Fresno County History

This flourishing little city is located in the southern part of the county, about fifteen miles distant from Fresno City, on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

The origin of the town was the result of a soldier's warrant location in 1878, when J. E. Whitson, the father of the town, pre-empted 160 acres of a sandy desert, as the present town site appeared at the time. The original town plat was surveyed in 1880, when the railroad company built a small to accommodate the farmers in that sparsely settled community. The station was christened Selma, but the derivation and application of the name is unknown to the writer.

But a short time elapsed before it became evident that Selma was destined to assume a position of importance in the county. It possessed all the natural essential conditions that pushed Fresno to the fore, and there appeared to be no element to retard its development and prosperity, excepting the lack of water for irrigation. Private capital was interested in this question, and a few years later a system of canals was applying the revivifying fluid to the parched plains, which were soon converted into green alfalfa fields, vineyards, and orchards. The introduction of water produced its usual wonderful effect. The town grew up as if by magic. Elegant residences and substantial business blocks followed its wake. The people were imbued with a spirit of energy and push, and Selma's future was assured.

The town to-day has an actual population of about 2,000 souls. In 1882 it was the abiding place of barely 250 persons, and in 1887 had grown to 1,000. It can be observed by this that the increase was something extra-ordinary.

The rapid growth in population, however, was not more marvelous than in the number and character of the residence and business structures and the extension of the various business interests. Selma's citizens were also enterprising in the matter of erecting and maintaining some of the best public buildings to be seen in any country town in the West. Among others may be mentioned the two large, well-appointed and handsome school buildings, and the eight commodious and in some instances costly and elegant edifices for divine worship. The town is also blessed with a good gas plant and a complete and serviceable system of waterworks.

Selma has no less than seven well-appointed stores of general merchandise and two family grocery stores, two clothing stores, one boot and shoe store, two drug stores, two large, well-stocked lumber yards, one planing mill, one large raisin packing-house, one first-class flouring-mill, five large blacksmith shops and agricultural implement repairing shops, two butcher shops, three hotels, four lodging-houses, and five livery stables. Within the past year $50,000 have been expended in the erection of needed brick structures. Among the number may be mentioned the Masonic Temple block, which is one of the most handsome and imposing structures, outside of Fresno city, in the county.

The Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Woman's Christian Temperance Union and Good Templars all have large and growing memberships in Selma. There are no less than ten organized Christian churches, with a combined membership of over 450, and employing seven regular ministers of the gospel. There are about 420 pupils in the Selma public schools, which are graded in such manner as to give employment to seven teachers and one principal. The corps of teachers employed rank with the most efficient in the State, and the grade and character of the schools are the best.

Selma Parlor, No. 107, N. S. G. W., was organized in June, 1887, with eighteen charter members and the following officers: W. A. Prat, Pres.; Joseph Brownstone, 1st V. P.; James McLaughlin, 2d V. P.; M. McCall, 3d V. P.; H. Brownstone, Fin. Sec.; H. F. Berry, Rec. Sec.; C. F. Huger, Treas.; and George Fraber, Marshal.

The K. Of P. was organized in 1888; officers as follows: Dr. J. F. Burns, P. C.; W. J. Berry, C. C.; W. C. Borchus, V. C.; L. Harlem, K. of R. & S.; and F. Burkhart, Prelate.

United Ancient Order of Druids, Grove No. 70, was organized in August, 1887, and officered as follows: Dr. E. E. Brown, Past Arch.; Joseph Brownstone, N. A.; W. A. Clifford, V. A.; J. W. Sesnon, Sec.; P. Reardon, Treas.; and W. L. Jones, Cond.

Island No. 10 Post, No. 109, G. A. R., was organized in March, 1886, by A. D. C. C. A. Fuller, of Fresno, with ten charter members. The first officers were Rev. W. L. Demumbaum, P. C.; Marion Sides, S. V. C.; J. E. Whitson, J. V. C.; John All, Surgeon; O. H. VanHorn, Chaplain; Charles H. Robinson, Q. M.; Walter Hobbs, O. D.; and John Maltry, Adjt. The present officers are: John Maltry, C.; William B. Sturges, S. V. C.; T. L. Jones, J. V. C.; B. S. Kirkland, Adjt.; William V. Cline, Q. M.; Charles McClanahan, Surgeon; J. E. Whitson, Chaplain; E. M. Russell, O. D.; C. I. James, O. G.; A. G. Brown, S. M.; William M. Evans, Q. M. S. The number of members has been as high as forty-two.

Court Selma, I. O. of F., was organized in 1890, with the following officers: W. E. Knowles, C. R.; George J. Nees, Sec.; W. E. Jordan, Treas.; and W. L. Chappell, Court Deputy.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized here in 1881. Present officers: E. H. Tucker, Master Workman; J. E. Whitson, Foreman; John Tuft, Recorder; W. L. Jones, Financier; A. Bariean, Receiver; A. E. Brooks, Guide.

The Farmers' Alliance and the Grange have organizations in Selma.

Probably one of the chief factors in the upbuilding of Selma is the press. The two papers there, the daily and the weekly Irrigator, and the weekly Enterprise, have labored indefatigably to proclaim to the outside world the advantageous inducements offered to home-seekers in that locality, and their efforts have availed much good. The Irrigator is ably edited and successfully conducted by Walter T. Lyon and Walter L. Chappell.

The town is located about the center of the Selma irrigation district, organized under the Wright law over a year since. A synopsis of the object and provisions of this grand irrigation measure is given elsewhere in this volume.

