14
SANTA ANA, THE PRIDE OF ORANGE COUNTY
Its Many and Diverse Advantages, Climatic, Social
and Industrial
EXCELLENT IRRIGATION FACILITIES AND CITRUS CULTURE
THE SUCCESSFUL AND PROFITABLE CULTURE OF CITRUS AND
DECIDUOUS FRUITS
Three Thousand Acres in Wheat, to Be Trebled Next Year—Celery-
Growing in the Westminster District—Dairying and
Other Industries
Irk the center of a sloping valley twenty
miles wide, laved, by the restless tide of
the Pacific and paralleled by the rugged
contour of the Santiago mountains, is
situated the city of Santa Ana, the 9eat
of government of Orange county and
the home of a cosmopolitan population of
5000 souls. The history of Santa Ana, like
that of many other Southern California
towns, covers a period within the mem
ory of even the younger inhabitants, for
it Is scarcely two decades since the ter
ritory included ln her limits nourished
nothing save a rank growth of mustard
and countless heads of cattle, the raisinr; i
of which was then, the principal pursuit
of the few settlers of this section. It
was then that TV. H. Spurgeon, whose
foresight enabled him to appreciate the
opportunities created by nature for
man's improvement, purchased, a tract
of land and began building the- town of
Santa Ana—and It may be said that he
"built even better than he knew." Al
most from the start, and especially dur
ing the past ten years, the city's growth
has been uninterrupted; but she attained
proportions solely by reason of her nat
Ural advar tages and. In consequence suf
fered little from the blight of the "boom."
ADVANTAGES AND CLIMATE
Laying aside the garb of infancy, the
town has grown to rank as a city of the
fifth clasis. with long lines of handsome
and substantial buildings along paved
thoroughfares, which are daily the
scenes of thrift and business activity,
attesting the enterprise and industry of
her citizens. Santa Ana is the fourth
city in size in Southern California, ar.di
Is second to none for health, busine?is.
and the richest enjoyments of life. The
city has a fine system of water works,
operated under municipal control; the
educational facilities are excellent,
there being five commodious and hand
some school edifices', including a higli
school building, in which are taught
the higher branches in accordance with
the accredited* system, which entttl
the graduates to enter both the state
and Leiand Stanford, Jr., ur.iv ties.
Every branch of commercial Inti rest Is
in a flourishing condition; there are
three newspapers—one daily, The
Blade, and two weeklies, the Herald
and Standard; all the principal de
nominations of the Christian faith are
represented,, and many of the religious
organizations own their houses of wor
ship. In the amusement line, the city
Is also well equipped, having a new anO
modern theater, with a seating capacity
of 1000, and with all th« features which.
In point of comfort andi beauty, entitle
it to rank with the best of the smaller
opera houses on the coast.
While laying no claim to distinction
as a tourist resort, the city affords all
the comforts and conveniences desired
by those seeking rest or recreatior.
Here the traveler will find a pi. asaiii
stopping place, either at the Richelieu
or Brunswick hotels, both of which are
complete in every department, and und. i
capable and courteous management.
All things considered, there is no other
town in the state, perhaps, which offers
better inducements to the honieseeker
and investor,. or to those in search of
health andi rest, than does Santa Ar.a.
In climatic conditions, sliedots not dif-
fer materially from other Southern Cali
fornia towns, though being but nine
miies from the sea, the coast breeze
renders the summers slightly cooler
than In thn.-»i towns farther inland.
According to a correct thermal record,
the maximum temperature is' 92 degrees",
the minimum 50 degrees, ar.d the mean
67 degrees, giving a most equable as
well as a most healthful climate. Among
the pleasure resorts easily accessible
are Laguna Beach, Arch Beach, New
port Beach, Shell Beach and. Anaheim
Landing, besides the mountain can
yons, including Orange County's public
park ln Santiago, embracing 160 acres
of oak forest.
Within a radius of a few miles from
the city there is produced everything
adaptable to a temperate and semi-trop
ical climate. The soil Is a black loam,
In some sections inclined, to be sandy, and
tha topography of the country it such
that all of the valley lands are suscep
tible to irrigation.
