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14 deusity ot the population, jurat ~a goods •re priced according to tbe laws of de mand and aupply. Thia liesson, the -most valuable one on cart h, is being -slowly learned in this Coventry. The greatest drawback to the development of tbe country cow is the tendency of the capitalists to be satisfied with 2 and 3 per cent interest per month on their loans, wben the same n-.oney judi ciously invested in the deve opulent of land, water, oil, mining and manufac turing enterprises would yield them re turns of 200 and 300 per cent tier month. Not all are so sbort-aighted, however, •nd to the far-sighted class, which hap pily is in the majority, ia due tbe niag c. nit prosperity which the following columna tell so well. OVER IN SANTA r'Au'LA A Frogroesive Little 'Jlly Thait II Forg- Ins Ahead. [BY R. A. OAQUE.] Santa Paula is a town of about 1200 population and it located on tbe Santa Barbara branch oi the Southern Pacific railroad, 66 miles northwestward from Lot Angelee, 14 miles from the coast and in the exact geographical center of Ven tura county. Its inhabitants can justly claim that it possesses several suporior advantages, among which may be men tioned its great abundance of good water from Santa Paula creek, wbieh comet plunging down from the near mountains. Not only it tbe town sup plied with an adequate supply of good, pare water, fresh from the mountain eprings, but there is enough for irriga ; tion purposes many miles about. Our distance from the coast inaure.-: us a fine, healthful climate. The fogs sel dom reach us, while it ia neither too 'in the cummer nor too cold in the win ' ter to be unpleasant. The mercury rarely goes above 90 deg., whiie one or two light frosts on low ground constitute ear coldest winter days. Possessing this even climate, comparatively free I from diseases that prevail in some local itiea on the coast, Santa Paula cannot fail to become a favorite residence town where the wealthy and those of im ' paired health can locate with the assur . anoe that there is no spot in Oalifornia I possessing more desirable characteris tics than this. Already our town has j earned a name of being a model com l annuity. We have impoeing school houses and churches on the hilltops, ■ and bat two saloons in tbe valley. Our | union high bCmOo! building cost $17,000. , Oar two common school houses cost | about 15000, are nicely furnished and creditable to a town of thia size. Another and finer school house ia to be erected. There are several strong re ligious oiganizations. The Presbyterians have a beautiful church edifice which cost about $14,000, and is th* largest and finest church building in Ventura county. The Methodists have a handsome church, which with the lot coat about $5000, and a ttrong working society. The Univer aalista have a splendid brick church, which coat $18,000, being one of tbe finest church edifices in thia part of the state. The Catholics have a neat church which cost them about $2000. The Baptist* own a meeeting house ootting some $3000 to $4000; the Epis copal society and Holiness organization both occupy their own houses of wor ship. The secret and benevolent societies are well represented here. There are good, thrifty lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Veterans, Women's Relief Corps and order of Maccabees. It is doubtless known to many if not all of the Herald readers that Santa Paula is headquarters for Oalifornia petroleum. Here are located the oil wells, tbe laboratory and refinery of the Union Oil company. Over 50 different articles are manufactured from tbe crude oil tbat comes out of. the ground, such as car oil, engine oil, harness oil, naphtha, benzine, gasoline, illuminating oils, wagon grease, printing inks, etc. The manufacture of printing inks is destined to become an important in dustry. At thia time many of the news papers of San Francisco, Los Angeles and other towna of the coast are being printed with ink manufactured at thia place. The output of crude oil in thia locality ia over 500 barrels per day, or about 200,000 annually. Tbe value of the oil welis and other property of one com pany is estimated at two and a half million dollars. Great quantities of the beet quality of aephaltum exist near here, and it is shipped to ail parts of the country at good prices. Valuable rock quarries are being worked in thie county and stone from them goes into the finest buildings of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Though our valley is narrow and rugged moun tains rise up on two sides of us, not over two miles apart, yet there ia a large •mount of good tillable land within a radius of 16 miles. No irrigation is re quired for corn, barley, beans, potatoes and other