Like unto many other sections of the county the soil around Selma is "redlands" and "white ashy," and exceedingly prolific; fruit and grain are grown with great success. Many carloads of such products were shipped last year.

Aside from the grapes shipped green, and the product of many vineyards sold on the vines, the Holton packing-house has shipped twenty-eight carloads, or 560,000 pounds of raisins. Other produce to the amount of 1,789 carloads have been shipped from Selma during the past season. The latter was principally of wheat, with a few carloads of green fruit. Selma is not incorporated, but, with vineyard and orchards closing about her on all sides occupying the rich lands, the citizens will be compelled to protect their autonomy by incorporation as a city.

Real estate in and about Selma is in demand at prices ranging from $75 to $200 per acre, and town lots at from $150 to $500, according to location.

Selma's environments are such that the country is capable of the grandest possibilities if the people manifest an adequate public spirit.

In 1878 Mr. J. E. Whitson, a veteran of the late war, took his soldier's land warrant and located 160 acres of land on what some people considered at the time a sandy desert. In a short time the railroad was pushing southward and he concluded it was about the right distance from Fresno to locate a town and secure a depot, so in 1880 he laid out the town of Selma. A station was established by the railroad company, and from that time on there has been a scene of activity in building, and the country surrounding has been developing more rapidly than any other section of the county save in the immediate vicinity of Fresno city.

Selma has met with a series of the most discouraging reverses in the way of destructive fires, some of the most costly buildings having been consumed from time to time. In the development of the country adjoining it was found that the soil was rich and productive, and the construction of the Fowler Switch Canal and the Centerville and Kingsburg ditch opened up opportunities that have led to extraordinary results. Fine vineyards and orchards have been planted and are now in fruitful bearing. The peach, prune, pear, fig, and grapes grow to perfection, while cereals thrive in the mellow, fertile soil.

Following the discovery of the fruits of the soil, the town had a phenomenal growth which continued for three or four years, during which time a bank was established; Mr. Whitson erected a magnificent hotel building which would be a credit to any city; a large and commodious public-school building was made a necessity, where eight teachers are employed and 420 school children attend for instruction; a large raisin-packing establishment was erected by Mr. Holton, with a dryer and all the necessary attachments; an extensive planing-mill was established by Hall & Brown, and a costly and beautiful Masonic hall is just completed. There are numerous business houses to meet the mercantile demands of a town of 2,000 inhabitants.

The State Bank of Selma was organized in 1887, with a capital stock of $100,000. Twenty per centum of this amount was at once paid up, and on the 14th day of June, 1887, it opened its doors in the east room of the then Matthews-McCartney block, for the transaction of business, with J. G. S. Arrants, president; J. E. Whitson, vice-president, and D. S. Snodgrass, cashier and secretary. It was not generally believed by even the friends and proprietors of the new venture that it could be made to pay more than expenses for the first year or so; but imagine their surprise when their deposits ran up into the thousands and their business at once proved to be all the bank's facilities would permit. It now has a fine brick structure, erected at a cost of $7,500, situated on the north side of Second street, between east Front and High. The business of the institution is now in a flattering condition. The present officers are: President, J. A. Stroud; vice-president, M. Sides; secretary and cashier, D. S. Snodgrass.

The Selma packing-house, costing nearly $5,000, was built in 1889, by S. B. Holton, an enterprising old settler, and it is doing an increasing business.

From the day the town of Selma was laid out it has enjoyed a steady growth. In ten short years she has leaped from a simple wheat field to a city of 2,000 inhabitants. Where ten years ago the traveler in passing the spot on which Selma now stands saw nothing but the plowman at his task or the "separator" driven by the straw-burning thresher engine, and certainly no promise of the Selma of to-day, now stands one of the most prosperous young cities in the San Joaquin valley. When then the passer saw no sign of life other than that furnished him in the delving squirrel or reptile that crawled at his feet, now he sees a flourishing young city, with its elegant dwellings, commodious and substantial business blocks and imposing public buildings, its streets jammed with the spirited teams and serviceable wagons of countrymen and its places of business filled with the choicest products of the best regulated modern farm, supervised by shrewd and enterprising business men. Where ten years ago the observer witnessed only the "springing of the grain" and heard only the rattle of the sickle and realized only a harvest of a few sacks of wheat per acre, he now sees pouring from more than 200 dwellings a stream of youth and beauty 500 strong, and hears the laughing notes of hopeful youth singing on its way up the hill of knowledge, and realizes a harvest of wealth whose true riches can only be estimated or told by saying it is a "full crop" of intelligent and promising girls and boys.

In and around Selma are many of Fresno County's most enterprising citizens. The Hogue & Sesnon raisin vineyard of 120 acres, four miles east of Selma, is almost without an equal in the county, for the intrinsic value of the land, for the facility with which it can be irrigated, for the exact workmanship in planting, for the beauty of the situation, and for the alluring promise it offers for the future.

