USA > California > Kings County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 18
USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 18
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The establishment of these two schools at so early a day amidst a population so sparse, clearly indicates the progressive spirit of the early pioneers and exhibits anew the cropping forth of the cherished longing to place their children on a higher intellectual plane than it had been the lot of the fathers and mothers to ascend. And Visalia became the educational center of the valley. From as far south as Tejon and as far north as the Merced river, students came, for everywhere the idea was strong to secure for their children the best.
The seminary and the academy flourished for a number of years -- in fact, until their usefulness was over, which came to pass from the betterment of the public schools and the establishment near the big centers of population of colleges, universities and normal schools of high order.
Tulare's schools are now among the best in the state. There were at the close of 1911 one hundred and fourteen primary and grannar schools in the county, employing two hundred and twenty- six teachers. There are also seven high schools in the county and three joint high schools, employing sixty-one teachers. There were in 1910-1911, 6,845 pupils in the grammar and primary grades and 892 in high schools. There were 523 graduates from the grammar grades and ninety-six from the high schools.
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POPULATION
For a number of years the population of Tulare county did not increase very rapidly. When the county was organized, in 1852, the total white population was estimated at one hundred. By the census of 1860 it was given as three thousand; in 1870, 4,533; 1880, 11,281; 1990, 24,574; Kings county was ent off in 1893, and still, the census for 1910 gave old Tulare 35,543. The present population has been closely estimated at 47,500. The census figures for 1910 of some of the different cities and villages are given below. To arrive at their present population add from thirty to forty per cent: Angiola 44, Auckland 22, Badger 13, Dinuba 970, Exeter 660. Frazier 29. Hot Springs 22, Kaweah 28, Lindsay 1814, Orosi 590, Pixley 64, Por- terville 2696, Tulare 2758, Visalia 4550, White River 94, Woodville, 76, Farmersville 550.
One thing was very noteworthy by the last consns, and that was the rapid increase of population of rural districts as compared with the incorporated towns. All showed a marked rate of increase, but the country's rate was much larger. It would seem that the ery "back to the farm" is being heard. The whole county showed a rate of ninety-three per cent. increase in ten years.
PROPERTY VALUES
The best index to the prosperity of a people is the assessment roll. As that ebbs or flows, so will the prosperity of the citizens.
The first assessment roll of Tulare county, in 1853, consisted of a single sheet of foolscap paper and there was not a single piece of real estate assessed. The property in the county consisted entirely of horses and cattle. That year, when the county treasurer went to Benicia to settle with the state, the state comptroller and the state treasurer had no knowledge that there was such a county as Tulare in exisence. However, the state officials accepted the small sim (abont $75) that Tulare county tendered toward the support of the state government.
The assessment roll of 1855 is a curious document. It contains three hundred and forty two names, this including those to whom a poll tax only was assessed. It totals $437,225. Three parcels only of real estate were included. These were Jones & Robedee. 320 acres-$640: San Amelia ranch, eleven leagues, $50,000; Ignacio Del Vallo, acreage not given, $100,000.
S. C. Brown was rated at $550; John Cutler at $960, and Richard Chatten at $410. In the roll of 1858, Andrew G. Harrell's name appears; he possessed forty head of Spanish cattle and one horse, of a valuation of $1,040.
The wealthiest residents of 1855. according to the assessment. outside of Mr. Del Vallo and the San Amelia ranch owners were :
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Elisha Packwood, $23,735; Pemberton Bros., $14,075; S. A. Bishop, $21.875: Reuben Matthews & Co., $10,070; Patterson & Hazelton were given as worth $1,210.
The assessment roll of 1860 showed the following: Acres of improved land, 20,313; number of horses and mules, 4,245; number of cattle, 42,373; number of sheep, 16,521; number of swine, 32,546; bushels of wheat, 40,268; bushels of corn, 6,355; bushels of Irish potatoes, 4,067; bushels of sweet potatoes, 1,656; pounds of wool, 16,900; pounds butter, 30,380; pounds cheese, 14,970; gallons of wine, 1000; tons hay, 980; schools, five. Real estate valued at $372,835; machinery, $32,763; livestock, $1,212,381. Total debt of the county, $33,262.46.
