An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 10

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 10
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 10
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 10
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The present water supply in the Murrietta valley is obtained from surface wells, five to twenty feet deep. The water is absolutely free from impurities, and is sufficient in quantity for all present practical purposes. If at any future time a greater supply should be required a great abundance of pure mountain water can be obtained from the Santa Rosa mountains, just west, bordering the valley, whence it can be bronght at a nominal cost through a system of reservoirs in the foothills, and piped down to every garden, grove, lawn and fountain in the valley, and that with a power sufficient to raise it to the housetops. Hot water also can be piped from the celebrated Temecula Hot Springs, three and a half miles distant, to every house in the lower valley. Artesian water can be obtained, if desired, at a depth of 200 to 300 feet; one artesian well in the town site, sunk to the depth of 152 feet, furnishes a lim- ited supply of pure, good water; but as the water has never been needed, no others have been put down. The raintall for the past five years in the Murrietta valley has been twenty- two inches every season, and the colonists have relied upon this water supply. The climate here is perhaps different from that of all other parts of Southern California. It has four well- defined seasons,-spring, summer, autumn and winter. The average temperature in summer is 82°, and the average winter temperature 33°. During the summer months, the atmosphere is tempered by the sea-breeze, to such an extent that but little discomfort is felt during the most extreme hot weather; while during the winter, the few cold days and nights with slight frost and ice gives rest to plant life and energy to the linman constitution. No flagging spirit

is caused here by climatic forces, but on the contrary, energy and activity are inspired by every change of season. The soil is adapted to fruit and vine culture and diversified agricult- nre, a large quantity of cereals and general produce being shipped from the Marietta sta- tion. The output for 1889 amounted to over 100 car-loads of grain (wheat and barley), 200 car-loads of wheat, barley and alfalfa hay; and several car-loads of hogs, poultry, eggs, honey, various sorts of vegetables, wool and hides. The fruit yield from the young orchards coming into bearing was more than was needed for home consumption, and it will be an item of export for the future.

Apples, pears, quinces, peaches, nectarines, apricots, prunes, plums and cherries are grown, all of excellent quality. All deciduous trees set out at two to three years old bear the second year thereafter. Those set ont in 1885 have all borne a profitable crop in 1889. Orange trees on the mesa are thriving, as also English wal- nuts in orchards lately planted.

The population of the town and neighbor- hood is about 800, and it is rapidly increasing. The society is excellent, being intelligent and cultured. Among the material evidences of prosperity are: a first-class hotel, with a good table and excellent service; railroad station, express and telegraph offices; a good school- house, a good church building, a drug store, jewelry store and barber shop, saddle and har- ness shop, blacksmith shop and several stores which supply the greater portion of the Temé- cula country with general merchandise, this being the business center. There are also many fine residences, and there is published a weekly newspaper, the Valley Union. This locality, like most others of Sonthern California, has suffered from the reaction following the " boom times," which, in 1887, sent the prices of land in the valley up to balloon figures. The feeling of the more substantial portion of the community was always adverse to this extrava- gant speculation, and attempted to keep the prices down to a practical basis, and land values

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

at present are actually lower than at any time during the history of the colony, lands suitable for raising fruits, vines or alfalfa being pur- chasable at from $7 to $50 per acre, and good orange land at proportionate figures. The present residents of the valley are now mostly out of debt, and even " forehanded," being self-sup- porting, prosperous and happy.

ELSINORE.

This colony lies on the line of the California Sontheru Railway, eighty-seven and a half miles from San Diego, twenty miles south of River- side, thirty-seven miles south of San Bernardino, and ninety miles east of Los Angeles. It is on the old Laguna raneho, so named from the lake or lagoon around which lie the 10,000 acres of the tract, being the largest lake in the county, and five by two miles in area.

This ranch was bought, subdivided and placed upon the market in 1884, by Graham, Collier & Heald, long before the " boom" days of 1887-'88, and became an established progressive community. The early settlers were calm, con- servative-minded men, and established thet- selves here upon testimonials of the soil itself, the rich, moist land near the lake, and the warm, sandy soil of the highier mesa, being adapted to every variety of fruits and vegeta bles; and to-day the fruit-producing qualities of the soil and climate are no longer an experi- meut, and each year adds to the acreage thus planted. The citizens of the colony have lately organized an irrigation district, under the Wright act, which adds greater inducement and stimulus to the fruit producer.