In looking around and near Selma, a number of farmers were interviewed, who have made a beginning in raising trees and vines, for nearly all of them have in years past chiefly engaged in growing wheat. Mr. W. S. Staley, about one mile south of Selma, a native of West Virginia, came to Fresno County with his wife and child, and $300 in money, in 1876. He purchased eight acres of land at $5.50 per acre. He grew wheat until 1883, when he planted some grapevines, all of which have done well, the crop of 1888, ranging from 100 to 150 pounds to the vine, and the grapes being of unusual size and flavor. His orchard of French prunes is giving great satisfaction. He has refused $200 and acre for his land. E. F. Hammers came to Fresno County in 1877, and bought his farm of 320 acres, one mile south of Selma, at $4 an acre. He has devoted a large area to growing alfalfa, realizing a good profit, and is putting out vines and trees. Without specializing, we will say that all kinds of fruit flourish in the region of Selma. The peach, prune, fig, grape, etc., grow to perfection, and the prices of lands anywhere near the thriving town is conclusive evidence as to the value of farms in that highly favored portion of Fresno County.

SANGER, the "junction city," is one of the most substantial and prosperous towns in the county, yet it came into existence only about three years since. In the spring of 1888 the first house was built there and during the following summer the present town site was platted into lots and sold to intending settlers.

It is situated fourteen miles east of Fresno on the branch railroad to Porterville, and will be made the junction of the Stockton, Oakdale & Merced branch line, the extension of which is now in prospect.

People who have never seen Sanger are unable to appreciate the rapidity with which a wheat field was transformed into a bustling, growing city of 1,200 souls, and adorned with beautiful cottages, well appointed stores, a stately school building, commodious churches, costly brick blocks and large manufacturing interests.

In most new towns the first buildings assume a temporal appearance, but at Sanger there is an exception to this characteristic. The many structures there are artistically planned, well-built and would do credit to a much larger city.

That the people of Sanger have advanced ideas and are progressive was illustrated in the construction of a school building the year

following the birth of the town. The taxpayers very correctly took steps to build a temple of learning sufficiently large to accommodate the attendance for several years to come. The proposition to bond the district in the sum of $10,000 for that purpose met with unanimous favor, and in May, 1889, the building was erected at that cost. It is an imposing structure, comprises several large and well ventilated rooms, and is located on a slight eminence in the picturesque west end of town. Three competent instructors are employed, and Sanger is to be congratulated on the thoroughness of her public school.

Sanger is not behind her elder neighboring towns in the matter of morality and Christianity. Two large and handsome edifices accommodate the church-goers of that city. The Baptist congregation first built a house of worship with a seating capacity of 300, at a cost of about $2,500. The Methodists next organized and erected a fine church at a cost of about $3,000. The building will seat 350 people. These denominations have a large membership and there are two other church societies that have not as yet built temples of worship.

The King's River Lumber Company represent the chief manufacturing interests of the town. It has a capital stock of $1,000,000 and was formed for the purpose of manufacturing lumber in Fresno County on the head-waters of the King's River, where it owns extensive timber interests and has two large sawmills. These mills, when running ten hours per day, have a combined capacity of about 3,000,000 feet of lumber per month and give employment to about 300 men. The lumber is transported to the yards at Sanger by means of a V-flume, which has a carrying capacity of 250,000 feet per day when taxed to its utmost. The flume, with its laterals, is about sixty miles long. The planing-mill at Sanger manufactures sash, doors, blinds, boxes, etc. The officers of the company are: A. D. Moore, President; H. C. Smith, Vice-president; John R. Hanify, Secretary; H. W. Chase, General Manager.

The Sanger Herald chronicles the weekly happenings of the town and community and is industriously engaged in advertising the resources and advantages of that section abroad. The Herald is ably edited, neatly gotten up typographically and its well-filled advertising columns indicate that the citizens of Sanger recognize and appreciate the good work it has been doing. E. P. Dewey is the enterprising and experienced editor and proprietor.

Among those who have been active in making Sanger prosperous as she is, we mention A. J. Elmore, the popular druggist; Frankenan Brothers, general merchants; I. Brownstone & Sons, W. A. Hurry, John N. Albin, of the Hotel de France, and many others. The vicinity of Sanger is destined at an early day to be one of the great fruit-producing regions of the San Joaquin valley. It is located near the thermal belt of Fresno County, where the orange, fig, lemon, peach, pear, apple, grape, and other fruits grow to perfection. The soil is exceedingly fertile and well adapted to the culture if horticultural, viticultural and agricultural products. The land around Sanger is under a private system of irrigation and is embraced within the boundaries of the Selma irrigation district. Sanger has an obvious advantage that home-seekers should not pass by with indifference. We refer to the natural drainage of the country. The town is located within a short distance of King's river, the channel of which is some thirty to forty feet below the plains and affords a perfect system of sub-drainage for the country, which is conducive to the health of the community and the success of every farm enterprise.