In 1880 the values had increased somewhat and the total assess- ment roll showed property values to be $6,411,378. In the next ten years property had taken a double somersault. The assessment roll showed for 1890, $21,740,817. In 1893, Kings county, with the rich towns of Hanford and Lemoore, was cut off from Tulare, yet the assessment roll for 1910 showed the people of Tulare still possessed $37,475,140 worth of property listed by the assessor. Surely the people are to be felicitated. Each year sees an advance in the rate of increase.
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CHAPTER XVIII TULARE'S OFFICERS
For the number of years since organization, Tulare has had a long list of official servants. Yet there are few counties in any state that can point to a list with fewer unworthies and a larger number of honorable and devoted men.
SUPERVISORS
Under different statutes the board has consisted of five and again of three members, and sometimes the fully authorized number was not elected. The following have served, being either elected or appointed in the year set before their names.
1853-Loomis St. John, A. J. Lawrence, John Poole, Henry Burroughs, Warren S. Matthews.
1854-J. T. Pemberton, C. G. Sayles, Anson Hadley, W. S. Matthews, A. H. Murray.
1855-Anson Hadley, J. C. Reid, D. L. De Spain.
1856-James Persian, William Packard.
1857-P. Goodline, R. W. Conghran, J. C. Reid.
1858-G. E. Long, A. A. Wingfield.
1859-E. Van Valkenberg, J. (. McPherson.
1860-William Campbell, R. K. Nichols, H. W. Niles. 1861-Pleasant Byrd.
1863-A. M. Donelson, R. K. Nichols, Tipton Lindsey.
1865-W. R. Jordan.
1869-C. R. Wingfield, D. Stong, James Barton.
1871-W. E. Owen, C. R. Wingfield, James Barton.
1873-E. N. Baker, James Barton, Samnel Huntling, Edwin Giddings.
1877-J. H. Grimsley (succeeding Baker).
1879-J. H. Shore (succeeding Barton).
1882-S. M. Gilliam, W. H. Hammond, J| W. C. Pogue, C. Tal- bot, S. E. Biddle.
1884-T. E. Henderson, M. Premo, J. W. C. Pogue. D. V. Robin- son, G. E. Shore ..
1886-James Barton, J. W. Newport.
1888-J. H. Woody.
1890-James Barton, S. L. N. Ellis, J. H. Fox.
1892-T. E. Henderson, T. B. Twaddle, S. M. Gilliam.
1896-Robert Baker, T. B. Twaddle, J. W. Thomas.
1898-D. V. Robinson, R. N. Clack.
1900-R. W. MeFarland, T. B. Twaddle, W. H. Moffett. 1902-W. E. Hawkins, J. M. Martin.
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1904-R. W. McFarland. T. B. Twaddle, George Birkenhaner.
1906-E. Tout, J. M. Martin.
1908-A. C. Williams.
1910- Robert Horbach.
1912-Fay Singleton.
THE JUDICIARY
Under the old constitution the judicial system provided for dis- trict courts, the districts composed of a number of connties, and county courts.
District Judges: In the organization of Tulare county it was attached to the fifth judicial district, which included all the San Joaquin and Tulare valleys and the Sierra Nevada south of Cala- veras county. Charles M. Cramer was district judge, holding court at Mariposa.
In 1858 the thirteenth judicial district was created, which included Tulare, Fresno, Mariposa, Merced and Stanislans counties. For this district the following were elected: Ethelbert Burke in 1859; A. M. Bondurant in 1863; Alexander During, appointed in 1865; A. C. Bradford in 1867. and re-elected; A. C. Campbell in 1875; W. W. Cross in 1877.
County Judges: 1852, Walter H. Harvey; 1853, John Cutler, 1858, Robert C. Redd; 1859, William Boring. E. E. Calhoun was appointed May 9, 1860. In 1860 C. G. Sayle was elected ; 1863, Nathan Baker; 1867, S. J. Garrison, who resigned, and S. A. Sheppard was appointed; 1873, John Clark, who served until the adoption of the new constitution when the office was merged in the superior court.