Aside from the store of wealth in the tillable soil, the hills and mountains around add to their service of shelter and protection to the valley, an abundant store of inineral wealth in mines of coal, clay, asbestos, lime, rock, etc., furnish- ing labor to large forces of men, and establish- ing a permanent basis of trade between mechanic, merchant and farmer, while the fame-deserving hot mineral springs and the salubrious climate attract many of those transient tourists and in-

valids upon whom inany other places have been wholly dependent, and contribute their quota to the general prosperity of the town and colony. To-day Elsinore has established herself as the leading town and colony of northern San Diego County, and by far the most important railway station between the city of San Diego and River- side. The shipments are often as much as two cars a day of hay, coal, fire-clay and manufac- tured sewer-pipe and pottery-ware, fire-bricks, building blocks, etc., and always far exceed the receipts or incoming freight.

The town of Elsinore is situated one and one- half miles from the railroad station, in an alcove on the shore of the lake by the same name, which precludes a view of the town from the station, but elegant and comfortable haeks are provided by the hotels, and are in waiting at each train.

The town has just passed its first anniversary as an incorporated city of the sixth class, having in the time made many municipal improve- ments in the streets and parks, tending to the comfort and welfare of its citizens.

The town supports two banks, three hotels and two elegant and well- arranged bath houses, two drug stores, one hardware, two grocery, two dry-goods and one large general store, be- sides a plumber, two milliners, meat shops, blacksmith shops and other industries demanded by the community. The city has a well regu- lated water system, supplying pure mountain water.

There are in the town of Elsinore two schools and one large school building, five church or- ganizations, and two elegant brick church build- ings, and others in contemplation. As before stated, Elsinore colony and city are growing communities, some of the most substantial im- provements above named having been made within the last year, and that speaks volumes for any community in southern California. There are within the radius of the Elsinore colony three other schools and two churches, and four other towns or trade centers, the most important of which are Wildomar and Terra

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Cotta City, these each having a postoffice and trading facilities. At the latter place are located extensive sewer-pipe works, three miles to the northwest of Elsinore City. This valley is easily reached by rail from San Diego, San Bernardino or Los Angeles, being ou the direct line of railroad between the two former cities, with a daily train service.

The Chaney coal mine near Elsinore is be- ginning to attract much attention. It is owned by Madison Chaney, the original discoverer, D. M. Graham, of South Pasadena, and William Collier, of San Diego.

Before the discovery of this coal, not a single joint of salt-glazed, vitrified sewer-pipe was man- nfactured on this coast. To-day large factories are in operation, deriving their clay also from this locality. The works at Elsinore are operated by coal from this mine, and their steam power is by far the cheapest in Southern California. This coal is also used in the kilns for burning the ware, with the addition of some stronger coal at the last to fix the glazing. Millions of tons of fire-clay are found with the coal, and will prove an important element. It is now used in the manufacture of sewer-pipe at Elsi- nore and Los Angeles, being the material from which is made the fire-brick lining the kilns at both places. It is also used for making fire- proof paint and boiler covering, by the J. D. Hoff Asbestos Company of San Diego. The coal vein is from four and a-half to seven feet thick, and the mine can furnish 150 tons daily, with development of more if required. While not of the best quality, this is good coal, and it is expected the grade will improve with develop- ment. It is used in the Good Hope mine, and in the railway shops at San Bernardino.