MADERA. - With an estimated population of 1,200, Madera is located in the northern portion of Fresno County, on the main line of the Southern Pacific railroad, twenty-three miles north of Fresno City, and 187 miles south of San Francisco. It is the distributing or railroad point for a number of towns not located on the railroad, and a considerable business is transacted here. The business men are enterprising and progressive and are working harmoniously for the general improvement of the town. Madera has many substantial buildings, two large and commodius churches, and excellent public-school system, a bank with a capital stock of $100,000, a number of fraternal societies, and several good hotels. The town has grown very rapidly during the past several years, on the merits of the productive agricultural country surrounding it, and the immediate prospect of an abundance of water for irrigation justifies the hope of the people that a prosperous era is dawning and the belief that a bright and auspicious future is before the town. The Madera Flume and Trading Company transacts the principal business in Madera. This corporation was organized in 1874 by a number of capitalists, associated under the corporate name of the California Lumber Company, but in 1878 this business became the property of another company and the name was changed to the Madera Flume and Trading Company. The principal place of business is at Madera, where the company's extensive planing mill and sash, door and box factory are conveniently located. There is also a business office at San Jose. The officers of the company now are: M. Malarin, President; Return Roberts, Vice-president and Superintendent; J. M. Sheehan, Secretary; E. McLaughlin, Treasurer. The annual product of the mills has an enormous value, and its business is the manufacture of lumber, doors, sash, blinds, mill-work and box material, which find a ready market from San Francisco on the north to El Paso, Texas, on the south and east. The Madera Flume and Trading Company, with a capital stock of $500,000, are the owners of two profitable steam sawmills, one situated on the head-waters of the Fresno river, and the second on the north fork of the San Joaquin, each being sixty miles distant from Madera. Both mills are connected with the yards here by a V-flume which, by the way, is the longest in the world. This flume traverses the entire distance, and was built at an original cost of $460,000. The lumber, consisting of yellow pine, fir and sugar pine - principally the latter - is conveyed from the mills in the mountains to the factory here through the medium of this flume, which thus serves the double purpose of cheap transportation and the removal of sap from the lumber by the action of the water. The waste water from this flume is turned into the irrigating ditches. The two mills in the mountains now in operation manufacture 130,000 feet of lumber per day. Owning 5,000 acres of choice timber land in the Sierra Nevadas, running two large mills in addition to the yards and factory, the Flume Company, under the local management of Return Roberts, constitutes and enterprise of which any city might well fell proud. The sawmills give employment to some 300 men, and about twenty-five men are employed to attend the flume between here and the mountains, and assist the passage of lumber. In the yards and factory here about 125 men are at work, and the monthly pay-roll for the company's business here amounts to about $6,000. The timber resources of the Sierras are almost inexhaustible, and can be turned to account by only such business energy as prompted the inauguration and maintains the efficiency of the Madera Flume and Trading Company.

In 1876 the California Lumber Company had in course of construction the present Madera flume. The exact terminus of the flume had not then been decided on, and Messrs. Chapman and Friedlander, who owned the present town site, and nearly all the adjacent country, offered to the company the property on which Madera now stands provided it would terminate the flume here. The acceptance of the proposition was in fact the birth of the town, although at that time there was not a sign of a dwelling here or any place this side of Borden. The latter place was then quite a village, and the most promising town in Fresno County. This section was then a barren, dry waste, and with the exception of a straggling growth of wild oats was entirely devoid of verdure. In those days a person could ride a hundred miles and not find any kind of habitation. The country was, in fact, a vast stock range, and the stockmen discouraged as much as possible any attempt to convert it into an agricultural region.

The first house built in Madera was a rude shanty put up by the lumber company as a temporary boarding-house for the men working on the flume. During that year the town was laid out and an auction sale of lots took place in September. Captain Mace secured the first choice of this property, and soon thereafter he erected a very commodious hotel. Following this quite a number of buildings were constructed for the employes of the company. The pioneer general merchant of Madera was H. S. Williams. He opened the first store here in 1877. The Madera post office was established in 1878, and, as there were no aspirants to act as postmaster. Finally, as a matter of accommodation to the people, E. Moore accepted the postmastership, which he retained until about one year ago.

The Alabama Settlement Company commenced the improvement and cultivation of land here, and these settlers were the first to test the productiveness of the soil and its adaptability to agricultural purposes. The termination of the flume at Madera was a death blow to Borden, and nearly all the houses there were subsequently moved to this place. One of the greatest drawbacks to the town's growth in its incipiency was the death of Mr. Friedlander. This necessitated the probating of his estate and rendered the issuance of titles to purchasers of town property an impossibility for a long period. This unfortunate circumstance retarded Madera's early prosperity quite seriously. The town has grown gradually in population and wealth, notwithstanding it has experienced several disastrous conflagrations which destroyed the principal business portion of the place.

For many years following the first settlement of the country around Madera wheat farming and stock growing, such as cattle and sheep, were the only industries engaged in. A number of years since, after it had been successfully demonstrated that Fresno County land was peculiarly suited to vineyard culture, a dam was built across the Fresno River (this stream flows along the northern and northwestern limits of Madera) and a canal constructed which carried a sufficient volume of water to irrigate a considerable area of fertile land. It was then that vineyard culture was inaugurated, and following

the introduction of water on the lands several hundred acres were planted to vines which have since developed into thrifty, bearing and valuable vineyards. However, this irrigation system was the property of private individuals and the water supply was limited to their needs. This system has been enlarged during the past two years and irrigation has become more general. A gradual transformation has been taking place and Madera is now the most promising town in the San Joaquin valley.

On November 3, 1888, an election was held for the formation of the Madera Irrigation District, comprising an irrigable area of 305,000 acres, under the Wright law. The vote was almost unanimously in favor of the district, and the following officers were elected: Assessor, W. C. Maze; Collector, E. S. Russell; Treasurer, N. Rosenthal. Directors - Division No. 1. J. H. Shedd; Division No. 2, G. W. Mordecai; Division No. 3, Return Roberts; Division No. 4, J. F. Ward; Division No. 5, J. W. Minturn. Following the formation of the district a competent civil engineer was employed to make an estimate of the probable cost of necessary canals, dams and other works for the district. It was determined that bonds in the sum of $850,000 must be issued, and on March 9, 1889, the bonds were voted. These bonds are of the denominations of $500 each, negotiable in form and payable in installments.