Superior Judges: W. W. Cross, 1879, and re-elected. The legislature of 1891 anthorized a second superior judge, and Wheaton A. Gray was appointed. This act was repealed by the next legislature. W. A. Gray, 1892; W. B. Wallace, 1898, 1904, 1910. The legislature of 1910-'11 created a second department and J. A. Allen was appointed by the governor in 1911.
THE LAWMAKERS
State Senators: At first Tulare county joined with Fresno in electing senators, but later the senatorial distriet was confined to Tulare, Kings and Kern counties. The following have served the county, the date following the name being the date of election: James II. Wade. 1852; J. A. MeNeil, 1854; Samuel A. Merritt, 1856; Thomas Baker. 1861; J. W. Freeman, 1863; Thomas Fowler, 1869; Tipton Lindsey, 1873; Chester Rowell, 1879; Patrick Reddy, 1882; John Roth, 1886; George S. Berry, 1890; W. A. Sims, 1894; II. L. Pace, 1898; I. O. Miller, 1906; E. O. Larkins, 1910.
Assemblymen: In the assembly district Tulare and Inyo counties have for a long time been united. The following is a list of those elected to the assembly, the date being that of the election: John T.
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Tivy, 1853; Thomas Baker, 1854; Robert R. Swan, 1855; O. K. Smith, 1856; A. H. Mitchell, 1857; James M. Roane, 1858; Thomas M. Heston, 1859; O. K. Smith, 1860; Jas. C. Pemberton, 1861; J. W. Freeman, 1862; Joseph C. Brown, 1863; E. W. Doss, 1869; John Burkhalter, 1871; W. Canfield, 1873; J. A. Patterson, 1875; W. S. Adams, 1877; A. B. Du Brutz, 1879; Rufus E. Arrick, 1880; Allen J. Atwell, 1882; E. L. De Witt, 1884; A. B. Butler, 1886; George S. Berry, 1888; W. S. Cunningham, 1890; W. H. Alford, 1892; D. V. Robinson, 1894; W. P. Boone, 1896-98; H. Levinson, 1900; A. M. Lumley, 1902-04; P. W. Forbes, 1906; G. W. Wylie, 1908-1910.
SHERIFF
William Dill, 1852; O. K. Smith, 1853; W. G. Poindexter, 1855; J. C. Reid, 1859; J. C. Pemberton, 1860; W. C. Owen, 1861; John Meadows, elected but did not serve; John Gill, 1864; Tilden Reid, 1865; W. F. Thomas, 1867; A. H. Glasscock, 1869; Charles R. Wing- field, 1873; J. H. Campbell, 1877; M. G. Wells, 1879; W. F. Martin, 1882; Alfred Baalam, 1884; George A. Parker, 1886; D. G. Overall. 1888; E. W. Kay, 1890; A. P. Merritt, 1894; B. B. Parker, 1898; W. W. Collins, 1902-06-10.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
J. B. Hatch, 1852; D. W. C. French, 1853; S. C. Brown, 1856; Samnel W. Beekman, 1865; S. A. Sheppard, 1863; S. (. Brown, 1865; A. J. Atwell, 1867; R. C. Redd, 1869; A. J. Atwell, 1871; George S. Palmer, 1873; W. W. Cross, 1874; E. J. Edwards, 1877; Oregon Sanders, 1882; W. B. Wallace, 1884; C. G. Lamberson, 1886; W. R. Jacobs, 1888; M. E. Power, 1890-92; F. B. Howard, 1894; J. A. Allen, 1898; Dan. MeFadjean, 1902-06; Frank Lamberson, 1910.
ASSESSOR
Dr. Everett, 1852; J. B. Hatch, 1853; (. G. Sayle, 1855; T. C. Hays, 1859; R. B. Sayles, 1861; E. H. Dumble, 1863; A. H. Glass- cock, 1865; T. H. Hawkins, 1867; F. G. Jefferds, 1871; Seth Smith, 1882; D. F. Coffee, 1890; J. F. Gibson, 1894; Arthur Crowley, 1902; T. H. Blair, 1910.
SURVEYOR
J. T. Tivy, 1852; Early Lyons, 1853; George Dyer, 1854; J. K. Scott, 1857.
The election of surveyor was neglected at times, and the office temporarily filled by appointment by the supervisors, O. K. Smith being appointed on several occasions.