farm products, including all deciduout fruita, and ail these are pro duced in great abundance. Oranges, lemons and alfalfa require irrigation. The most successful lemon raiser in California resides in Santa Paula, and his magnificent fruit farm is an evidence that this is a fine citrus fruit region. The statistics show that Ventura county, in natural and acquired advantages, is sot excelled by any county in tbe state. At the world's fair tbis county was nwarded more premiums thau any county in Cali'ornia. We have the greatest bean fields in America. We can and do raise more corn to the acre than can be produced in lowa or Illi nois; our mountains are full of bees, stnd Santa Paula honey raisers produce honey by tbe scores of tons. One bee man this year sold 65 tons of honey from hia ranch Oar lemone and orangH« compare favorably with those of tbe most favored localities. Unlike aome other sections ol tbe state, Santa Paula and thia connty never bad an unhealthy boom, we have been located on a branch railroad and to one aide somewhat. Within the past few years people have been finding us out, and there ie now •very reason to believe, that in the near luture, tnis locality will be known |ar and near aa a section possessing more real merit and undeveloped wealth tnsn •ny place of like extent on the Pacific coast. Citrus and deciduous fruits here grow to pcilection Our soil ia marveloualy rich, needing co irrigation to raise all cereals end farm products. Our mount kins are filled with. aßphaltnm, oil and honey ; our water is pure and abuudant; our supply of valuable building stone is iriPxhKi'-t ( )ie; timber is plentiful near by, and fnal is cheap. Our climate is not excelled in America ; our prospects ■for becoming a manufacturing commu nity are excellent; our schools are well conducted. Santa Paula is the banner church town in tbe state, considering her size ; tbe morality and intelligence of the people are of a high order, and :nothing but some unforeseen cataclysm of nature, not anticipated nor feared, can t" vent thia part of the favored lanci oi Southern Californiu from be •"ruing a good place to come to, if you '•re not already bete. THE COUNTRY OF LOS ANGELES X Passing Glance at Its Gen eral Features. A Princely Domain Progressing: Magnificently. IU Topograph/, Climate and Resource.. A Bus/ Population Stead,l/ Increasing— Some of Its Advantages. It is a difficult tack to describe a county containing 4000 square miles of territory which embraces tbe varied features that Los Angeles county pos sesses, so tbat it will give any adequate idea of its resources, especially within the limits prescribed. It was one of the original counties, having been organized in 1850. Its ter ritory then included all of Kerc county lying south of tbe summit of the Sierra Nevada, , and tbe present counties of San Bevnardino and Orange. Tbe county rises in three grand ter races from the sea to a height of 2200 feet. Back of these elevated plains are majesic mountain ranges trom 5000 to 6000 feet high, with occasional peaks having an altitude of 9000 to 10,000 feet. The lowest of these three great bench es rises from tbe sea to an altitude of about 500 feet. South and west tbe Pa cific ocean, the largest body of water in the world, waßhes its shores. On the north side of this first terrace or plain is a range ot hills, which have an aver age altitude of 1500 feet. They run easterly from tbe Ventura coast line through the county to the San Bernard ino county line. Three passes, known as the Cabuenga, Los Angeles and San Gabriel, break through this range. Through the last two named passes re spectively flow tbe Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers on their way toward the aea. As is tbe custom in all Spanish countries, as this was formerly, this range bears different names, as it is broken or its direction changes. On the west it is known ac the Santa Mon ica, then us the Cahnenga, Loa Angeles and San Gabriel, and finally ac tbe Pu ente bills. , Tbe terrace itself is divided into two valleys. Tbe one to tbe northwest is known as the Cabuenga valley, and the one on the southwest aa the Lo* Angeles valley. Tbe "divide" between the two valleys, however, is very slight. Thisi* shown by the old bed of the Loa Angeles river, which formerly crossed tbis "di vide," and found an entrance to the ocean through the lake called La Ball oua, which is situated at the mouth of tbe Cabuenga valley. Tbis latter valley has its greatest width at about 10 miles, but ia quite ir regular in shape. On the west a table land projects southerly from tbe Santa Monica bills along the ocean shore to La Ballona lake, and easterly from the ocean abore line for some three or four miles. On the south side of the valley the table