Following the bond election the district filed a petition with the Superior Court asking it to declare all the proceedings of the district legal and in accordance with the provisions of the Wright Law. The decision of the court was delayed by the opposition of several large landholders who own private systems of irrigation within the district. However, Judge Campbell decided on March 4, 1890, that the proceedings of the Board of Directors were proper and legal and the district valid. This renders it possible to proceed with the issuance and sale of bonds.

The Madera Irrigation District possesses superior advantages over any other district in the State by which an adequate supply of water for irrigation can be secured, having, as it does, so many never-failing sources.

Although irrigation has not been general in Northern Fresno County, the country immediately surrounding Madera, to the extent of about 20,000 acres, has been supplied with water sufficient to insure the thrifty growth and early maturity of vines, fruit trees, and all horticultural products, by the Madera Canal and Irrigation Company's system. This company owns seventy-eight miles of irrigating ditches, all in good condition and of considerable capacity. The water supply is received from the Fresno river, and in addition to the natural flow of this stream water is diverted from the north fork of the San Joaquin river and Big Dry Creek, a tributary of the Merced river. The water is diverted by means of ditches in the mountains, near the source of the streams mentioned, connecting them with the Fresno. This system is the property of large landowners in the vicinity of Madera. T. E. Hughes, of Fresno, is the president of the company, and R. M. Wilson, of Oakland, superintendent . L. C. Worthington, of Madera, is the active superintendent of the system, and his extensive experience with irrigation works enables him to distribute the water economically and to the best advantage.

There is probably no other corporation in Fresno County that transacts such an enormous business, or places as much money in the circulation through the employment of a large number of men, as the Madera Flume and Trading Company. It is, in fact, one of the most substantial lumber firms in the West, and it advertises Madera more extensively than any other one thing.

E. H. COX'S YOUNG VINEYARD

was put out in February, 1889, and of the 25,000 vines set out all started and grew with the exception of eight. Their enormous growth since that time is abundant evidence of the adaptability of the soil to vineyard culture. The vines have been regularly cultivated, and the benefit of thorough cultivation is noticeable in their magnificent growth. Last season, when the vines were less than eight months old, clusters of luscious grapes could be found throughout the vineyard. Experienced grape-growers predict that Mr. Cox's vineyard will bear heavily when three years old. We do not believe there is another vineyard in the State of its age that will compare favorably with this one. Mr. Cox is now engaged in putting out an additional forty acres in the vicinity of his vineyard planted last year.

Of course, there are many very thrifty small vineyards in the vicinity of Madera.

COLONIES, ETC.

The John Brown Colony was organized and incorporated in September, 1889, and a syndicate was formed, principally of eastern capitalists, the management of its affairs being placed in the hands of John Brown, who was chosen as the local manager of the corporation with head-quarters at Madera. He immediately purchased 3,500 acres of land, situated seven miles south of the town of Madera, and subdivided it into five-acre lots, and in this the genius of the project was developed.

To give a plain and comprehensive idea of the scheme, an extract is here taken from the plans and specifications of the manager of the syndicate: "We take a large tract and divide it into small lots, taking five acres as our unit, and dispose of the whole tract in such or larger quantities. The purchaser has only to pay a nominal sum, according to the number of acres bargained for, as an evidence of good faith at the time the contract is made, such payment to be credited to him at the time of final settlement, the other payment to be as follows: One-third in one year, one-third in two years and the remainder at the expiration of three years, when he acquires a perfect title to his purchase.

The colony will fence, cultivate and plant the land, receiving as a recompense therefor the proceeds of the third year's crop, as the second year's product rarely even amounts to anything; or else the purchaser can make special and different arrangements; or, if one simply takes land in this colony as an investment, not intending to make it his home, he will procure a property which will yield him each year as much as it has cost him in cash outlay. The idea is that of co-operation in all the expenses until the property is brought up to a producing condition and the land is paid for, when it becomes the individual property of the subscriber."

And again -

"We plant fruits and tend them for three years for the price named. At the end of that time, if the land has not been paid for, we will cultivate another year or two if necessary. We wish to be fully understood on this point. We are not making a proposition to just cultivate for three years and take what crops may be produced upon the land in that time as our entire pay. We put this upon a business basis. The lands must be paid for. We will guarantee the best of cultivation and make all efforts to produce their price as quickly as possible. As we have often explained, it is to our direct interest to do so, for we want our money as soon as we can get it. This plan in fact by identifying our interest with those of the colonists, gives them the best kind of guarantee that the land will have the highest cultivation. We explain this that everything may be understood clearly. We can plant and cultivate the lands for three years for the price named, but we cannot go any further than that, and no reasonable person will ask us to do so after this explanation."

This, in brief, is the plan. Each individual who purchases a lot becomes a member of the association and an assistant in the development of the lands of the colony. The list of members compose many citizens of Eastern States who have never visited California, and who have confidence in the integrity of Manager Brown.

Kingsburg is situated in the extreme portion of Fresno County, near the banks of King's river, on the main line of the Southern Pacific railroad, and 226 miles from San Francisco by rail. The town has a population of 400, according to the last census, and possesses the usual complement of business houses for a town of that number of inhabitants. The surrounding country is very fertile and is watered principally by the Centerville and Kingsburg irrigating canal, a corporation of the farmers owning the land in the vicinity.

From the settlement of the county by the farmers to within four or five years ago the land was principally farmed to wheat and barley, but since that time wheat farming has to a considerable extent been abandoned for the more lucrative business of raising fruit and grapes.