J. F. Lewis, 1865; J. M. Johnson, 1867; G. W. Smith, 1871; T. J. Vivian, 1875; J. M. Johnson, 1876; Seth Smith, 1877; Thomas Creigh ton, 1882; John S. Urton, 1886; A. T. Fowler, 1888; A. G. Patton. 1892; D. L. Wishon, 1894; Seth Smith, 1898; Byron Lovelace, 1910.
TAX COLLECTOR
This office, until 1892, was held ex-officio by the sheriff with 11
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the exception of the term from 1877, when H. A. Keener was elected. Since then the following: J. S. Johnson, 1892; G. V. Reed, 1898; J. W. Fewell, 1902.
TREASURER
J. (. Frankenberger, 1852; Charles R. Wingfield, 1853; W. G. Russell, 1854; Erwin Johnson, 1860; John C. Reid, 1861; T. T. Hath- away, 1863; Paschal Bequette, 1865; J. E. Scott, 1867; Wiley Watson, 1869; Pleasant Byrd, 1871; John W. Crowley, 1873; Philip Wagy, 1877; H. A. Keener, 1879; W. W. Coughran, 1882; C. R. Wingfield. 1886; D. S. Lipscomb, 1888; J. W. Crowley, 1894; J. E. Denny, 1898; H. Newman, 1902.
RECORDER
A. B. Gordon, 1852; County Clerk ex-officio, 1853; Louis L. Be- quette, 1861; T. J. Shackleford, 1863; W. F. Thomas, 1871; J. E. Denny, 1875; C. S. O'Bannon, 1877; J. E. Denny, 1882; W. F. Thomas, 1884; J. M. Johnson, 1888; C. E. Evans, 1890; J. E. Denny, 1892; Ira Chrisman, 1894; J. O. Thomas, 1898; Ira Chrisman, 1902.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
This office has usually been combined with that of coroner. In 1854 L. Meadows held the office independently, as did W. G. Daven- port in 1861 and H. A. Bostwick in 1862.
AUDITOR
The clerk and recorder held this office ex-officio until 1877, when the following served as noted: W. L. Kirkland, 1877; J. F. Jordan, 1879; Ben Parker, 1882; D. G. Overall, 1884; C. T. Buekman, 1886; W. W. Rea, 1892; E. M. Jefferds, 1894; T. H. Blair, 1898; Austin Foucht, 1910.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
During several years the county clerk has been ex-officio super- intendent of schools. In 1855 W. G. Russell was elected. after which the clerk filled the office until 1861, when the following served: B. W. Taylor, 1861; J. W. Williams, 1863; T. O. Ellis, 1865; M. S. Merril, 1871; S. G. Creighton, 1873; R. P. Merril, 1875; W. J. Ellis, 1879; C. H. Murphy, 1882; S. A. Crookshank, 1890; J. S. McPhaill, 1894; S. A. Crookshank, 1898; C. J. Walker, 1902; J. E.Buckman, 1910.
CORONER
W. H. McMillen, 1852; I. N. Bell, 1853; S. T. Corley, 1856; H. C. Townsend, 1859; M. Baker, 1860; J. D. P. Thompson, 1860; W. A. Russell, 1863; J. R. Hamilton, 1865; Joseph Lively, 1867; D. L. Pickett, 1871; R. P. Martin, 1873; W. A. Russell, 1875; L. D. Murphy, 1877; L. M. Lovelace, 1879; T. W. Pendergrass, 1888; O. S. Higgins, 1890; T. A. Sheppard, 1892; J. C. MeCabe, 1894; T. C. Carruthers. 1898; E. R. Du Brutz, 1902, died in office; T. M. Dungan, 1904; filled vacancy; L. Locey, 1910.
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CHAPTER XIX
TULARE COUNTY TODAY
Just a trifle over fifty years ago the schoolboy who knew ni .- lesson said, "Tulare county is bounded on the north by Mariposa county, on the east by the state of Nevada, on the south by Santa Barbara county and on the west by the summit of the coast range of mountains." The schoolboy's father, well informed for his day, would have replied in answer to a query as to the county's resources and productions: "It's a derned good cattle country and mebbe, if what I hear about the feed in them mountains is so, it might be a blame good sheep country; and they've found gold up there and the's lots of good farming country along the creek bottoms down here."