Another important and valuable mineral re- source of this district is the asbestos industry, which is being developed by the John D. Hoff Asbestos Company of San Diego. No better illustration of its value to the county could be supplied than the work that is now being done by the company at Governor Waterman's mines at Jnlian. In the first place the raw material

was taken from its natural location, near Elsi- nore, was brought to the works of the company at Pacific Beach, and having been converted into the manufactured article, is now being ap- plied to its various uses at the mines mentioned, in each instance giving employment to many men, and keeping the money within the county. The huge boilers and steam pipes is being made for that purpose, every building is being painted with the asbestos paint and, indeed, wherever an opportunity offers itself to utilize the products of the company, no matter in what form it may be, advantage is taken of it. The principal uses to which the asbestos is put are in the manufacture of honse and roof paints, boiler and steam-pipe covering, fire-proof roofing and asbestos stone lining cement. In all the com- pany has ten asbestos locations, namely: The King, Elsinore, Jumbo, Kate M., and Joseph mines at or near Elsinore, and the Murray mines and extensions, comprising five locations, on the Colorado desert. The construction of the branch line from the Elsinore mines to that of the Cal- ifornia Southern Railroad, will, of course, greatly facilitate the operations of the company in transhipping the raw material to their factory. The only long-fibre asbestos mine son the continent west of the Rocky mountains, is located in the Elsinore district. Its value, of course, cannot be accurately determined, but many tempting offers have been made for it. It is owned by this company. Some very fine specimens of this long-fibre asbestos are on ex- hibition in the offices of the company on Fifth street, where a very interesting cabinet of San Diego County mineral specimens is also to be seen. The albestos at the Elsinore locations is very plentiful, and is now being taken out in open ents, but it is the intention of the com- pany, this spring, to sink experimental shafts on the desert locations for the purpose of ascer- taining the extent of the deposits.

Besides the elements already named, there are here no less than 183 mineral springs, ranging from almost boiling heat to icy cold- ness, and varying as much in their elements as

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

in their temperature. Their medicinal proper- ties are already becoming famous, and for the invalids who seek to profit by their virtues the managers of the colony lands have caused the construction of a large, comfortable bathing- honse and other conveniences. Elsinore has shown something of her agricultural potential- ities by her exhibits at county displays of prod- ucts, and by the section's yield during the year of 1889, which produced 2,000 centals of wheat, 3,000 centals of barley, 60 tons of dried and 12,000 pounds of canned fruits. The water supply is abundant; besides that available for irrigation from wells and from the San Jacinto river, a great increase inay be had by means of tunnels through the high hills across the lake.

WILDOMAR.

In 1885, the same parties who had laid out Elsinore, founded, five miles further southeast- ward, on the line of the California Sonthern Railway, the village of Wildomar. This is a beautiful and thriving village, well-watered, and on soil admirably adapted for citrus fruit- growing .. It has a good school, and good churches, the Presbyterian and the Society of Friends owning church buildings. There is a mail twice daily, a blacksmith and wagonmaker, and three stores carrying general merchandise. The people are industrious and sober.

ENCINITAS AND VICINITY.

The section of San Diego County known as Encinitas contains abont 25,000 acres of land and lies twenty-eight miles north of San Diego, bounded on the south by the San Dieguito river, on the north by the Agua Hedionda Ranch, on the east by a rocky range of hills that form the western boundaries of the San Marcos and Escondido valleys, and on the west by the majestic Pacific, from off whose bosom the never ceasing mild, yet invigorating breezes blow.

The name Encinitas (little oaks) is derived from the Los Encinitas Rancho, now the property of the Kimball Brothers, but during the Span-

ish regime the home of one of those famous and hospitable Spanish pioneers, who have al- most passed away into the dim past. The writer has been told that in early days the ranch house grounds made one of the loveliest spots in the county, with its orange and banana groves, and that many love tales and reminiscences of the place still linger in the minds of the old Span- ish señoras.

But that romantic age did not long withstand the money-making era that has displaced nearly all those old seats of Spanish occupation.

In 1881 the building of the California South- ern Railroad aroused attention to this hitherto neglected section, and attracted home-seekers, and before 1884 all the available government land was taken up by an enterprising class of people, who amid many difficulties soon began changing the brush jungle into cultivated fields and orchards.

In 1883 a small town site was laid out on the banks of the ocean, the Cottonwood creek running through it, which contains an abundant water supply, and the nucleus of our present town was started, the first on the line of the railroad. A postoffice was soon established, and this was followed by an express and telegraph office along with other accessories of civilization, until now the town contains about eighty build- ings and a population of 150 people, two hotels, three general stores, drug store, livery stables, blacksmith shop, weekly newspaper, etc., but no saloons.

