Year: 1875

and not from hearsay all strangers in
our midst to Downey City. Situated
as it is in the very heart Of one of the
richest sections ofcountry inthe State
or in the world, with scarcely a years
growth, it already possesses all the
elements necessary to make it a town
OF no inconsiderable Importance. The
natural beauty of the place must nec-i
essarily attract the tourist, while the
salubriousness of climate extends an
inviting hand to the invalid. For
miles around great fields of corn of
immense growth rich in color and
loaded with huge silk tufted ears,
caused us to stare in open-eyed aston
ishment and forced us to conclude
that the rival of the great corn fields
in the Western States, has at last been
found. Such is the. height of some
of the stalks that the traveller riding
through the roads that skirt these
"artificial wildernesses' is protected
by their shade from the rays of the
sun. Everything that is planted
grows in the same rank profusion.
Pumpkin and melon vines cover the
ground, completely obscuring their
produce from the passery by. Young
orchards containing every variety of
trees, literally groan under their loads
of golden fruit and in many instances
the tender limbs are dropping hum
bly, to the earth from the weight of
their burdens. Vineyards, healthy
and vigorous in appearance and prone
ising an abundant yield, on all sides
greet the eye. Downey City is the
center of trade for this rich district,
the produce of those waving fields, is
all shipped by rail from this point,
and the surrounding population en-
gagged in agriculture and grazing
pursuits, draws its supplies from this
quarter thus creating trade of con-
siderable magnitude, which must nec-
essarily add to the wealth and impor-
tance ,, Of this already thrifty little
town. All that is required in this
section is an increase Of population.
The material is there, the bounteous
gift of generous nature, all that is re-
quired is a jndicious, use. of capital,
brain and muscle to open up new in
dustries, to afford labor to the poor,
who profiting by the example of those
who have preceded them, will settle
down and make themselves part and
parcel of the community, deyoting
themselves to the requirement of a
competency and the development of
the place they have chosen for theirs
and their children's home. Were all
the available lands about Downey
City cultivated, the acreage would be
miraculous, and the expectation from
this district would add an almost in
calculable amount to our revenues.
Outside of the limits now under cul-





tivation there are miles upon miles of
territory stretching off to the South
as far as the eye can reach, patiently
awaiting the hand of the plowman.
Here is a country presenting every ad-
vantage of climate and soil to the ac-
tual settler. AS one surveys this vast
stretch Of territory, reposing in its vir-
gin purity whose grassy sod has
| not until lately been touched save by
the hoofs of the wild bands of cattle
and horses that roamed over its luxu-
RANT pastures, he cannot but be in
spired with the grand future that
awaits this county, when the tide Of
immigration has turned toward us
and countless thousands who are year.
ly abandoning their Eartern homes
to escape the rigors of severe climate
shall settle down among as and lend
their energies to assist the accom-
plishment of natures designs. so -


. . J.