True and simple answers, these-how much more difficult today to render such! For now, although a vastly smaller area is embraced within the county, the continued discovery of marvels of nature, the finding of unexpected stores of wealth, the effects of man's assaults upon the fastnesses of the Sierra and of his energy and toil applied to the fertile diversified plain have made of it a task difficult and complicated in the extreme.
When the boy and his father, fifty years ago, described the county and told us to what it was adapted they did not mention that down from those mountains came streams of such volume that the waters, spread over hundreds of thousands of acres of plain, would increase fertility enormously and render possible a diversified culture of fruits and grains and forage. This they could know but vaguely. They did not tell us that beneath the parched plains and worthless hog- wallow land below the foothill slopes ran subterranean streams of ceaseless exhaustless flow, which tapped and their waters spread on the surface would succor and bring to glorious maturity groves of orange and lemon and lime. This they did not know at all.
Now could they foresee that season and soil and water distribu- tion would combine to cause certain portions of the county to become famous for the production of the earliest fruits and grapes of the season, that here the French prune and the eling peach, reaching early maturity and producing extraordinary crops, would become wealth producing factors. Nor could they imagine the thousands upon thousands of aeres that were to become perennially green with alfalfa, today supporting great herds of sleek dairy cattle and causing the county to rank almost first in butter production.
And oh, how little of the splendors and the beauties and the awe-compelling wonders that were hidden in that lofty eastern mon- tain range! They said no word of Mt. Whitney, towering above all
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other peaks within the nation's boundaries; they did not tell of the immense groves, or rather forests, of giant sequoias, larger, older, than any other trees on earth.
No tale was there of gem-like clusters of glacial lakes, of vast caverns from whose ceilings depended glistening stalactites; naught was said of gorges and chasms, of tumbling cascades or of bright flower-strew meadows.
Overlooked, too, as a factor of future wealth were the miles upon miles of unbroken forest of yellow pine, sugar pine and fir. And little thought was there of a day when the dashing, leaping, whirling waters of the Kaweah and the Tule would be led quietly through cemented conduits to points of vantage, whence they could be released in almost uncontrollable force to move the wheels of industry throughout the county. Yet these things have come to pass.
And there was a day, that also just a little more than fifty years ago, when Indian George, or Captain George, "big Injun heap." ran as expressman, carrying letters and small packages from Visalia to Owens river, the trip occupying four days. It is a far cry from then to the daily visit of the mail carrier, a distant retrospect from then to the luxuriously appointed through trains that now whisk you to Los Angeles or San Francisco during a night.
Some fifty years ago a freight team from Stockton came bringing twenty thousand pounds of goods. This enormous load aroused great interest. Today without comment train load lots of oranges leave the county daily throughout the season. And so we find that in every branch of endeavor giant strides have been made, and a partial record of the steps is found within these pages.
A few of the events that have transpired within the county's boundaries within the past six decades are recorded here. It is well to take a rapid trip over the territory, view it as it exists today, and form a mental picture of its present condition.
Tulare county, situated about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, at the head of the San Joaquin valley, is one of the largest in the state, having an area of 4935 square miles, or 3,158,400 acres. It has for neighbors Fresno on the north, Kings on the west, Inyo on the east, and Kern on the south.
Its topography, as may be seen by the outline map, is about one-half mountainous, the eastern boundary being the summit of the Sierras. Two large streams, the Kaweah and the Tule, each gathering its waters from an extensive watershed, dehonch into the valley portion of the county and permit of a vast irrigating ditch system. As the sources of these streams lie at great elevations, the flow is high during the first of summer on account of the melting of the snow. The detritus from these streams has formed throughout the valley section a deep bed of alluvial soil varying somewhat in the
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admixture of sand but always friable and productive. A large portion of this delta land is subirrigated to the extent that for the growth of alfalfa, grape vines or fruit trees no surface irrigation is necessary.