Contrary to most southern California settle- ments, the surrounding country is ahead of the town, and quite a number of auxiliary settle- ments have sprung up around Encinitas, having postoffices and stores of their own. Merle, Mer- rigan and Olivenhain may be classed among these, Encinitas being their railroad shipping point.

The settlement of Merle is about two years old, and has made a splendid growth and de- velopment within that time, a number of gen- tlemen of wealth and culture having located there and are building nice homes.

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

It will not be amiss to say that the Merle Horticultural Society of this distriet is the proud possessor of the Los Angeles District Fair blue ribbon for the " best table beets," and that nearly all of the first and second prizes for the best "corn display" at the late Escondido Fair were proudly borne away by this section.

Olivenhain was settled about five years ago by a German colony, but internal dissensions and wrangles kept development back for a time. Now some thirty families have prosperous and happy homes in the fertile valley of the San Elijo, where they farm for profit.

The soil is principally a heavy, sandy loam, very fertile, easily cultivated, bountiful in its returns, and when properly cultivated, very re- tentive of moisture. Fully two-thirds of the area of this district is perfectly frostless, and is adapted to the cultivation of the lemon, olive or fig.

The climate is as near perfection as it is pos- sible to find, averaging sixty-five degrees the year round. Records kept for the past nine years show the lowest temperature in the town to be thirty-nine degrees, and the highest ninety-eight degrees, and that for only an hour or two during an east or desert wind. In the valleys and wet lowlands the temperature falls lower and rises higher.

The principal crops raised have been beans, corn, wheat, barley, sorghum and hay. Thirty bushels of wheat to the acre is the average yield, and thirty-two bushels the best. Forty bushels of barley to the acre is the common yield, with clean, bright grains that will yield 120 pounds to the sack. Corn is the staple among the cereals, and ninety bushels to the acre is no uncommon yield, while 103 bushels is the best record this year. Sorghum has been tested somewhat, and has proved a success, the syrup being of fine flavor and finding a ready sale at remunerative prices; the yield is about 100 gallons to the acre, at an average price of 75 cents per gallon, or $75 per acre.

Vegetables all do well, but market gardening has not been tried to any great extent. Decidu-

ous fruits do well, particularly figs and apples. The citrus fruits have not yet been well tested, but there is a considerable area of the district well adapted to the orange. Grapes flourish, as do also berries, particularly the strawberry.

All of the crops, trees and vines mentioned, except berries, have been grown without irriga- tion, but our people are keenly alive to the necessity of having an ample supply of water, and are anxiously awaiting the completion of the Pamo or San Luis Rey reservoirs.

AGUA HEDIONDA.

This rancho, slightly north of east of Escon- dido, is the property of Robert Kelly, who, de- voting it to stock-raising. has it entirely under fence. This tract contains good vineyard land, and may soon be brought into cultivation.

ESCONDIDO.

This, " the Hidden valley," was formerly known as the Wolfskill Ranch, or Rincon del Diablo -- " the Devil's Corner." It is a part of the San Marcos region, and comprises 13,000 acres, well adapted to the culture of grain, alfalfa, citrus and deciduous fruits and grapes. The soil is deep and rich, and mostly of the de- composed granite variety, so desirable for orchard land.

In 1885 Escondido was purchased by a syn- dicate of San Diego capitalists, who at once instituted an admirable class of enterprises. They laid off a town site, villa tracts, and small holdings for orchards, farms and vine- yards. They built a $25,000 hotel, and a $10,000 school-house; the University of South- ern California erected a $50,000 college; there are fine brick churches, one of which cost $7,- 500; a large brick bank block, with a public hall containing a good stage; a number of bus- iness houses, carrying large stocks; water-works and street railway. No saloons exist in this model colony town, owing to a clause in the deed of conveyance which forbids the sale of liquors on the grounds purchased. A great flmine is in process of construction. There is

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

telephone connection with San Diego and other points.

The Central Railroad, to connect with the California Southern at Oceanside, running from San Diego via El Cajon, Poway and Escondido, was begun over two years since. The popula- tion is 800 to 1,000 and constantly increasing. In the near vicinity are many points of histor- ical interest. The enterprise displayed in its founding, its location, its salubrious climate, and its resources, make Escondido a point with an assured future.

