USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 46
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"There was a very interesting article published in San Francisco from the pen of Mr. Christadora, a resident of Point Loma, in this city, in which he epigrammatized the unit of a living for a family in southern California as 'a man, and a hoe, and an acre of ground.' Whether Mr. Christadora is correct as to all
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products which may be profitably grown or not, I cannot say, but every one of experience and observation knows that it can be more nearly done here than in any part of the United States, and if he had added to his epigram the words, 'planted in lemons and with abundance of water,' I can assuredly assert that he is right, and I believe I can produce you such facts coming under my own observation in this vicinity as to convince you also. I desire to inform you here of another significant fact of importance to this city, and that is that one of the greatest experts on citrus culture in the United States, if not in the world, has very recently prophesied that on account of our climate and peculiarly favorable conditions, San Diego will become the center of the lemon growing industry of the United States.
"Now for the facts. I know of one lemon grower in this county who, from an orchard of four hundred acres, produced more than three hundred carloads of fruit which were sold at the gross price of more than $325,000. This is an average of three-quarters of a car to the acre or a little better than twelve tons and the returns are a little more than $800 per acre. I know many other individ- ual instances of orchards ranging from one to forty acres, from which were sold more than a carload to the acre, for which product the owners received more than $1,000 per acre. I know of several other instances in this locality where men having small orchards sold their products on the tree to be picked and marketed at the expense of the purchaser, and received for the same from $500 to $700 per acre. And in order to give you, in another form possibly, a clearer idea of what may be done with an acre of lemons, I will call your attention to the fact that the owner of one acre of thrifty lemon orchard can, during the year, present to the people of the United States one hundred and ten thousand lemons and if he received as a contribution for this questionable courtesy one cent apiece, or twelve cents a dozen-which is less than one-half the retail market price throughout the country-he will give in return $1,100. Deduct from this $1,100, say $50 for fertilization and $25 for water (the price of water is much lower than the estimate I have given, but it is the most essential element entering into the growth of lemons and its price is now so low as to give no returns to water companies, I feel sure it must soon be raised) will leave remaining $1,025 out of which to live and pay a small tax upon his property.
"If such owner would add to this acre a family poultry and vegetable garden, which will in nowise detract from the efficiency of his lemon orchard and which will largely provide a living for his family, he will have a great part of the same left to put aside in a savings bank. I can also state that the owner of five acres of lemons. in thrifty bearing, receives annually, as returns from such orchard, a greater amount than is paid in salary to the average bank cashier of the United States, and hence I think you will agree with me that Mr. Christadora's estimate of the capacity of the acre of ground in southern Cali- fornia, if planted in lemons, is absolutely reliable. I may say. also, for the infor- mation of those present, that there were probably brought into this county during the last year from the sale of citrus fruits, in gross, more than $3,000,000, and that this industry is constantly growing in area as well as in profit and that it will soon become, in my judgment, one of the most substantial of all the indus- tries which will support this beautiful city on the bay.
"But, my friends, money alone does not make a life worth living. They
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make money even in Texas, in the fever breeding swamps of the lower Mis- sissippi; in the home of the blizzard, and cyclone and thunder storms of the middle west; in the rigorous climate of New England and in the ice and snow of Alaska; but think of making money and living at the same time in southern California, which is the rich man's Utopia and the poor man's paradise, and God's great sanitarium for the afflicted of the world; where the winters are so warm and the summers so cool that even a thermometer cannot tell one from the other; the only place on earth where people pray for bad weather to give variety and spice to what would otherwise be three hundred and sixty-five sun- shiny days in the year."