The Kingsbury colony was founded in November, 1886, and its growth to the present time has been very encouraging both to the colonists and the founders themselves; and although the colony has been extended several times, the inquiry for colony lands seems at the present time to be as brisk as ever, and bids fair to continue until all the valuable lands are colonized. The surveying and platting of a new colony, commencing about two miles southwest of Kingsburg and embracing some of the finest land on the river bottom, belonging to the owners of the Laguna de Tache grant, and containing about 3,000 acres, is certain to attract many new people to this vicinity and will materially add to the population of the town in the near future. This new colony is to be known as the Fairview colony, and lies on both sides of what is known as Cole slough. The company is at present engaged in driving piles in the slough to construct a large flume across it to lead water upon the colony lands from the Centerville and Kingsburg ditch.

At the present time the colonists are all settled on the east side of the railroad, but it is only a matter of a year or two when the west side will be offered to settlers in small quantities, as there is an abundance of good fruit and vine land yet farmed to wheat and owned by non-resident speculators.

Land can be bought at the present time with water on it, or near to it, so it can be run upon the land, at prices ranging from $60 to $125, and lying from one mile to six miles from town, in tracts ranging from 5 to 160 acres. Lands when planted to raisin vines rises rapidly in value; and although less than half a dozen persons have sold farms already planted out (and none that have come into bearing), yet those who have sold have realized handsomely indeed from their investment.

One party bought twenty acres, paying $75 per acre therefor, planted the entire lot the first season, and sold the same the second year for $200 per acre. He then bought another lot and is now at work improving it. Another party bought 100 acres, paying $30 per acre for it, getting it at such a low figure on account of its situation and because about twenty acres of the place were in the river and of no value. He planted forty acres to vines the past winter and has very recently sold out for $13,000. He will not leave the county, however, and those who bought from him are convinced that they have secured a bargain.

Other instances could be named, but this is sufficient to show that labor is well paid for here when put out on the line of improvements on land, and no one need be afraid of not getting his money returned, with big interest, when he buys and improves land in this vicinity.

Vines planted and well taken care of the first season have produced the second year as much as 450 pounds of raisins to the acre, worth about four cents per pound, or $18 per acre. One party gathered from nine and one-half acres of vines planted last year 900 trays the present season, the vines being about eighteen months old. Vines six and seven years old yield an average income of $150 per acre. There are only one or two small vineyards of this age in the vicinity.

Fruits of various kinds are grown very extensively in the neighborhood, but the orchards are all young and not in full bearing, and only a few of the older planted trees have yielded as yet a full crop. Instances of this year's crop have been mentioned where peach trees planted five years have yielded as high as six boxes of fruit, or 300 pounds, to the tree. Plums, prunes, pears, quinces, and apricots do equally well, and considering the ages of the orchards Kingsburg has made a handsome showing the past season in her shipments of both green and dried fruits.

Irrigation in this vicinity promises to be but a small item in the farm expenses of the future, as sub-irrigation is rapidly taking place; and where water ten years ago was twenty-five feet below the surface, to-day it is from seven to ten feet, and trees and vines need but one application of water each season after the first year's planting.

The colonies are mainly settled by Swedes, yet there are about all nationalities represented, and a more thrifty and energetic people cannot be found anywhere in the State. Their love of home and its adornment is evident to every one who will take a drive through the colonies and observe the neatness about their homes and the mathematical accuracy with which the different varieties of trees and vines are planted, and the care expended on the trees planted along the roads and avenues leading to and from their homes.

The morals of the people are presided over by five ministers, and four church buildings mark the different places of worship.

The Kingsburg school employs three teachers and has an attendance of about 120 pupils. At the present rate of increase, however, Kingsburg will require another school building within two years, in order to accommodate the pupils.

There are planted in this neighborhood at the present time about 3,000 acres to vines, and about 1,500 acres of this amount will bear the coming year. It is estimated the yield will be about 1,500 acres of this amount will bear the coming year. It is estimated the yield will be about 1,000 tons of raisins, and steps are being taken to build and equip a packing-house the coming season. Heretofore the raisins produced in this section have been shipped elsewhere and packed, as the yield of the young vines up to the present time would not warrant and render profitable the building of a packing-house.

During the coming spring there will be planted a greater area to vines than ever before, and it is estimated that this area will reach 2,000 acres in the immediate neighborhood. It is predicted that within three years it will require as many as three packing houses to handle the raisins produced here, and this industry will bring a revenue to the town and vicinity from its fruit and grapes of $350,000 annually.

Another industry at no distant day, which is destined to add greatly to the revenues of the town, is the manufacture of brick and tile from an immense bed of fine clay adjoining the river and about one and one-half miles from the railroad. Several hundred thousand brick have already been burned and shipped to various places, and they are pronounced by expert builders to be superior to anything produced in the San Joaquin valley in the line of brick. The owner of the property contemplates putting in a tile-making machine the coming year, and will run it in connection with the brick-making business.

Towns like Kingsburg need some such industries to relieve the depression that must naturally exist at certain seasons of the year in all agricultural or fruit-growing communities. With the establishment of manufacturing industries, this period of non-productiveness among the farmers would be noticed or felt in the community, and it would be self-sustaining in a measure.

Real-estate sales have been unusually good of late. There are still some good bodies of land, however, that offer a fine investment for capitalists, who could subdivide it and sell it in small tracts at a good advantage.

There have been some of the finest mineral prospects in the State discovered about thirty five miles to the southeast of here, and it is not impossible that a mining district may yet be developed.