IRRIGATION FACILITIES
The county has the advantages of one
of the best irrigation systems in the state,
the mains, laterals and branches exceed
ing 200 miles ir. length and representing
a cost of over $250,000. The source of
supply is the Santa Ana river, the water
from which is diverted by means of a
canal of a capacity of 7500 inches, and
the) works Include eight miles of trunk
canal 26 feet wide at the top and having
an. average depth of 5 feet. The entire
plant of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation,
company is capable of supplying 30,000
acres and is owned pro rata by the farm
ers, whose lards are covered with Its
stock. Hence the water Is delivered at
exact cost, making the system one of the
most desirable to be found anywhere.
CITRUS CULTURE
<">rang? county lies ln a part of the val
ley which Is sheltered from the frosty
blasts from Old Baldy and the higher
altitnd.es, and the land within its con
fines is therefore well adapted to the
production of citrus fruits. Many vari
eties of orange* and not a few varieties
nf lemons are grown in the- county, the
SHIPPING SCENE, NEWPORT PIER
country contiguous to Santa Ana on the
east and north being especially suited to
this branch of horticulture. Among the
leading varieties of oranges grown in
these localities are the Mediterranean
Sweets, Washington Navel, Valencia
and Kono. while of lemons the Genoa,
Lisbon and Eureka are preferred. The
trees begin to bear at three years, but
seldom attain the highest state of pro
ductiveness under ten years. At this aga
they yield about four boxes per tree, and
the fruit grown here, in flavor and. size,
Is fully equal to the far-famed Florida,
oranges. Almost the. entire year round
the golden globes and- fragrant blossoms
hang side by side on, the same tree, and
from June until December the fruit is
constantly ripening. Figures from the
latest statement of the assessor show
the number of cjtrus fruit trees in ths
county to be as follows:
Orange, over four years old. 132,410,
under four years. 92,620. Lemon, over
four years old, 7046; under four years,
51.536.
DECIDUOUS AND OTHER FRUITS
There is no other place In the world
that surpasses Orange county in the
production of deciduous and small
fruit*, either in the yield per acre or in
A SAW JOAQTJIN BARLEY TEAM
the quality ct the products. Among?
many outsiders who have never visited '
this section there prevails! an impres
sion—proceeding?, no doubt, from the
tame "Orange county"—that its horti
cultural pursuits are confined to the
[rowing of citrus fruits. But this er
oneous idea is at once dispelled) when
the "tenderfoot" sees the districts about
3anta Ana, for he will realize that this
iranch of the fruit industry is not less
mportant than the growing of oranges
md lemons. He will also observe that
leeiduous and small fruit culture Is not
)nly conducted on an extensive scale for
iroflt, but that almost every farmer, no
natter how small his holding or what
line of industry he may follow for all ye-
Ihood, has a well-tilled corner of his
place devoted to a mlxedi orchard, from
which bis household is supplied with all
varieties of fruit. The extent of this
branch of horticulture is shown by the
LOS ANGELES HERALD: SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 12,1897
following table, compiled from the as
sessor's roll, whloh also gives figures on
the number of walnut and almond trees
in the County:
Over. Under
4 Years 4 Years
Old, Old.
Apple " 348 14,673
Apricot 40.505 54.370
Prune 26.530 28.567
Fiach 8.871 28.673
Olive 5.235 32.563
Pear 3 262 3.459
Fig 4.160 1.608
Cherry 210 260
Walnut 60,807 76.416
Almond 4f6 2,065
PRIMITIVE FARMING
Not until in recent years have the
agricultural resources of the county
been developed! to any great extent, but
within the past four years many hun
dreds of acres have been sown to grain.
Year by year a marked Increase in the
acreage is shown .with a corresponding
increase in the value of the exports.
Wheat was long considered an uncertain
crop to plant for profit, owing to its
tendency to rust in wet years and its
liability to suffer from drouth. But tine
period of experiment is now past, and
wheat raising promises to become an
important staple, in Orange county, as
there is a vast area of mesa land here
abouts which has been found to be well
adapted to the cereal. The phenome
enal prices which have ruledl in the
grain market this year 'have also given a
great Impetus to this branch of agricul
ture, and the present acreage' (about
3000) will be trebled next year. One
successful wheat grower who has been
farming 2000 acres southeast of Santa
Ana, cleared, between $20,000 and $25,000
on his crop this season, ar.d several
others did equally as well in proportion
to the acreage they harvested.. There
are great opportunities for expansion of
the wheat, raising industry In Orange
county, particularly in the southern
part, and farmc-rs have begun to ap
preciate this fact.