land rises agsin and culminates in the high point of the Paloa Verdea peninsula. Tbe Loe Angeles valley, or properly a plain, is some 50 miles long by 20 wide. It reaches over into Orange county on the southeast, and lies between the ocean on the south and the Puente and San Gabriel hills on tbe north. The surface of this valley rises gently from the sea to an altitude of some 500 or 600 feet. The second terrace consists of tbe magnificent valleys of San Fernando and San Gabriel. Tbeae valleys are sepa rated from each other by-a Email spur of bills known us the San Rafael, which projects southerly from the Sierra Madre mountains and terminate opposite the Los Angeles pass. The San Fernando valley is about 36 miles long by 12 miles, wide. It has a gentle elope from tbe Sierra Madre on tbe north down towards the Santa Monica and Cabuenga hills on tbe south. On the west side are the Santa Susana hills. The valley has an eleva tion above tbe sea level from about 500 to 1000 feet. The San Gabriel valley ia about 25 miies long by 10 milea wide. Like tbe San Fernando valley, it slopes gradually from tbe Sierra Madre down to tbe San Gabriel and Puente bills. Its elevation runs from about 500 to 1600 feet. Rising to the north of tbe two valleys of San Fernando and San Gabriel, which form the second grand terrace of Los Angeles county, are the Sierra Madre mountains. As in other countries which have been dominated by Span ish customs, these mountains bave dif ferent local namea. On the wettthey are known aa the San Fernando, again ac tbe Sau Gabriel, and still further east us the San Bernardino. This has occa LOS ANGELES HERALD* MONDAY MOKJSIJNG, JANUAKY I. 1891. aioned considerable confuaion, and a majority of writera and map makers bave aensibly agreed upon the appropri ate name of Sierra Madre for the whole range. These words are Upanisb, and literally mean the serrated mother, or mother mountains, which their geolog ical formation shows tt em to be. Indeed, thia ie the name given to tbe aame range on the California peninsula. The Sierra Madre* run from Ventura county southeasterly through Los An geles county into San Bernardino county. Their average altitude in Los Angeles county ie about 5000 feet. Tbeir highest points in tbis county are Mount San Antonio, commonly known at "Old Baldy," which has an altitude ot over 9000 feet, and North Baldy. These mountains are very precipitous on their southern slopes, but have a gentler slope on tbeir northern aides. From the val leys to tbe south tbey present the ap nearance of a majestic wall. Such, in deed, tbey are. In Los Angeles county these mountains have two passes, tbe Soledad and Tejunga. Soledad pass has an elevation of 3210 feet, and opens south of west into Ventura county. The third grand terrace includes all that part of the Mojave desert known as Antelope valley, lying between the RAILWAY MAP OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. Sierra Madre on the south and the Sierra Nevada on the north and west. Trie east line of Antelope valley is de fined by the Lovejov btittes, I spur of detached hills, from 159 to 250 foet high, which runs northeasterly from the Sierra Madre. Antelope valley is about 60 miles long east and west by some 25 miles wide north and south. The sur face of the valley has a generol slope to the northeast. Tbe average altitude of the valley ie 2200 feet above sea level. The Sierra Nevada constitutes its north ern and western boundaries. BITERS. Los Angeles county has only two riv ere—the Los Angelee and San Gabriel. The dictionary definition of a river ac "a large stream of water flowing in a chan nel on land toward the oceau, a lake, or another river" (Webster) does not de scribe the rivers of Southern California. The definition holds good for rivers which drain countries of regular and abundant rainfall. But, here, where tbe annual precipitation ie comparatively small, by a river is not always meant a visible stream. Daring the summer time tbeir beds are filled only with dry sand, through which, however, a considerable amount of water seeps down to the ocean. It is only during the period of the winter floods tbat the channels may be filled with water. Tbe Los Angeles river rises in the western part of the San Fernando val ley, about 12 miles northwest of the city, and flows easterly 18 miles to the Loe Angeles pass. Its stream is fed all along by springs. Two other "rivers," tbe Pacoima and theTejunga, join it in tbe San Fernando vaiiey. Turning south, it flows through the Los Angeleß pass and on through the city. In former years its waters flowed through tbe southwestern part of tbe city and out through the Cienega dietrict and emptied into the ocean through La Ballona harbor. Subsequently tbe river changed its