RAYMOND

Raymond is a small town in northern Fresno County twenty-five miles north of Madera, and is the terminus of the Yo Semite branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is here that tourists take the stage for Yo Semite Valley, the great scenic wonder of America. In the vicinity of Raymond are unlimited deposits of fine stone, and the place is reputed to be the granite center of California.

Prior to the building of the railroad from Berenda to Raymond, granite, suitable for building purposes, was looked upon in that vicinity as a sort of "white elephant". The question of transportation being solved, but very little time elapsed before extensive developments were made and Raymond considered the granite center of the State. Raymond claims its quarries to be the best in the State. This claim is not based solely on the quantity of the granite, but on the quality and colors of the rock quarried, and, what is of the greatest importance in all granite, the regularity of the "seams." Larger stone than has been used in any building in San Francisco can be quarried there without the slightest difficulty. Three quarries are now in operation there. One of them is owned by T. E. Knowles & Co., another by J. G. Day and the other by the Pacific Stone Company. Since the quarries were first opened about 750 carloads of stone have been shipped. The stone is of different colors, some being the same as is usually used in cemetery work, the other of a lighter color and more suitable for building purposes than the dark stone. The rock in the quarries splits very easily, another important factor. These quarries differ from a great many others in the State, inasmuch as the stone is above the surface of the ground to a considerable height. Others, or at least a majority of them, are below the surface, and to an inexperienced person would simply be termed "a hole in the ground," rather than a quarry. These quarries can be, and are, worked much cheaper than those of any other section of the State.

Toll House. This settlement is located within a circle of lofty mountains. Two miles north is a canon through which passes Dry creek in a series of cascades of 1,000 feet: distance from Fresno, thirty-two miles.

Abe Yancey opened a hotel here in 1868, and Henry Glass started a blacksmith shop. Ten miles beyond the village are sawmills, reached by a heavy grade, which was a toll road for many years. Alexander Ball erected the first mill here in 1854. Humphrey and Mock established mills here in 1866, which became the property of M. J. Donahoo in 1870: he also purchased the toll road leading to the mills the same year and greatly improved the grade. In 1878 the county purchased the road for $5,000 and made it free. M. J. Donahoo built a planing-mill at the Toll House in 1876. The lumber industry of Pine Ridge has been immense and Fresno County has been much benefited by such enterprising men as M. J. Donahoo, J. W. Humphrey, A. C. Yancey, Henry Glass, Moses Mock and others, who persisted, and were so successful in developing this portion of the county.

A beautiful plateau, level as a floor, known as Markwood Meadows, is situated in the high mountains, fourteen miles east of Toll House, and is a delightful summer resort.

Firebaugh's Ferry. In an early day A. D. Firebaugh established a ferry here. The place is noted now for the great Miller Lux ranch, situated in the vicinity. This immense ranch was noted in the past for the large number of cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep raised thereon.

Buchanan was once a flourishing mining village, but, the copper not proving of sufficient quantity to pay working, the villagers turned their attention to agriculture and stock-raising. As this is in the foothills in the northern part of the county it will ere long be growing quantities of fruit.

White's Bridge is on the new line of railroad and in a fine agricultural country, and will certainly be a good business center.

Kingston and Centerville were early settled points and for a time prosperous villages, but after the railroad was opened for traffic, towns along its line grew up rapidly, and as they grew, the towns inland lost in proportion until their trade is gone, except a small local deal.

Fowler is on the line of the Southern Pacific railroad, ten miles south-east from Fresno City. Eight years ago there was scarcely anything here to indicate even the probability of a town except one or two shanties and a railroad side track; but time has wrought many changes, and now, instead of a side track and a couple of shanties, can be seen a thriving and pretty town of considerable commercial importance, the center of a very large and productive territory.

Fowler represents nearly every branch of business, having two large general merchandise establishments - the firm of Kutner, Goldstein & Co., under the management of Louis Harlem, and the firm of Pratt & Manley; a good drug store, Drs. Jarrett and Cannan, proprietors; a lumber yard, fruit packing-house, three grain warehouses, two hotels, two blacksmith shops, livery stable, meat market, etc. And in this connection it will scarcely be allowable to omit mention of E. W. Brunton and P. W. Hastie, who look after the real estate interests of Fowler and surrounding country. The past two years Fowler has grown very rapidly and many neat, costly buildings have been erected. If the town continues to improve as it has for the past couple of years, and there is every reason to believe it will, Fowler will soon be advanced to the dignity of cityhood.

One thing especially flattering can be said of Fowler's growth - that it has in no wise been the product excitement or a boom. Whatever has been done here in the way of improvement has been substantially done, and those who have come here have come to stay. No empty buildings are here to indicate what has been in other and better days, for every available structure is in demand. And there is still another thing which bespeaks the future growth and prosperity of the town - the fact that it is not in advance of the country surrounding it and upon which it must largely depend for support. Viewed from a business standpoint Fowler is a good town, and offers much encouragement to those who seek her favor and their own good.

If there is one thing above another in which Fowler can especially pride herself it is in her society. Those who live here are a cultured and educated people and know how to appreciate the advantages of education. As a result of this class of settlement the citizens of Fowler have built one of the finest public school buildings in the county, at a cost of $10,000 - an ornament to the town and a monument of credit to the good sense and liberality of those who encouraged by their efforts and means so worthy an object. The building is a large two-story frame structure, handsomely designed and conveniently arranged. The school is graded and two teachers are employed in the departments. The daily attendance now reaches fully 100 scholars, and another teacher will soon be necessary to care for the increase of new pupils.