EAST SAN DIEGO
Less than two years ago there was a struggling suburb out in the county about four miles east of the center of San Diego. Possibly four or five hundred people, counting children, lived out there. They called it City' Heights, and the government established a postoffice there, naming it Teralta, because it lay four hundred feet above sea level and overlooked the magnificent harbor four miles distant. The territory embraced in that district was practically level and while every one realized that it was a beautiful spot with room for one hundred thousand population none dreamed that the city of San Diego itself would ever become large enough or sufficiently crowded to cause the overflow to seek a home outside the city limits. It was growing so rapidly, and newcomers arriving so fast, its business men so busy, its progress so astonishing that during the past twelve months no one paid any attention to Teralta or City Heights, as many called it. However, it was growing at a rate unprecedented in the history of city making in the state of California. Now it is East San Diego, incorporated November 7, 1912, and is today the largest city of its age in the United States.
East San Diego is a city of the sixth class. It embraces that territory ad- joining, but just east of the city limits of San Diego, to the foothills adjoining La Mesa, and covers a space of two by three miles. It is traversed by splendid streets and that famous link in the ocean to ocean highway called El Cajon boulevard, one of the finest roadways in the world and which attracts thou- sands of automobilists.
Two months old officially, and very little older in reality, it is the second largest city in San Diego county. It already has real laws. One of the first to be passed by the board of trustees was that prohibiting sale or gift of liquor, East San Diego being strictly a city of homes and schools and owing to peculiar conditions never will cater to manufactories or industries. San Diego has terminal and shipping facilities to satisfy thousands of factories. East San Diego has the ideal place of residence and by proper laws expects to maintain its high reputation as a home site, where the main feature of its government is founded on the golden rule-"Do unto others as you would that they do unto you"- a rule under which the board of trustees have drawn all the early ordinances of the new city. Its trustees are busy men, yet gladly give up two nights a week without compensation for the purpose of enacting laws of equal rights. The early history, now in the making, will be a story of the sacrifice of both time and money that its enterprising citizens are giving to build up a model golden rule city, for success is already crowning their indefatigable efforts and tireless energy.
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None of the trustees draw any salary, but what is more valuable, they receive the able assistance of four thousand live wires who constitute the present popula- tion, all of whom are working to establish a clean, healthy, well governed com- munity from which every citizen may receive equal benefit and share the same pride.
The officers are: Mayor, H. M. Holleman, of North Carolina; trustees, Joseph Clegg, of New Jersey; C. W. Quackenbush, of New York; F. W. Smith, of Colorado; E. O. Hobson, of Illinois; city clerk, W. L. Kirby, of Iowa ; treasurer, T. B. Ferris, of Georgia; attorney, L. D. Welch, of Michigan; physi- cian, Dr. E. A. Crokat, of England; printer, C. A. Seay, of Arizona; chief of police, C. W. Justice, of Texas; health commissioners, C. O. Stensrud, of Wis- consin; Dr. Conerly, of Texas; Thomas O. Moore, of Indiana; superintendent of schools, D. A. Simpkins, of Pennsylvania.
OCEAN BEACH
Ocean Beach is young. Just a few short years ago there was practically nothing there but the long stretch of sandy shore, the bluffs that rest upon honey-combed rocks and beat back the white-crested breakers and bare acres sloping gently from the shore to the backbone of Point Loma, three hundred feet above the sea. Now there are bath houses, pleasure piers, restaurants and stores and hundreds of cottages, built in all sorts of picturesque designs, no two alike, but all strikingly suggestive of comfort and ease and home pleasure.
Appealing to the natural nature love in all, there is the sea, with its many moods. Then in contrast, a still lagoon back of a long sandspit ; here and there dunes where the children love to play; a crescent beach; high bluffs at the base of which the monster waves continually play at carving out caves and grottos and fantastic forms. All this is for a foreground. For a background, verdant hill- sides and in the distance mountain peaks.
WILL BE FAMOUS RESORT
Ocean Beach is destined at no very distant day to be the most famous and populous of the beach resorts on the California coast, if only the progress made during the past three years continues at an equal rate.
An electric railroad, seven miles in length, was extended from San Diego proper to Ocean Beach in 1909. From that date the building growth has become more than a summer resort, where pleasure loving people go to spend a few hours bathing or strolling along the beach. It has become a little community of homes.