course, and for yearb emptied its waters into the lowlands around Compton and Wilmington. Then neither the Los Angeles nor the San Gabriel river bad c channel to the ocean. Their winter floods accumulated in lakes and ponds in tbe district above named. An immense forest of willows, alders, sycamores and cottonwoods cov ered all tbat district. The winter floods of 1825-26 were very great. The lowlands were filled to overflowing. The waters broke through the sand dunes just wesL of Long Beach. A channel was formed, and the drainage was so complete that the big forest totally disappeared in a few years. Most of the water of the Los Angeles river ie now taken for irrigation and city use. During the dry season tbe surface stream seldom flows below the city limits. Only a short time at intorvala during the rain season, at the height of floodß, does the stream ever reach the ocean. The San Gabriel river has two princi pal sources in the Sierra Madre. The north fork rises in township 2 north, range 12 west, San Bernardino base and meridian, and flows easily through three townships into township 2 north, range 9 west, where it forms a junction with the east fork. The latter stream rises in township 3 north, range 9 west, and flows southerly. From the point of junction tbe river flows southwesterly to the ocean. For years, before the great flood of 1825-6, its discharged its waters into tbe lowlands north of Wilmington. After that it joined tbe Los Angeles river in township 4 south, range 13 west. Tbe winter of 1867-8 witnessed another great flood. The San Gabriel river then, broke over its banks in townsbi p 2 south, range 11 west, and, flowing southerly, cut a new channel through to Alamitos bay. Since tbat time its waters bave been divided between the old and new channels. BAYS AND HARBORS. The shore line of Los Angeles county % about 90 milea long. It baa two large indentations, known aa Santa Monica and San Pedro bays. - Santa Monica is a large bight. It* outside points, Dumetz on the north and Vincent on the sooth, are 28 miles ar art. The shore line of the bay bows in from tbe straight line between Point Dumetz and Point Vincent, about 12 miles. Within Santa Monica bay is La Bal lona lake, which was formerly tbe an cient mouth of the Loa Angelea river. Wbeu that river changed its course, late in the last century, to the Wilmington channel, the ocean tides closed tbe old river mouth with sand and the seepage water formed a lake inside the sand ridge. A few years ago a channel waa cut through thia esnd ridge by an im provement company, and the ocean waters again mingled with the lake. San Pedro bay is about 12 miles across from Point Firmin to tbe southwest cor ner of Orange county. It haa a width of about four miles from this line to sbore. Tbe shore line has two indentations, known as Wilmington slough and Ala mitoa bay. The former baa been en larged and improved into a harbor. Alamitos bay haa a surface area of about three square miles. Under appropriate headings the commercial interests of San Pedro bay region will be particu larly noted. The shipping ports of Loe Angeles are San Pedro and Redondo, to wnich bave recently been added Santa Monica— where the Sonthern Paoilic company has built a wharf 4600 feet long—and Long Beach. Government engineers bave recommended an appropriation oi nearly $3 000,000 for the creation of a first-class deep-wat9r harbor at San Pe dro, where vessels pf the deepest draught may come to the wharves. „ v ;• :• • ISLANDS. Santa Catalina ie the only island wbicb belongs to Loa Angelea county. It lies in the Pacific ocean, the shortest line between tbe island and the main land being 20.84 miles. The island is 21 miles long by 8 wide. Tbe island is quite mountainous, and has a delight ful all-year-round clin^u. The county still ships more oranges than any other county, many of the trees being 15 years old and upward and bearing immense crops. Most of the orange orchardß are in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. The lemon ie also profitably grown in suitable localities. Tbe olive has been largely planted of late, doing well almost everywhere in the county. Fine oil is made. Tbe chief deciduous fruits are apricotß and prunes, which yield heavy crops end pay large profits. Tbe walnut crop of last season amounted to nearly 100 car loads. Peaches, grapes, nectarines, figs, almonds, apples, pears, guavas, berries, and a number of other fruits are also grown. There are many fruit drying establishments and two of the largest wineries in tbe state, beaidea several smaller ones. Berries are very profitable. From one point in San Gabriel valley 500,000 pounds of straw berries were shipped last season. The total fruit acreage is 37,594 acres, of which there are in bearing 20,472; not bearing. 