The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-12-04
Continued from Nov. 2O)

After leaving Oakland we entered
the Santa Clara valley, widely known
for its agricultural and orchard pro-
ducts, especially fruits. The harvest
was nearly over, but hundreds Of
Mexicans were still earning a living
gathering walnuts, grapes, dates and
other fruits. The roads were lined
with these people, always travelling In
autos, and accompanied by families
numbering six to a dozen children.
They help harvest the early-maturing
fruits, move to other localities, and
then return to gather nuts and grapes,
after which they work their way south
to the cotton fields and orange groves.
We decided to take the coast route
to Los Angeles, which is IS miles
longer than the inland route. I have
travelled both Of these highways a
number Of times and believe the in
land route offers the greatest divers
ity Of scenery, although One does not
come in contact with the ocean until
he arrives at his destination. The in
land route crosses the great San Joa-
quin valley, probably one of the most
fertile sections in the United States.
Towns that I saw IS years ago as
mere hamlets today are thriving cit
les Of from $4,000 to $4,000 inhabi-
tants, such as Modesto, Fresno and
Bakersfield. Time has wrought a
wonderful transformation. Thirty
five years ago I would not have ex-
changed an acre Of my Gallatin valley
farm for $50 acres where Fresno now
stands, but the assessed valuation Of
two blocks in that city today is
greater than the total assessed valu-
alton Of the entire city of BoZeman.
Business property in Fresno is worth
from $4,000 to $4,000 a front foot.
Following the coast route we soon
arrived at San Jose, a beautiful city
on the southern extremity of Sar
Francisco bay. 1t is surrounded by
a very productive area. For miles
and miles the road leads through
shady lanes, with great spreading
oaks, palms and pepper trees forming
an arch over the pavement. The great
prune, apricot and peach orchards
stretching over the vally as fas as ey,
can see, are set off on one side by tn
coast range, towering towards TIL
clouds, and on the other by the Sierri
Nevadas. Here the farmer must de
pend upon irrigation to produce
crop of any kind. We passed owe
great bridges that spanned the rive
beds, which are now as dry as tn
Sahara desert. All water for irri
cation is pumped out of the GROUND
There seems to be plenty, of waite
for all purposes, but it has to b
drilled for-sOmetimes hundreds c
feet below the surface.
The next city of any Importance
GilrOy, at the foot Of Morgan Hill
in other words, the mountain barrie
that stands between the ocean and til
Santa Clara valley. For the next
miles we worked our lead team, so
speak, as we climbed to an elevate
Of thousands of feet At the ere
we came into view Of the broad e,
panse of the Pacific ocean for the fir
time, and then got a glimpse Of Il
Salinas valley, with its thousands
acres Of fertile soil swept by Il
ocean breezes. For the next so mil
we proceeded up the Salinas rive
tt is called a river, but there Isl
enough water coursing down its b
to fill a half-inch hose. Bridgi
from a half to three-quarters of
mile in length, span its bed. Ho.
ever, the whole valley has. a plentii
supply of water for irrigation, q
tanned from the ground. Here is {
home of Carnation milk, and we S.
hundreds-in fact, thousands
dairy cattle grazing on %succulent
falfa. Great trucks, delivering los
Of milk and cream to the factori
dashed TO and fro. What an obi
lesson all this would be for Gala.
valley farmersl Strictly mode
methods prevail here. The very ai1
laden with prosperity, evidenced