There are already miles of well graded and surfaced streets with cement curbs, and the rapidity with which these streets are being lined with new and ornate cottages, bungalows and small apartment houses is astonishing.
It is, however, easy to understand why people want to live at Ocean Beach. The place is favored in so many ways. Added to the natural beauty of the loca- tion, with the wonderful view at command on every hand, and with the ocean ever changing, ever changing to the eye, there is the important fact that here is
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to be found quite the most delightful climate the San Diego bay region affords, and that is saying much.
ABSENCE OF FOGS
Strangely enough, there is a notable absence of fogs and strong winds at Ocean Beach. It must be that the conformation of the hills and the curving of the shore line of Point Loma cause this to be so. The fogs seem to rise above it and the winds to pass it by. It is bathed by day in sunshine, and the nights are always clear. To stand upon the bluffs in the early morning, deeply inhaling the ozone of the sea, when the sun peeps over Point Loma, means to add to the number of one's days, and a deep appreciation of each one. When the sun goes down beyond the watery horizon, leaving a streak of silver on the sea and a crimson sky in the west, the feel of the salt air against the cheeks is a delight to the soul.
The surf-bathing at Ocean Beach is a very great attraction, there being plenty of shoal water and yet sufficient wave action or surf to make it exhilarating. To the south of the long crescent beach are stretches of flat rocks and abrupt cliffs, cut with waves that present an unusual interest.
Ocean Beach is on the seaward, now being dotted over the shore of Point Loma, with the homes of San Diego's prosperous people. Fine, well kept boule- vards are the delight of the automobile owner.
DOMESTIC NEEDS SUPPLIED
The business community that has been established at Ocean Beach is a de- cidedly practical one, sufficient to supply satisfactorily all of the domestic needs of the community, although frequent deliveries are made direct from the prin- cipal down town stores of San Diego. For the visitor there are cottages to be rented, also small apartments, all moderate in cost and of sufficient variety to in- sure satisfaction to the individual.
The fact is that Ocean Beach has attained a sufficient building start to guar- antee that it will keep pace with the rest of San Diego, which is about as much in the way of good things as the average property holder can ask.
Ocean Beach has one school building erected at a cost of $5,000. It contains two rooms and two teachers are employed, providing ample accommodation for the present school population. Plans which will be carried into execution in the near future are being perfected for the construction of a church. There are several stores, a hotel, restaurants, real estate offices and other business places. The suburb is being well looked after in both an educational and religious way. All in all, Ocean Beach is one of the most attractive suburbs and one of the most pleasant places of residence to be found near San Diego.
POINT LOMA
This settlement is on the old site of La Playa. Here is located Fort Rose- crans, the United States quarantine station, marine hospital, new and old light house, coaling station and military burial ground, in which is the monument
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erected to the memory of the gallant sailors who lost their lives on the United States gunboat, Bennington, in the harbor of San Diego bay, in 1905. The chief attraction of Point Loma to the visitor, however, is "The Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society" and its unique but beautiful cluster of buildings. As is known the world over, Mrs. Katherine Tingley is the founder of the cult and it was on Point Loma that she chose to establish the home of the society, laying the foundation stone February 13, 1897. Many of Mrs. Tingley's fol- lowers reside at the "Adyar," the official name of the homestead. Others live upon the point in beautiful homes of their own, while a large contingent are residents of San Diego, where recently the society purchased the Fisher Opera House and changed the name to "The Isis." Here Mrs. Tingley gives lectures at stated intervals and also throws the doors open to other entertainments.
PACIFIC BEACH
The above named town is eight miles north of San Diego near the ocean and on the shores of False bay. It was settled in the summer of 1887. In Decem- ber of that year $200,000 was realized from the auction sale of lots, and buildings for the San Diego College of Letters were erected. In 1888, the institution began its first term with a full faculty and Dr. Sprecher as president. Following the boom came financial difficulties and finally the work had to be abandoned. The principal building was converted into a hotel. Today, the village has a prosperous air. There are business places of consequence and many pretty residences, a number of which are owned and occupied at intervals by San Diegans.