17,122. Of this acreage there are 7,387 acres bearing and 4 910 non bearing orange trees. The plant for 1892 was 8,724 acres. Large quantities of fine wheat and barley are raised. On some of the ranches wheat has averaged a yield of a tot) to the acre. About 1300 pounds is considered a good average. Corn some times attains a height of 20 feet, and the yield is sometimes 100 bushels to the acre. Tbe chief articles of export are fresh, dried aad canoed (raits, walnuts, pota toes and vegetables, beans, wool, wine and branciv. The importß of lumber through ban Pedro and Bedondo are very large. The ru.uuiacturing industry is yet in its embryo stage, although by no means unimportant. Among tbe chief articles made are canned, dried and crystallized fruits, iron castings, iron and cement pipe, machinery, brick, boxes, flour, crackers, sor.p, doors and sash, pottery, mineral water, beer, wine and brandy, furniture, candy, pickles and ice. A smelter is going up, and a hog-packing factory of large capacity is in operation in Lob Angeles. There are good open ings for more fruit-preserving works and creameries; also for glass factories, tanneries, harness, saddle and shoe factories, paper mills, rope walks, nail and wool factories. The population of the county increased from 33,881 in 1880 to 101,454 in 1890, and notwithstanding the lopping off of Orange county, tbe assessed valuation of property between 1882 and 1892 in creased from .$20,655,294 to $82,805,965. The rate of taxation, state and county, is $1.45. There are 279 miles of railroad in tbe county. The county property is valued at $1,230,000, and the county debt is $998,500. There are 439 schools and 26,576 school children between 5 and 17 years ot age. The county abounds in attractive re sorts from tbe seashore to tbe mount ains, where comfortable hotels, during a portion of the year, are tilled with health and pleasure seekers from all parts of the world. A remarkable variety of climate may be found within the limits of the county, tbe difference being caused by elevation and distance from tbe ocean. On the coast it is cooler in summer and a little warmer in winter than inland, with occasional fogs at night. This climate is well adapted to those who suffer from nervous affections. Farther inland it becomes warmer, and in places decidedly hot at times during midsum mer days, although there is always a gentle breeze from the ocean, and the summer nights are cool enough to make blankets welcome. As the mountains are climbed, a cool, bracing, dry air is encountered, which is very beneficial to consumptives. Tbe transpottation facilities of the county are unexcelled and already a net work of railroads traverse it in every direction. THE CERRITOS RANCHO. A Princely Tract or Rloh Land—lts Features. There are lands in Sonthern California which are very fine for the raising of corn and alfalfa and where hogs thrive excellentlp, bo tbat raisers derive an excellent profit. None are more desirable tban those of the Oerritos ranch. tbrooKh which the San Gabriel river flows, which is owned by the Bixby Bros. This firm ie com posed of Jotham and Llewellyn Bixby, two brothers, pioneers and self made men, well and favorably known through out the state of California. Tbey with tbeir couein, Dr. Thomas Flint of San Juan, another pioneer, have accumulated during their long residence in the state realties which now reach the vast total of almost 100,000 acres of the choicest Colifornia lands, which are divided into 'tracts tbat lie in various portions of tbe state. Among tbe most desirable of these is the Cerritos ranch mentioned above. i'bere are about 1200 acrea in thia ail oxoolloiilly Had nOuuauntly watered from artesian wells. Ths-sli mate iB unexcelled, and the soil being of a yielding sandy loam, it favors its own era with a handsome annual income. Hog raising having become a great factor with the ranchers of Southern California, the owners of this land have devoted a large part of it to this indus try, in which tbeir efforts bave met with splendid success. As before stated, there is no better land in the state where corn and alfalfa are grown, or tbat is better adapted to the raising of walnuts, strawberries, vegetables, as well as citrus and decid uous fruits. Some of the largest plums ever displayed by the chamber of com merce in tbis city were grown on this ranch. Tbe ranch, which has an interesting history, largely traditional, of early days. Here and there are the ruins of ancient adobe huts and dwelling. Occasionally interesting relics are brought to light. An ancient adobe fortress is also an interesting feature of tbe hiatorical remains of the ranch, which is tbe source of much speculation to tourists and sightseers, as well