The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-03-16
MORE DESCRIPTIONS
OF SUNNY SOUTH
(RY A. D. Noel


= Holtville, Calf, March 6, 922.
y Before leaving San Diego county we
visited the Chulao Vista lemon district
on the way to Tia Juana. There are
1900 acres of lemons in that section,
bearing from 500 to 600 boxes per acre,
The irrigation water is metered, cost
ing five cents per 100 cubic feet, or
about $40 per acre a year for the aver
age amount used. The cost of grow
ing the crop is 81 to 81 25 box deliv-
cred to the packing house, and the
packing house charges are about 81
per box more for washing, sorting,
packing, boxing, and marketing the
fruit. Practically all the fruit is
handled through cooperative associa-
tion, and all packed at the large pack
ing houses. On account of the large
machine and equipment necessary to
wash and pack the fruit, it is imprac-
ticable for individuals to pack their
own fruit, except for those who have
large acreage.
The lemon growers claim to be max
ing goods sinterest on. their lemon groves
at valuation of $1,000 an acre for
first class groves. The frost damage
in Chula Vista was probably lighter
than any place in California, not eX-
cepting the Imperial valley. Being
situated on the bay, the temperature
did not reach as low as at the interior
points. or even the coast sections far
ther north. Vegetation of all kinds
shows less effect of the frost in the
lemon district. A few oranges are
raised there. but the best crop in the
citrus fruits is lemons. No smudging
has ever been done in that section.
Tia Juana is but few miles from
Chula Vista. There has been big
| change from last year. The old COVER
! nor cleaned up several millions from
his gratis and it is said is fugitive in
the United States. A new governor
has started in with reforms. Last year
1T was necessary to get the Mexican
consul wise on passport before cross
ing the border, which cost 81 for 10
days or $40 for the season. This year
no passport was necessary, but the
Mexican custom house collected 20
cent from US. The gambling houses
have been closed and curb placed on
lawlessness. Many saloons are doing
business, and the race track is being |
we'll patronized. We gave the place
the "once over" humping along over
the rutty roads, and went back to San
Diego over the Silver Strand road to |
Coronado. After a drive around the |
place we went over to North Island, |
which is used as the naval and aero
plane base. This island, comprising |
about 400 acres, which the elder
Spreckles bought for 30 cents an acre,
was purchased by the government for
So, 600, 600, and MIR. Spreckles received
his check recently. The government
is making very extensive improve
ments here and also across the bay,
where the marine base is situated.
Leaving North island we drove out
to the old Spanish lighthouse on Point
Iona, beautiful drive, giving fine
view of the ocean to the west and San
Diego, North Island and Fort Rose
Grams on the bay side. On this road is
also located the beautiful grounds and
building of the Theosophic Society, of
which Madame Tlngley is the head,
and which is one of the show places of
San Diego.
We left San Diego Saturday morn
ing for the Imperial valley, distance of
125 miles to FL Centro. OF this dis
tance about SO miles are paved, the
balance dirt road, and with the excep-
i
tour around the Mountain Springs
grade, is good.
Leaving East San Diego we passed
through La Mesa, a suburb with a
number of fine, picturesque homes, and
a few miles beyond which, near Ell Ca
jon, is located the beautiful estate of
Madame Schumann- Helnck. We next
passed Lemon Grove, district of
mostly lemon groves, and then headed
east towards the Laguna mountains,
the summit of which ION the road) was
over 1900 feet. 1t is a beautiful
1rive, and good time can be made over
the Girt road, which is generally 1
smooth and plenty of room to pass 4
Jther vehicles. As the road enters the \
foothills a constant change of scene is h
The hills are green, many
ields of hay or grain showing the eff \
ects of the winter rains, and more
ike the less arid portions in the north
I'm part of the state. In the canyons
many live oak trees are seen, while oc- :
asionally barren waste on some
,lateau or mesa will have the cactus 3
md desert shrubs. In one field of an
,arently dairy farm was field of
he splineless cactus for stock food, a
roduct of Burbank, which has been
ried out with some success in many
,arts of the desert country.
The Cottonwood grade was soon
cached, and we began the climb to
he summit. The road has been grad
d to mostly five per cent and few B
laces not over seven, but the road h
vas smooth and we made it without H
After passing the summit "a
he road wound around over high
lateaus and dipped around through
anyons through the Laguna mountains
0 Campo and we found more paving, B
1hich ended at the Mountain Springs y
Iade, AZ miles from FL Centre. This a
rade is the worst on the road. 1t be-
ng closed during work hours on ac-
cunt of construction work, we took q
he detour of seven miles, but were a
'arned that it was very rough, but a
assable. We concluded to take it in q
tead of waiting until 4.30 For two 8
niles it was about as bad as the road i
re went over west of Stevenson when 4
re left Hood River. Going down the q
ast side of the grade we entered I'm q
81. u -