The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-13

CHONCH|LLA A
RANCH ON
MARKET
Local People to Subdivide
10000 Acres in Merced
?, and MADEIRA Counties

anu MdueFd C0uHieS
The consummation of big real es-
tate deal this week calls to the at
tention of the public the eminence
OF the San Joaquin valley. The deal
in question concerns the famous
Chowehilla ranch, which has long
been considered the finest plum in the
valley by real estate operators This
ranch, Jos. 10000 acres In extent. has
been taken over by Slime & Kendrick.
local real estate operators. who will
be in a position to offer this property
to settlers Immediately after the first
OF the year.
Lying in the heart OF the San Joa-
quin valley. the Chowchilla ranch is
level ae a table and as fertile ss sny
soil to be found in this vast empire.
The fertility of the rich, deep sandy
loam has been .exhilarated during the
last so years TO a great extent by pas
tursge which works as a great slim
ulus on the most fertile OF soils. The
fact that 80 per cent OF the ranch has
never been under the plow is a strong
argument TO the land purchaser for its
yirginity and strength.
The California Pastoral and Agri-
cultural company, with offices in Edin-
burgh, Eeotland, purchased this prop
erty in 1882, from which time until
recently they operated II successfully
as g.. stock ranch, when the new own
ers acquired IL. The tract changed
hands only twice during the period
from 1858 to 1882 The second pur-
chase was that made by the Scotch
capitalists. who operated the stock
ranch. 1t is stated that the recent
sale was made to satisfy the heirs of
many. OF the former holders in this
company. as several deaths have oc-
CURED.
IN TWO COUNTIES
About evenly divided between Mer-
ced and MADEIRA counties. the Chow
chilla ranch is located in the heart
OF the greatest dairy and agricultural
district In California At the annual
state fair of 1911 this section won the
first prize for the best display of ag-
rfcultural products, while Is other
awards were given. Included in the
products which were listed under the
frst price were figs. sweet potatoes.
dried peaches dried nectarines.
grapes, cantaloupes. corn on stalk,
barley white rye and almonds. This
list gives the layman an idea of the
wonderful diversity of crops that are
raised under the best of conditions in
this section. Under development the
Chowchilla ranch will produce any of
the above products equally as well.
az it is surrounded on all sides by
developed country from which these
exhibits were taken
A factor that proves an important
item in the production of crops in the
vicinity OF the tract is the equitable
climate which is enjoyed in this sec
tion Of the valley. The average tenn
perature, which Is 6s degrees. with
summer heat at the right time of the
year. natures the crops at the proper
period of the season 10 produce the
best results.
Notwithstanding the fact that va
rious crops thrive at Chowchiila. ii
Is the primary idea of Slime & Ken
drick to make this property one Of
the greatest dairy land projects in the
state. It is already popular as a
great dairying country and owing to
the attractive prices realized from
dairy products they consider this the
most feasible proposition for the set
tier. Alfalfa. which is the mainstay
in the dairying business, grows lusti-
ly wherever 1t can get water and con-
sidering that an ample supply can be
got from wells any place bore is
made, the practicabiltty of the indus
try is realized.
GOOD FOR ALFALFA
Regarding the production of alfalfa.
II is well to mention that a field com
prising 1000 acres of this forage is
growing on the tract This field,
planted II years ago, is still a re-
markable stand. Notwithstanding the
fact that It has been constantly pas
tured during this entire period.
better illustration of the hardness
and growth, Of this crop would be
hard to obtain.
Particularly interesting is the water
situation at Chowchilla- At the pres
ent time there are 33 artesian wells
on the property, each flowing an i'm
mense volume of water These wells
have been giving up this remarkable
flow for the last so years, showing
no diminution during this period.
There IS a. subterranean flow beneath
every acre which makes II possible
10 get these results. The wells were
bored to get water for stock which
was pasturing on the land at that
time.
Upon the immediate completion of
the sale OF the Scotch capitalfsts TO
the new owners of the property de-
veiopment~ work on a big scale was
started with the result that many big
improvements have been completed.
Included among the activities of the
construction department is the build
ing and completion of IL mile ma
cadamized boulevard which has been
parked and beautified by ornamental
trees and shFubbery. The townsite of
Chowchilia. situated at the junction
of the Southern Pacific railroad and
the Chowchilla Electric railroad.
which IS now under construction. is
already a thriving community. Two
hotels. bank and a score OF other
structures grace the business section.
while the residential district shows
evidence of new growth every week
As many as three homes have been
put under construction in this dis
trict in one we@k
PROPER RESTRICTIONS
In the planning of the townsite
every provision was made to make
this an ideal community with proper
improvements and restrictions to In
sure the carrying out OF this idea.
Macadamized streets. a water system
and other public service utilities are
installed and included in the purchase
price OF sites in the property A log
zeal business restriction regarding
the character of Improvement and the
distance from the property line is en-
forced.
The acquisition Of the Chowchilla
ranch puts Stine & Kendrick in
control of upward of ITS, 900 acres of
California land. This vast area is all
under subdivision. and when 1T is colo