into the Pacoina
canyon, which opens INTO TIT NohSy
inst above San Fernando. The main
electrical plant, with the power of
12OO-foot fall, will be located at TINS
point. The electrical energy of TINS
and other prospective plants will De
one of the great incentives to manu-
featuring enterprises, and will serve
to bring out and develop the unlimited
resources of the section still further
The owens river project has attracted
widespread attention to the valley or
san Fernando; in fact. a steady growth
has already set in because of 1t.
The San Fernando board OF trade
have been and are in communication
with a number of firms who desire TO
establish factories near the source OF
such contemplated electric power
which doubtless will be owned and
controlled by the city of Los Angeles
Realizing how much hearty CO.
operation between the people OF San
Fernando and the city of Los Angeles
will mean in the upbuilding of their