News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1911-04-26
Letter From California
CLOVIS, Cal, Apr. II


quiries from friends about conditions
here, gave the price of raw land, water
rights, and as nearly as could find out,
the average yield per acre of dried rails
ins, at that time 21a cents per pound.
Later the packers having most of the
crop in their hands, in order to unload,
raised the price. Then Mr.. Dexter with
whom am not acquainted but whom
have SEEM wrote you giving the price as
31a to cents per pound, taking advan-
tage of the momentary rise to make it
appear that was wilfully misrepresent-
ing things. Two and one half was the
ruling price last year, although some got
more later in the season.
1t looks now as though the price might
be Az or more for this years crop which
will mean prosperity to the raisin grow.
ers who have been having rather hard
time, but no one can tell until the crop is
delivered.
l had written the cost of a water right
for the land as being ten dollars per acre
with a yearly maintenance tax of 6312
per acre; he wrote in his first letter,
printed Sept. ID of last year, that water
rights were $3.50 per acre, and gave the
yearly tax the same as | did. Next, l
sent letter from the Fresno Canal & IT.
rigating Co., giving the price as ten dol
lars per acre. Mr.. Dexter then, g because
his friends read your paper" wrote again
that my statement was misleading; that
the water rights are from five dollars to
ten dollars per acre, and that the COM
pany can no more increase its rates than
l can and says he paid five dollars for the
water right on his land. Why did he not
say so in his first letter instead of giving
| the price as $3.50? 1t matters not only
to show how his statements agree, or
rather, disagree. In times past the wa
| ter right company, to help the largeland
| owners, sold the right as low as five dol
| lars. The H. G. Dewitt Land Co. bought
! their land at that time at a low price
and now are selling at high prices. MIR.
Dexter bought his land otthe Dewitt Co.
| understand. What has been done in the
past is not now; that's pretty small
hole to crawl out of-must have scratch
ed his back.
The water right has a lien on all lands
which have obtained the right and do
not suppose the price of water right on
those lands is subjec to change, although
the land can be sold for non. payment of
the water tax. Mr.. Dexter sent you a
letter from the water company saying
the rights had been in the past sold as
low as five dollars, but owing to increas-
ed value had been raised to ten dollars
per acre. How could they raise the price
in the face ofDexter's saying They could
not?" Odd, is it not? can learn ofno
water rights as low as five dollars.
did not mention the cost in the way of
kicking; the price here is the lowest
have heard of anywhere and very good
system it is.
Dexter tells what some ofhis neighbors
have done. By the tone of his letter one
would think that the large returns were
from dried raisins, for my letter had been
about the raisins; not having learned |
about the green fruit have kept still on
that point. Will Shearer has a very fine
vineyard of Malaga grapes which were
shipped East fresh. or green. as it is call
ed here. Green fruit sold well last year.
A neighbor told ME that three years ago
many shippers did not realize enough to
pay freight and commission fee, let alone
pay for their work.
Dexter also says Lloyd and Harlow
sold 5000 from a ten acre ranch, besides
providing living tor six adults. They
have sandy soil and plenty of water.
They raise small fruit and nearly all kinds
OF garden truck They have bet ween 200
and 300 hens, some turkeys and ducks,
and % hogs, all raised on the ranch.
About three weeks ago Mr.. Harlow told
me they had 800 baby chicks and the in
cubator filled again. They live on the
ranch and own and run a grocery store.
They market their products over their
own counter at retail prices; you will S
their advertisement in the paper which |
am sending you, so you can see am not
clubbing, as Dexter calls it. | know of
the others whom he mentions, but moth
ing about their affairs, only this-his nam
ing them as the type of the average
rancher here is good deal like my nam
ing I. +. Smith of Morrisvile as a type
Of the average Vermont farmer. He SAYS
anyone can raise all kinds of garden
ruck here; they can on the right kind of
'oll, not the hard clay soil, but most
people do not.
For some reason he hated to have his
riends read my letters, and has seemed
o resent them. Why He seems to think
ne a great "quibbler' and himselfa great
nan. Where ignorance is bliss tbs folly
o be wise" He says if l fix thing up,
ulDDle uIlHtr, ne WlllCOnSlueT me De.
cath his notice How lofty, poor me
should not have replied to him but for I
he EDITORS invitation to get together
nd agree on the facts" As Dexter has
ad to acknowledge that the present ,
rice of water rights is ten dollars, which
e had contradicted, we seem to have
greed on that point. He seems to be so
fraid his friends will believe my state
1ents. If some of them should come out
ere l think my account of conditions 7
would be proved true. Would be glad to {
ave you come out and judge tor your G
elves. Apple trees are in bloom, peach,
ear and plum are through blooming. .
ONE farmers are cutting their first crop
f alfafa hay. Roses and Gala lilies are
looming out of doors and grape vines '
re budding and leaving out. Now don't
GU want to come where it is warmer
han in old Vermont and healthy, too?
One reason why so many are dissatis. I
ed when first coming here to live is that
he stories told of the returns from land d
nd the ease and cheapness of living here n
lduces many a person who when he 2
ONES finds there is hard work and adj =
antages here as elsewhere. The East
ffers cheaper land, nearer markets. and,
D an Eastern persOn conditions with