The production of barley has. from
the earliest time, been a leading pursuit
in this section, and the returns on the
harvest are invariably commensurate
with the toil and time expended. One
peculiar feature of this crop here is
the spontaneous yield. In many In
stances one planting suffices for three
harvests, the second! and third crops
springing up in season without toil or at
tention, and producing excellent hay.
The acreage of barley in the county
this year was about 50,000, and the
average yield ie estimated at 40 bushels
per acre.
CELERY GROWING
The raising of celery is comparatively
a new industry here, but its importance
can, hardly be overestimated. The first
to cultivate the plant for profit was D.
E. Smeltzer, who three years ago began i
| operations ir. the famous 1 peat belt, in
the Westminster district. Since that
time the development, of the industry
has been marvelous. The average yield
is 10.000 bunches per acre ,and this year
the shipments will exceed 400 carloads,!
112,000 bunches to the car, showing to
1 what immense proportions it will event
! ually grow. The value to the grower is 15
to 18 cents per dozen, f. o. b. at Santa
Ana. The demand for the product, owing
to its superior quality, is almost without
limit. There is no other character of
soil so productive as the peat beds, which
j are composed of a spongy mass, of fibrous
I roots and partially decayed vegetation,
(making it excellent for celery and other
j vegetables.
DAIRYING
This pursuit is one of the most profit
' able and has been an important factor
lin the advancement of the coun.ty. Or
iange county butter has a reputation
state wide and the demand for it seems
fully equal to the suppiy. the shipments
going forward without cessation
throughout the year. One feature which
tends to make dairying an especially
desirable industry for the small farmer
is, the fact that returns are Immediate
and his Income regular in all seasons'.
There are now eight creameries ln active
operation, in Orange county—three at
Westminster, two at Santa Ana and
one each at Tustin. Fairview and Los,
Bolsas, each separating from 3000 to
9000 pounds of milk per day. Another
will soon be in operation at Yorba, mak
ing nine altogether. Thus there is cre
ated a constant demand for milch cc-ws
of the higher grade and for people to
run the plants, At Buena Park there
is a milk and, coffee condensing factory,
from which the product Is shipped by the
carload to all parts of the country.
While much has been written about
"The Best Is the Cheapest"
ROSTON STORE
J. W. Robinson Co. «* 239 South Broadway
1897 Fall and Winter Season 1898
Silks, Black and Colored
DRESS GOODS
Monday, September 13th, we shall supplement our Great Informal Opening
and Early Display of August 30th. Additional arrivals have made every
department more complete and fully emphasize the fact of our supremacy as
The Leading Dry Goods Store in Southern California
Colored 1 1 ~ Black
Dress Goods Dress Goods
Vicuna Cloth Barre Cords Drap D'Ete
Cheviot Tweed Natte Boucle Gros de Lyons
Bure Cloth Gros de Tours Covert Cloth
Traverse Cords Roman Stripes Bayadere Cloth
Mattelasse Tartan Velour Eudora
Bordure Lavallure Pyreneese Brocade Poplin Cords
Carreaux Venetian Plaid Taffeta Sevastapool Cords
Meltons Two Tone Scotch Tartan Reyiner Cords
Barre Cords Damasse Plaids Whip Cords
English Kersey Tricotine Soliel Reps
Marquette Brocades Bayadere Drap D'Alma
Bourette Frieze Paulette Fancy Jacquards
Ripple Epingle Traverse Diagonals
Bayonne Cords Niobe Ottoman Cloth
Irish Poplins, Etc. Scotch Plaids, Etc Broadcloth, Etc
Inter Jing Purchasers
Will find thirty additional Departments in the House fully prepared to meet their wants
with the largest, best selected and most varied stocks ever shown in this city. These
goods were purchased before the recent tariff advance, and will be offered at
Ante-Tariff Prices
Agents for Butterick Patterns —
A North North |^T^^-^
iO4 s p ring I pii) 1 5prin8: 104
Street / Street * V
The Three Dollar idea got hold, we might say a foothold on the people yesterday.