as the resident Californians. Truly the owners uoßsess here a tract the value of which ia inestimable. On tbe ranch, which affords pastur age at certain seasons to thousands of head of cattle, sheep and borsee, raised on their Paloa Verdes ranch, there is a cheese factory and also a dairy of 700 Holatein and Jersey cows, which sup plies cream and butter to some of the largest hostelriesin Southern California, as well as tbe leading wholesale dealera. The average wages are: Farm hands, $20 to $30 a month and board; common laborers, $1 50 to $1.75 per day; skilled laborers (carpenters, brickmasons, etc.), $2 50 to $4.50 per day ; clerks, $25 to f 100 per month; domestic servants, $15 to $40 per month. Tbe question is often asked whether a man with $2000 can do anything in Southern Oalifornia. A man with that amount, if he ie willing to work and learn, can get a very good start on a small, improved place, convenient to market. Epidemic diseases, poisonous insects, cyclones and thunder storms are con spicuous by their absence. It is 20 years since there was an earthquake severe enough to effect any damage. Among tbe mineral products of South ern California found in commercial quantities are petroleum, asphaitum, borax, gypsum, soda, salt, tin, silver and gold. Improved farm property can be bought all tbe way from {60 to $500 per acre. Easy terms can be obtained, generally, on part of tbe purchase price. All productions of eastern and north ern states can be grown here, besides those of semi-tropical and many tropical countries. SAN DIEGO AND ITS PROSPECTS. Some Pleasant Business Point ers From Bay'nclimate. Her Business Men Speak of the Fr-Jure With Hope. Big Capital Invested In Large -enter prises and Development Going on Barely—A Glimpse at Her Natural Advantages. While the beautifully situated city of San Diego met with severe disappoint ments in the recent past, in common with nearly all other new towns whose hopes were inflated beyond all reasonable chance of immediate realization, still is ber courage good and her grit right np to the sticking point. Tbe idea of stimulating another boom is ac remote from the minds of her busi ness men as need be to promote healthy and permanent growth in the preeent and future. If tbe signs of commercial and indus trial enterprise mean anything certainly the n few cities on either coast of tbe United States can claim a brighter out look. Other localities may derive amuse ment in referring to the "city of bay'n' climate," as though everybody there was given wholly up to ecstatic exclam ation and contemplation of those most desirable and undisputed bounties which Dame Nature has showered upon the fortunate denizens? of San Diego. Still the fact remaina that thousands of en terprising business men there, and wealthy men, too, both residents and visitors from tbe effete east, are leaders in some of tbe largest enterprises in tended to develop San Diego county. They are not entirely devoted to sucking their thumbs and looking across to Cor onado. The partial practical opening up of tbat section is believed to be near at hand, and then auch endeavors aa are illustrated in the railroad to Yuma, the irrigation of vast tracts of virgin soil, tbe efforts to promote the Nicaragua canal, etc, will be better appreciated by tbe present doubting Thomases, and the wisdom and puah and integrity of their authors receive their proper meed of praiae and tbe reward oi many ducate. The natural advantages of San Diego are scarcely surpassed in the world and must be enjoyed to be appreciated com pletely. Nice, in the south of France, is San Diego's only rival as a land of perpetual sunshine and (lowers, and possesses so sven and salubrious a climate both sum mer and winter. Probably tbe harbor is tbe best in tbe world, it being 21 miles long and one mile wide and so sheltered to give perfect security to all kinds of vessels. The country rises gradually from the ocean, and 60 miles back becomes a chain of mountains of about 5000 feet altitude. Long successions of vjalsaye, hills, tablelands and slopes give sunn a variety of soils, climates and. cubsiitipns ac no land of such limited compass can claim elsewhere on earth. Oranges, pineapples, lemons, bananas, figs, olives, raisins and all sorts of vegetables grow and ripen in the open air. In fact, the whole section described is practical ly a frostless belt, which commands a view oi the ocean and has the tempered breezes both summer and winter. To get at tbe reaeons for the confi dence in the business future of San Diego the Hkkai.d correspondent had interviews with several prominent men. The president of a bank said: "The outlook here is certainly better than ever before in tbe history of Cltv > Ihe day of 'boo»»> »"d ' l ankf.es' is