During the past season Escondido exported eighty tons of raisins, graded as A No. 1 in the New York markets. They netted to their pro- ducers from $65 to $108 per acre on unirrigated land. Among other shipments from Escon- dido the past season were 720,000 pounds of honey; 650.000 pounds of wheat; 11,000 sacks of oats; 8,722 sacks of barley; 625 sacks of corn, and 515 cords of wood.

OCEANSIDE.

Only some four years old, Oceanside has made most remarkable growth. It lies on the coast, at the month of the San Luis Rey river, forty miles northwest of San Diego, and some four miles from the old Mission of San Luis Rey. Here is the junction of the Santa Ana branch of the California Southern Railway, and here the terminus of the San Diego Central, via El Cajon, Poway and Escondido, and it is on the surveyed line of the extension of the Southern Pacific. Behind it stretches the great and rich San Luis Rey valley, whose fertile fruit and farming country promise a large future interior trade, already so far toward real- ization that various San Diego merchants have found it profitable to establish there branch business houses.

Oceanside is the natural southern port and outlet for San Bernardino, Riverside, San Jacin- to, and the rest of the immediate country to the northward. It is also the natural outlet for the fine valley traversed by the Escondido branch of the railway, which embraces Buena,

San Marcos, and Escondido. It is the western ontlet for the San Luis Rey valley, containing 20,000 acres of the richest land in California; a section rapidly filling up with thrifty people, who contribute largely to commerce. More- over, to Oceanside is tributary all the country sonthward, as far as Encinitas.

The Oceanside postoffice is the distributing office for Escondido and all the country tribu- tary to that point, and hence it has become quite an important item in the postoffice service. Mr. Weitzel, the postmaster, had to report for the year ending September 30, 1889, a money-order business of $13,000, besides a good business in stamps, box rents, etc.

The original town site was on section 22, being a sheep range occupied in 1862 by A. J. Myers, to whom a patent was issued in 1883. The site now embraces three additional sections-23, 26 and 27.

A city charter was adopted in July, 1888. The inhabitants are between 600 and 700, and they are for the most part of a high order of worth, and moreover very enterprising and ag- gressive in a business sense. Large neighboring tracts are being opened up and piped to water by the San Luis Rey Water Company, which is one of the most notable institutions of the city. This organization is opening up a vast field of back country territory, making to bloom land hitherto regarded as almost worthless, and greatly increasing the value of land already un- der cultivation, by piping water to hundreds of thousands of acres. Besides this, the company purposes to furnish power for manufacturing purposes, utilizing for electric currents the power of their immense sluice-ways, through which the water falls for hundreds of feet; and thence they will convey the power to factories, grist-mills, canning-houses, etc. Hy- draulic engineers say that this company will have 65,000 horse-power available. And whereas by the cost of fuel it now costs about $100 for every horse-power used of mechanical pow- er, the new enterprise will be enabled to furnish power at one-fourth that rate. This little sca-

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

side city already has various robust and flour- ishing manufactories, and industries which would be creditable to any long established set- tlement.

The Russ Lumber and Mill Company has done business here since Oceanside started. It has furnished lumber for nearly every house in the city.

It carries a full line of all kinds of lumber, including sash, blinds, mouldings, etc. Since the boom, trade has been mainly with the sur- rounding towns and ranches tributary to Ocean- side. The country trade increases every year.

The Oceanside Mill Company is an institu- tion of which the city may well be prond. It inanufactures sash, blinds, doors, boxes, etc .; carries a full line of wood working machinery, and does all kinds of wood- work for house for- nishing. It does a large business in bee ma- terial, including hives, boxes, etc. At one time this year the inill ran for two months on this branch of the business alone. Here tanks are manufactured for all the surrounding country, from Oceanside to Smith Mountain. In con- nection with the planing-inill, there is a grist- mill department, where feed of all kinds is ground; also corn-meal and graham flour. Feed and corn-meal are shipped to San Diego and other places by the car-load. Custom work is done for people in Fallbrook, Escondido, En- cinitas and other points.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038