Year: 1875

tract of land in this section who is
freed from the troubles of irrigation
and yet entirely independent of the
seasons. One crop after another can
be harvested the year round, and an
Industrious man in a twelve-month
produce moro than half dozen equally
hard workers in the Western States.
There is, however, very limiteda area
of these lands and they are being rap
idly settled. Yet the largest tract OF
moist land in Southern California and
unquestionably the finest body of
farming land on the Pacific Coast, is
comparatively uninhabited. Werefer
to the Chino Ranch, located on the
Western edge of San Bernardino
county. 1t lies along the Santa Ana
river in the Southern part of a large
valley which commences just beyond
Spadra distant some 80 miles from
Los Angeles) and extends nearly to
Cotton. This vast estate is savanna
some six miles long and three to six
wide, and embraces $4,000 acres. AT
the present time it is entirely covered
with waving grass, though this is the
dryest portion of as dry season as
has been known in California for
years. A splendid road free from dust
lowing to the moisture of the land
passes across the center of the ranch,
and on either side as far as the eye can
reach are seen vast herds of cattle
feeding upon the rich grasses. There
certainly cannot be less than 10000
head of neat cattle and horses now
pasturing upon this plain. and these
are abundantly supplied with water by
the Cienegas, or springs, which rise
here and there. To the right going
in the direction of San Bernardino)
rises the Santa Ana mountains, along
the base of which courses the Santa
Ana river; to the left on the upper
side of the valley rises Mount Cuca-
mongo, and just back of it the bald
head of San Antonio; while in front
lie the Chino Hills, with the great
Hirupa Ranch just this side of them.
The center and Northern side of this
large valley, which contains about l5O
square miles, is sandy land, a continu-
Gus chapparel and cactus bed, and
without a single habitation except
about Cucamongo where water for ir-
rigation is abundant. The soil of the
Chino ranch is rich dark loan, and
capable of producing all the products
known in this section. The source of
its moisture is apparent at glance.
The water from the mountain chain
on the North sinks into the sandy soil
and flows along the bedrock down to-
wards the river bottom, where it meets
with a clay near the surface which re-
sists its progress and it is forced up
through the top soil. There is there
fore no question about obtaining arte-
sian water anywhere if itwere needed,


but the land is sufficiently moist the
year round to dispense with irriga-
ton. AS we have said this vast body
of land has never been touched by the
rlow except in few places along the
edge and on the old homestead. Where
it has been cultivated it yields splen-
didly, even with the loosest system of
farming. Fifty to sixty bushels OF
barley, seventy-tive to one hundred
bushels of corn, and fifteen to eighteen
tons of alfalfa-the latter without irri-
gation-are grown. Wheat can also
be grown in this section, its distance
from the sea coast freeing it from fogs,
the yield being forty to sixty bushels
to the acre. AS a place of residence
no part of California is superior to this
valley, the climate being superb and
the scenery excellent. Game abounds
in the neighboring country. Along the
Santa Ana river, and in the cienegas,
large flocks of ducks and wild geese
can be seen, ,droves Of large snipe wan
der over the plain, the chapparel is
filled with quails and rabbits, and
small herds of antelope frequently
come in through the Cajon pass. The
Southern Pacific railroad passes with
in five miles of the center of the ranch.
The immigrants arriving now are di-
recting their attention to the East
of Los Angeles, and this large ranch,
capable of supporting three or four
thousand people, will soon be thickly
settled. Lovely villas will ere long
dot the beautiful plain, and the hum
of industry be heard on all sides. The
ranch is now owned by a number of
Los Angeles capitalists, among whom