This new Three Dollar Shoe House is just what thousands of people have been
looking for. It's a case of selling Shoes at the same small profit a dry goods man
sells sheeting or the grocer sells sugar. No need these days to pay more than a
living profit on anything if you go to the right place. This will be the right place
for Shoes from now on &&&&&&&&
Ladies' Shoes Men's Shoes
$1.50, $1.75, $2, $2.50, $3 $1.50, $1.75, $2, $2.50, $3 Pair
Big Stock of Boys' and G/r/V Shoes for School Wear at Cut Prices
We absolutely guarantee to sell Shoes everyday, and all day, cheaper than any so
called bargain, bankrupt or closing-out sales; and the quality of every pair is fully
warranted A**************
ttiis section in past years, but little at
tention has been given to one of its
principal crops—that of the peanut.
The light, porous, sandy loam about
Santa Ana produces the most market
able peanuts, the soil being so near the
color of the shell while the nut itself ie>
as sound and well flavored as can be
raised any where—equaling those of
Virginia and Tennessee. Fair peanut
land In this section will, when properly
treated, yield about fifty-five bushels
per acre, besides producing from one to
two tons of excellent peanut hay. In
the more favored/ sections, where the
soil Is more- friable and contains a
greater percentage of lime and humus,
the yield is much greater, reaching 60
bush-els per acre.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
Ormge county has forty miles of
coast line, and with its local railroad
nine miles ln length, connecting Santa
Ana and Newport Beach, its principal
•hipping point, it enjoys all the advanf
ages of cheap water transportation.
The city of Santa Ana is situated at the
terminus of the Southern Pacific rail
road, Is the division point of the Los An
geles and San Diego branch of the Santa
, Fe, and is on the main line of the latter
I road from San Bernardino and the east.
Just now a railroad boom is in progress
at Santa Ana, and the Newport rail
road) is extending its line into the West
minster country, a distance of about ten
miles. This branch will connect West
minster with Newport Beach as well as
with the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific,
to which It will operate as a feeder.
Altogether the Santa Ana valley,
with its productive soil, healthful cli
mate andj boundless resources, la an
ideal spot—a part of this golden state
which it is worth the tourist's while to
see, whether he be in search of pleaaure,
paying investments, or a home.
All prices of wait paper greatly reduced.
A. A. Eckstrom, 321 South Spring street.
GET AWAY DAY
Race Meet of the Southern California
Polo Club Closes at Santa Monica
The second and final day of the eighth
annual race meet of the Southern Cali
fornia Polo club at the Santa Monica
track yesterday attracted even a larger
attendance than that which saw the
flrst day's racing. Fully 700 people were
at the track when the entries went to the
post for the first race. The sport was
excellent, the finishes being much closer
than have usually been witnessed there.
There were three races on the card, and
an additional dash was added at the con
clusion of the program.
In the flrst race, a three-quarter dash
for ponies, Little Billee (153), Kittiwake
(149) and Jack Pot (160) were entered.
They got away on the first trial, and it
was a race from the fall of the flag to
the wire. Kittiwake led nearly the en
tire distance, but ln the stretch Jack
Pot, with Mr. Langworthy up, gave,a
burst of speed under the whip and fin*
ished flrst by a head. Time, -.65^.
Sharon Lass (105), W. See, up, set th«
pace in. the second event, a two mil*
dash for horses, and. none of the othen
erver succeeded in taking the pole from
her. Leon (124), Joe Weber up, tooil
second place, and M. F. (122) was third
There were no other entries. Time, 3:45
The mile pony race brought out thre(
starters—Jack Pot (160), Queenie H. (165|
and Red Jacket (165). It was an easj
victory for Red Jacket, and at no than
was he in danger of defeat. The flnisl
was made in a canter, Queenie H. finish.
Ing six lengths behind the winner and ai
far ahead of Jack Pot. Time, 1:59.
A special 200 yard scratch race be.
tween Pallette and Sprint at catel
weights caused considerable betting, thi
flrst mentioned being the favorite. Shi
won easily in 13 seconds.
Mr. and Mra. Fred Hughes of Beaudrj
avenue are entertaining relatives from
San Diego. j