Back nearer the hills from this lowland belt the land is found less sandy; there is an admixture of clay, decomposed granite, in some places gravel. These soils range from a light red and very friable to a black dry bog, through red, black and yellowish clay formations. Lying in a strip near but not adjacent to the hills, a peculiar formation known as "hog wallow" land exists. Hunmocks, little hills of two or three feet in height, here cover the land. This latter soil, formerly held to be worthless, has been found highly fertile and is now being leveled and cultivated so that in a short time the sight of a "hog-wallow" field will be a curiosity.
Naturally, each type of soil has proven itself particularly adapted to certain cultures and the great variation in soils and elevations has prodneed a very great diversity of production.
Before speaking further of these we will take a survey of towns, cities and railroads that have been built in consequence of them. Again referring to the map we find two almost parallel lines of railroad extending from north to south across the county. These are the main line of the Southern Pacific and the branch or loop line of the same company which extends from Fresno to Famosa. These two lines are connected by a cross line between Exeter and Goshen, which passes through Visalia and over which a number of the through trains run. The Santa Fe line enters the county near Dinnba and after paralleling the Southern Pacific a short distance cuts south across the county to Corcoran and thence southeasterly across the southwest corner of the county.
Between Visalia and Woodlake, passing through Lemon Cove, an electric line is in operation and between Porterville and Spring- ville is a short Southern Pacific branch. The Big Four, an electric road to connect the towns of Visalia, Tulare, Woodville and Porter- ville, is in course of construction.
The present population is estimated to be about 47,500, this figure being based on the census of 1910, showing 35,440, taken in connection with the increase of election registrations since that time. A fact worthy of note in this connection is that in the decade 1900- 1910, the increase in population of Tulare county was 93.4 per cent.
Visalia, the county seat, with a population of about 6000, is situated at the intersection of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe lines.
Tulare, southward about ten miles on the main line of the South- ern Pacific, and Porterville thirty miles southeast on the branch line of the Southern Pacific, each having a population of about 3500.
Dinnba, Exeter and Lindsay, with populations respectively of
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1500, 1200 and 2500, are also situated on the east side branch line. These are the six incorporated cities of the county.
Dinuba, the most northerly, is the center of the raisin belt, which extends easterly through Sultana and Orosi and southerly to Cutler and Yettem. This district also has demonstrated its peculiar adaptability to the growing of early and late grapes for the eastern markets, and for the production of a general variety of deciduous fruits. Oranges also are produced extensively, particularly near Orosi, and south and west of Dinuha one enters a section devoted to dairying. But as a whole, this entire district is a checkerboard of orchards and vineyards. These, all in small tracts, well-kept and generally well-provided with comfortable country homes, present a picture both beautiful and impressive of assured prosperity. This district is well and cheaply irrigated by the waters of Kings river, distributed through the canals of the Alta Irrigation District. which covers 130,000 acres.
Proceeding southward one enters a belt of undeveloped land, contiguous to Monson on the Southern Pacific branch line. A little dairying is practiced here, but in general this section has been neg- lected. Some leveling of "hog-wallow" land and deep cultivation and drainage would doubtless transform it.
Passing on southward one comes into the rich diversified farming, fruit and dairying section tributary to Visalia. This, too, is the prune belt of the county. Ditches taken from the Kaweah and the St. Johns rivers cover the entire district, which may be said in a general way to extend from Goshen on the west to a point some twelve or fifteen miles up the Kaweall river on the east and to include the territory within a radins of five to ten miles from the city. No oranges are grown in this district, no table grapes and very few raisins. All general farm products, such as hay, grain, corn, pumpkins, Egyptian corn and sugar beets, as well as peaches, pears and prunes, thrive exceedingly and are grown in large quantities. This part of the former wooded belt of the county still retains numbers of fine speci- mens of natural oak trees and many groves, either in their original condition or merely thinned by the woodman's axe. In every direction the vista is bounded at a short distance by what appears to be an unbroken line of timber. On approach this merges into groups of oaks or single trees, perhaps far apart, or consists of the growth of cottonwood and willows growing on the margin of stream or canal. Soft greens of many shades relieve the landseape no matter what be the season. Not only alfalfa, but natural grasses continuously present the colors of springtime. And in midsummer gaver hues, for every- where, by roadside, by fence line or ditch bank or in unplowed fields sunflowers flaunt their yellow blossoms. And the summer's heat striking this fallow moisture-soaked loam canses such a riotons growth
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