past. II we had only a speculative value to offer we would be left. As it ia we have value for v»lue with cent per i ooul i>vr year increase on every invest ment, whether it be in lands, stocks in our various irrigation companies or our new railroad bonds. Whatever may have been in the past, we are today sure of our foundation, and if the Hkk ai.d will publish tbe truth about us, it will have been engaged in one of the beet among its many promotions of the interests of Southern California." A leading* real estate inau endorsed the above and added: "So far as the market in real estate ie concerned, please Bay tbat there is very little for Bale at sellers' prices. Where people with cash come here and will get what pieases them at any price whatever, and therefore pay much more than the true value, they not only hurt tbeir own pocketbooks, but they also hurt us. An illustration in point is the recent purchase by the widow and children of ex-President U. S. Grant—though, aa a matter of fact, the daughter of Senator Chaffee paid for tbe property." The hotel men are always "in the swim" at this season and expect to, and usually do, make a fortune in' a lew months. One of them remarked that "Of course they lived on -climate and Yankees, and always expected to do so." In a country where people can live in huts and houses, as they choose or cir cumstances force them, the hotel keep er's remark is very suggestive as to what the chief source of supply for Southern California really is. The wealth, rosouroes and history of San Diego county can scarcely be better written than by quoting from the Los j Angeles Illustrated Herald of July, 1803. It is aa follows : Area, 8551 Bquare mile*. Population in 188 I, W ÜB9. Assessment of 1802, if 20,102,808. San Diego county ia one of the origi nal countiee of the state, having beon organized iv 1850. It iB tho extreme southern county of the state, and the southwestern of the United States. To its south is Mexico, west is tbe Pacific ocean, north are Orange and S*n Ber nardino counties, aud east is Arizona. The Sierra Madro divide the county, running north and south. About two thirds of the county lies to their east, and Is known as the Colorado desert. It is a vast V-shaped basin, with its apex to the northwest, hemmed in on two sides by high mountains and open ing southeasterly toward the gulf of Oalifornia. The general slope of this basin is toward the northwest. It gives every evidence of once having been an inland sea, possibly an arm of the gulf, and certainly at one time received the waters of the Colorado river. It iv now a waste. The summer heat iB intense. The only inhabitants are a few villages of Indians, scattered here and there, where are water boles surrounded by date palms and small forests of mes quite. West of tbe Sierra Madre, which bave an altitude of 5000 feot, the land falls in a succession of email val leys and table lands to the ocean. Tbe shore line is indented by two bays, Mission and Tia Juana, and by San Diego harbor, one ol the hneEt land locked ports in the world. Farming and mining are the two chief pursuits Fine lemons, raisins and olives are raised on the low lands, lie sides the common cereals, while the uplands grow the choioeat appiea. Mines of gold, asbestos, gypsum, fire clay, cement, salt, sulphur and coal are profitably worked. San Diego is the connty seat, and is the principal town south of Los Angeles with which it has direct connection by the Southern California railway. Na tional City, Otay, Sonth San Diego, Coronado, Old Town and Roseville are suburban villages around the bay. Coronado has the finest and largest hotel in the world. Pacific Beach and Kncinitas, Del Mar and Oceanside are seaside towns; Julian is a mining town, Eacondido, Fallbrook, T«mecula, Wild omar, Elsiuore and San Jacinto are ag ricultural centers. San Diego bay was discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Spanish navi gator, in the year 1542. On the site of Old San Diego in 1700, Don Gaspar de Portola took possession of Upper Cali fornia in the name of tbe king of Spain. THE LOMA VISTA RANCH. A Kldge View Over Rolling and Fertile Acres. It has been the practice to refer to irrigated sections rather tban to those localities where magnificent crops of ag ricultural products are grown without the artificial application of water. Thia constant reiteration of these two propo sitions naturally leads the stranger to infer that no crjps are produced in Southern California without irrigation. This is not true. There are produced annually an immense amount of wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, rye, etc., without any moisture except tbe annual rains. Among these nqne enjoy so wide a repu tation as the Loma Vista ranches —a very