FALL BROOK
No section of San Diego county has made greater or more permanent growth during the past year than Fall Brook and vicinity, which is situated in the northern portion of the county, about fifty miles due north of San Diego city. About a year ago the new auto boulevard was completed by the highway commission and a large volume of automobile travel diverted from other routes by way of Fall Brook. A record kept for the year of the number of machines which have passed through Fall Brook, averaging them at three people to a car, shows that more than sixty thousand people have passed through the district within the year, a large number of whom have been charmed with the beauty of the country, with its olive and lemon groves, with its climate, and with the moderate price at which homes may be purchased. These things have brought many people back who have not only purchased homes but become boosters for what many are pleased to call the garden spot of San Diego's back country.
Up to a year ago on account of the poor railroad facilities, few people ever came to Fall Brook, if the trip could be avoided, but now the automobile has placed it almost at the outskirts of the city, and in a way the people are inde- pendent of the railroad, so far as going and coming are concerned. As a result of this new condition, many people have purchased homes here within the past few months and many more are planning to do so. The land which was a drug on the market, is going up and up; olive and lemon groves which were neg- lected for so many years are receiving proper cultivation and yielding proper
THEOSOPHICAL HOMESTEAD, POINT LOMA
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returns. Olive oil and pickling factories, which two years ago were little known, cannot now supply the demand for olive products. Hundreds of acres are being set to olives and deciduous fruits and it is only a matter of a short time until the canning factory will be another Fall Brook industry.
To those who have known "sleepy old Fall Brook" for so many years, her growth, her enthusiasm, her boosting spirit is a pleasing surprise. San Diego wholesale houses and all stores whichi have paid little attention to Fall Brook in the past, would as well begin to take notice, for new life and new blood have been injected into its veins and a young city is building.
The bank, started two years ago, has passed the six-figure mark in its resources and is rapidly creeping up. The merchants have doubled their volume of busi- ness. New people, new wealth, new water systems, better methods of farming, are all contributing to the upbuilding of the Fall Brook district. There is prac- tically nothing which the soil will not produce with proper cultivation, and there is water in abundance to be developed for all products which need irrigation.
With the building of an electric line from San Diego to Los Angeles, via Fall Brook, a wonderful volume of new business would pour into the coffers of San Diego business houses, and every acre of tillable soil along its route will be utilized in some way by the many thousands who are now seeking homes in southern California.
One of the notable transactions of the year was the sale of the Palomar grant to a syndicate of Los Angeles realty men who are now busily engaged in preparing the ranch for subdivision. It is entirely composed of lands suitable to lemons and other fruits.
This one feature alone will mean the addition of many families to the popu- lation of Fall Brook and add thousands to the wealth of the community by the development of lands to the point of producing dollars where they have formerly produced pennies.
Another notable feature is the substantial interest J. R. McKinnie, a Colo- rado millionaire, has taken in this district. He finds it a most desirable place for investment and he has not been at all niggardly in helping the cause of publicity.
The local Commercial Club must not be overlooked, for it has been very active and it has materially furthered the interests of the community.
In the line of real-estate activities, it must be said that more property has changed ownership within the past six months than during the previous years. It is understood that a number of the most active business men are contemplating the erection of substantial business houses of a character that will be a credit to the city. The local newspaper is a good reflection of the progress and ad- vance of the community and the "Enterprise" is proof of such claim.
When California is mentioned to a non-resident, he at once expects a lecture as to the fine climate. Fall Brook can truthfully lay claim to "the best of the best climate. in the whole world." It is much nearer frostless than any other known point in the United States. The average temperature for the twelve months of IQII was sixty-two degrees and the first ten months of 1912 the average was sixty-two and two-tenths degrees, with the maximum for 1912 at sixty-three degrees. '
Fall Brook, which for many years has been noted for the excellence of its primary and high schools, has outgrown its present clothes as far as school buildings are concerned and an election was held early in January to vote bonds
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to the amount of more than $20,000 for the building of a new high-school building. Suitable grounds have been purchased and agriculture and domestic science will be added next year.
