The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-02-01
Letter from California.

IL I1DiloN VI oOoAsA>TaA1'
see that my last letter was dated Nov.
IA, 1916 Then the smoke of battle was
clearing away and we thought some
mornings that Wilson was elected anc
the next morning that Hughes was the
winner. Well, we big lnjun California
elected Democratic President and Gov,
Hiram johnson, U. S. Senator by 29O,
600 majority. There are yet many diff
ferent opinions as to the State giving a
Democratic majority for president and
such an overwhelming vote for Johnson.
My opinion is the same as on Nov. 18th,
and more so, that the standpatters were
dead sure the golden plums were theirs
and they desired to rebuke Johnson's
Progressives. Surely Gen. Otis & Co..
have learned a lesson that will last them
four years at least
l think your readers will enjoy real
Southern California letter. as so many of
you cannot be here to enjoy this beauti-
full climate and scenery. First, let me
say am no California booster. We only
own 20 acres of land in Antelope Valley,
IS miles north of Los Angeles. Four
years ago l could buy there for S. per
acre. Now | can sell for $50 per acre.
In 10 years it will be worth 1000 per
acre. have 16 acres in Bartlett pears.
A twelve years old pear orchard recently
sold for S23, 900 cash We have the largest
orange crop ever known here. Now
what | am to tell you IS as near truth as
possible to tell. In 1890, Mr.. Porter,
who established the Porter Fruit Co.
shipped the first car of oranges from
California to New York city and
ent estimate is that so, coo cars will be
shippedsfrom the 1916 crop, worth $780,,
OO0 600. In my twelve yeGrs have never
behed such a sight. 4 banker at Azusa
picked 80 boxes from one tree and had a
twenty foot ladder to pick this luscious
fruit A gentleman who owns acres at
Glendora told me SIS, 500 was this years
receipts Now you ask me is orange
growing profitable business? 1t is a
good deal like gold mining-two dollars
spent TO get one back. Orange groves
in past years have deprecated in many
localities SO per cent. For several sea-
sons oranges have been frosted and the
past 3 weeks for night after night the
thermometer has been as low as % to rs
above. Smudge pots have saved the
crop in low lands. Twelve car loads ar
rived in New York already frost touched
which gave the market low prices. Per-
haps you have read or heard of Lucky
Baldwin who died a few years ago ard
lett an estate valued at $50, 900, 900.
understand he was one Of the forty miners
who came in search of gold and was sue
cessfu. Some time in the sos he wandered
across the mountains into Southern Cali
fornia and bought a Spanish grant of
land, and about 80, 900 acres yet belong to
the Baldwin heirs. The city of Mon
rovia was part of this ranch and the
village of Arcadia was part Of it. There
is no better land In Los Angeles county.
1t is now covered with orange, peach
and olive groves. Thousands of acres are
in alfalfa and there are immense herds of
cattle, sheep and horses. One of the
daughters lives in 500. 900 mansion
The Pacific Electric railroad runs across
this land east and west. Pasadena is
constantly growing toward the ranch
and no doubt it will soon be annexed to
Pasadena, city Of 60, 600 population.
At present | am living or the foot
hills, H. 500 foot elevation, with Mt Will /
sor, 5000 feet altitude, just above US. |
The great Carnegie telescope, the larg-
est in the world, and the big hotel, are
plainly seen from our house. The past |
week snow u inches deep was on the
summit. Before me | see the great San (
Gabriel valley, said to have 40, 900 bear .
ing orange trees, and IN the far distance
we see the Whittier hills and the great .
walnut groves. AT this season of year
this country looks its best Rains have
watered the mountains and they are a
carpet of green. The grain crops are
now well along, with fine prospect for a
good yield. Olives are fast becoming
one of the great leading industries. The
State Board of Agriculture reports 1884,
939 bearing trees, and SOL, 221 non-bear-
ing. The 1915 crop averaged S62 per
acre, and the records show 1892, PTS gal
Ions of olives, worth 81, 607 9G3, and g.
12O. 967 gallons of olive oil for table use,
worth So, 225, 900, was imported into this
country from France and Italy. San
Fernando valley has the largest olive
orchard IN the world. Olive orchards in
Italy are known to be 1000 years old
and yield crop every year. The first
trees in California were brought from
Spain by the Spanish Padres, who land
ed at San Diego They built "a Missions
from San Diego to San Francisco. These
olive trees were planted at Santa Bar
bara Mission about l20 years ago.
Maine has had her part in settling and
i,oprovi,o asneciallv in nc Appoloc