happy name, signifying "ridge view," for from their situation at tbe higheet point (Howard Summit) tbe eye rests upon ranges of sightly moun tains, emerald vales and the broad ocean. The lands of the Loma Vista ranches, like those of the valleys, are rolling and nnbroken. The entire 4uoo to 6000 acres are under thorough cultivation and subdivided into farms. On each of tbe subdivisions there is a substantial dwelling house, fine and large barns, and other improvements of an enduring character. The water ie pure, spark ling and soft, and is fonnd in abundance at a depth of 30 feet in the valley to 200 feet on the mesaß. Besides the buildings, each ranch has a fine garden, in which are grown corn, melons, potatoes and other vegetables, and a small orchard in which are plant ed orange, lemon, fig, apple, peach, pear aud apricot trees*! There are 45 miles of shade trees already planted. The barley grown ia of a superior quali ty. Adjoining tbe ranches on the south east is the Gardena tract, where straw berries are grown for the market every tnouthin the year. Tbe Loma Viata lands are pleasantly situated as to transportation facilities. To the east, and bordering the ranches, ib tbe Southern Pacific railway, and to the west tbe Santa Fe aligns them, while tbe Redondo Beach railway tra verses tbe lands at a central point. The Mesjra..' Bixby & Howard, the principal owners of the Loma Vista ranch—the latter gentleman is the aec cretary and manager—though not gen erally practicing irrigation on their | lands have never lost sight of its proba ble introduction. All kinds of citrus and deciduous fruits do weli. The orange and tiie nectarine, the fig and tbeguava, the grapu and the apple, all thrive and I'ixuriate in the fertile soil and balmy air o! it: is favored section. The currant aad strawberry, the raspberry end blackberry, yield abundantly and fruit o-t fffe finest quality. Garden producta— turnips, beets, carrots, radishes, cucum bers, tomatoes, unions, culinary and medicinal herbs, etc. —of prime quality B-:d iv great abundance can be readily grown. Timber and forest treea do well without a drop of water. The climate ia nearly perfection. Being near the seashore, it never be comes oppressively hot, while tbe in vigorating ocean breeze is always pres ent. In the disposition of these lands tbe Loma Vista Hunch company has ever pursued a broad and enlightened policy. Much of the land is rented in tracts of about 300 acres, under the control and personal supervision of tbe manager, Mr. W. W. Howard, a man of broad ideas, good business talent, and execu tive ability of a high order. The terms and conditions of reutal are liberal and satisfactory to all who till lands under lease. Outside of those renting lands from the company there are many who have bought outright tracts varying in size from 10 to 100 acres, paying front $00 to $100 per acre, and in some cases . even $150 to $200. To responsible par ties with good references and of iadus > trious habits the company is prepared to make very liberal concessions, had invites correspondence from homeseuii ers, and particularly experienced agri culturists and horticulturists. The close proximity of these lands to Los Angeles makes them specially desirable for small fruit culture mid market garden ing. Correspondence should be addresssd to W. W. Howard, at No. 3U6 West First street, Los Angeles. A VAST EMPIRE. What C.iv Be Done l>y Uorornment Aid The "vast biupiro without water," bo derided by a New York daily, says tbe Irrigation Murkut,sustains cal\U enough to reach a valuation oi $2,000,000,000, five times that oi all the cattle in the Australian colonies. On that item alone the despised west boats Now York city, whose total valuation for 1592 ii ♦1,99!', --518 528 90. Hew South Wulcs and Vic toria have aloae appropriated and used, during the past 20 ; c c.ro, 83iue J0,000, --000 in providing * water supply, welle, tanks, water hoiet, etc., for mo ute and . security of tbeir cattle and sheep ranjtPß. In America, however, we grudge t!:<t expenditure of even <|5,.>'0 for the pur pose of making mor,! valuable nnd fnl the 800,000,000 acres o' paatornl land tbat etiil io.-nis part of the public i!o main. Rather than take tlw iniiua to invitsiigate and save the property ol r.ll the people, our new school ci statesmen would prefer to thiow it by the wholu-r sale and recklessly iulo the bands of ravenous speculators, roal est*:., riiics and cattle ranch grubbers. Eastern people, as a rule, find it rJtrJS cult to understand how small an of groand is necessary here to yield a income. Many families make a com fortable living and save money on 10 acres of irrigated laud, woile 20 acne is as much as ono mm can a'ter.ri to properly. Don't fry to ! inn too much land.