Among the enterprising business houses that are contributing largely to the prosperity of Fall Brook and vicinity may be mentioned Samuel H. Griffin, dealer in lumber, lime, cement, etc .; the Messrs. Smelson of the Citizens' Commercial; S. E. Ellis, of the Ellis Hotel; Ridgley & Martin, general merchandise; the Fall Brook Hardware Company ; Fall Brook Mercantile Company ; Eugene Burr, realty and farm implements; H. Dunton, baker; and Shreve & Smith, black- smithing and iron work.
LA MESA
One of the most charming and picturesque suburbs of San Diego is La Mesa, situated eleven miles from the business center of the city on the San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern Railway. Nestling among the foothills of Mount San Miguel, the natural beauty of the situation is enhanced by many artistic improvements. There are few places which could appeal more directly to those who desire practically all the advantages of city life, and at the same time dwell amid country surroundings. To the more wealthy classes whose business in- terests are centered in the cities, country life is a luxury, and a suburban resi- dence twenty or forty miles from their places of business is not thought a mat- ter of inconvenience when compared with the advantages of a country home. Heads of families recognize the fact that the best place to rear their children is in the country and when practically all the advantages of country life can be combined with the conveniences of city life, the attractiveness of the location at once becomes apparent. But it takes a small fortune, even as far as the ground value of the home site is concerned, to own a suburban residence near any of the large American cities. With reference to San Diego, which of course is not a large city, but which will soon be one if it keeps on growing and increasing in population at its present rate, it is distinctly different. Suburban property may be acquired at comparatively low rates and a delightful home in the country may be established at a small cost. This is especially true in the instance of La Mesa. One may own a home here and enjoy all the advantages of churches and schools and rear his children away from all the vices and evil influences of the city, and if his home does not break into the pretentious class, it will probably cost less than it does to own, operate and maintain a first class automobile.
La Mesa, while to all intents and purposes a suburb of San Diego, municipally it has a separate government and is a city in its own right and the major part of its residents are engaged in business which originates in their immediate vicinity. Not only is it a city in its own right, but it is one whose people possess great civic pride, as is evidenced in the well paved, well kept street and other public improvements. La Mesa claims to have more miles of sewers, sidewalks and graded streets than any town of the same size in California. The data is not at hand but the claim is probably true. A further evidence of the fact is the many handsome homes and beautiful lawns.
Five years ago La Mesa had seven houses and twenty inhabitants. Today it has about four hundred houses and one thousand two hundred inhabitants. It has three church buildings and five church organizations-Baptist, Methodist,
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Episcopal, Congregational and Seventh Day Adventist. Among the other things of which La Mesa can boast are an excellent graded school, a bank, a news- paper, an active chamber of commerce, merchants' association, volunteer fire de- partment, Masonic, Odd Fellows, Red Men and Eastern Star organizations, opera house, cement industry, fruit packing houses, various mercantile establishments and other institutions.
La Mesa's chamber of commerce has accomplished a great deal toward the improvement of the town and the upbuilding of the community. It is com- posed of sixty active members.
The citrus industry is the leading industry of La Mesa and vicinity, many prominent growers whose orchards are near, residing in town. There are two packing establishments and for the fiscal year ending September Ist, one hundred and fifty cars of lemons and oranges were handled out of La Mesa. Less than five per cent of the shipments were oranges. While a part of these shipments originated at El Cajon, Lemon Grove and Lakeside, the bulk of them were from La Mesa growers. The growers enjoyed an extremely profitable year last year, their shipments netting handsome returns and the present year promises to be even more profitable. La Mesa lemons always command the highest prices in the markets.
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