There are two church buildings in Fowler and three church organizations. The Presbyterians have a neat and comfortable building, and the United Presbyterians are just completing their handsome house of worship, at a cost of $5,000. The other society, the Christians, conduct services in the Good Templar's Hall, a fine two-story frame structure recently built by the order.

The Ladies' Improvement Society of Fowler is the name of an organization which has for its object the promotion of the moral interests of the young men of the place, and under their supervision is conducted a free public reading room, where newspapers, books, magazines, and literature of a high order is furnished those who wish to avail themselves of the privilege.

The Odd Fellows, Good Templars and Farmers' Alliance all have organizations in Fowler, with good enrollment and attendance, and have stated and regular times of meeting.

For a number of years Fowler has been noted as a shipping point, being surrounded by a vast area of the finest wheat land in the State of California, and successive years of fruitful harvest have been conducive to the establishment of grain warehouses at this point as investments, until now there are three large grain storehouses, with a combined capacity of 7,600 tons. And large as this storage capacity may seem to be to those who are not acquainted with the extent of the wheat harvests, still it is a fact that at times even the combined capacity of the three warehouses is taxed to the utmost to accommodate the crop preparatory to shipment.

But the cereal crop constitutes only a part of the product of this portion of the country; wheat is shipped to other markets for distribution and consumption. Fruit-growing is becoming a great industry here, and it has been demonstrated to the entire satisfaction of all who have given it a trial that the quality of this land and the climate here are alike conducive to the successful growth of the finest-flavored deciduous fruits. As far, then, as the growing of fruits here is concerned, it has ceased to be an experiment, and many broad acres of healthy trees in full bearing have time and again attested the wise policy of pursuing this branch of industry as a paying business. The past year here has been decidedly a successful one from a financial standpoint for the fruit-grower, and the man who had a few hundred trees bearing fruit has reaped a golden harvest. Both green and dried fruits the past season have demanded high prices, and people hear are learning that it pays a larger revenue to grow fruits than it does to raise grain. As high a figure as $500 per acre has been realized in this vicinity in 1890 for peaches taken direct from the trees for shipment to the eastern market, and it has been no unusual thing to realize from ordinary orchards from $300 to $400 per acre. The profits on apricots, prunes, and figs have also been very large, and handsome returns indeed have been realized by all whose good fortune it is to own orchards.

In consequence of the unusually early rains in 1890, and in order to facilitate drying and render more certain the successful ingathering and curing of the late fruit crop, the building of individual drying houses has been resorted to by many of the fruit-growers in the neighborhood, and by this means the second and even the third pickings were successfully preserved. Thus, whatever drawbacks have appeared at times to the successful growing and curing of the fruit and raisin crops, the genius of the growers has proved equal to meet. The building of those dryers will no doubt mark a new era in the success of the fruit industry here.

As a result of the great profits from green and dried fruits the past year, ground is being prepared and trees are everywhere being planted out, and the fruit output of this part of Fresno County will be constantly on the increase.

In referring to Fowler as a shipping point the annual raisin pack must not be lost sight of, since it figures as quite an important factor. Most of the vineyards in this neighborhood are young, and but few are in full bearing.

The Fowler Packing House has employed, during the entire season, over sixty hands in its various departments, and this fact alone will indicate something of the extent of the raisin pack and shipment from this locality. But in addition to the raisins packed and shipped by the home institution, many of the growers hauled the products of their vines to other packing houses near at hand, which, when packed, were again brought here for shipment. For the year past the raisin pack foots up in high figures, and reflects great credit upon the productive character of Fowler's soil and the excellent drying qualities of her climate.

The exact shipment from Fowler station for 1889 is:

Grain...........................................688 car loads.

Green and dried fruits....................15 car loads.

Raisins........................................153 car loads.

The shipments of 1890 were much greater, as a result of many new vineyards just coming into bearing this year.

The profits of the raisin yield in this section have been remarkable the past season, four-year-old vines having actually yielded as high as $300 worth of raisins to the acre. Such enormous profits have proved a thoroughly convincing argument in favor of the vine, and a larger acreage of this paying product is being set out here than ever before.

In the territory round about and tributary to Fowler the soil is of two kinds - sandy loam and white ash, both of which are regarded as being very rich and producing fine crops. As to which soil is the better is merely a matter of individual choice, some claiming one and some the other: but both yield good crops. Where there does appear any difference in the relative size or quality of the products from these two kinds of soil, the reason can usually be traced to the care of the vines or trees have received. The difference, then, is not so much in the soil as in the tiller of the soil. No part of Fresno County can boast a better or richer soil in any way than that adjacent to Fowler, and no place produces better crops or more delicious or highly flavored fruits. The raisins grown here are sweet, of reasonably good size and exceedingly pleasing to the taste. Peaches, pears, apricots, prunes, and figs thrive and mature well. In fact, nowhere do they do better than here, and no better paying crops could be planted.

In regard to wheat and barley, the soil is excellently adapted to them, and the climate is such as they need for the highest state of development. But wheat and barley-raising will soon be considered as something of the past in these parts, as they must give way to the more profitable culture of the vine and fruit trees.

Water is everything in a country where irrigation is practiced. No matter how fine the grade of soil, all possibilities lie dormant within it, and it is utterly useless without the life-giving stream. Land in California without water is almost worthless; with water, its possibilities of product are unknown and unlimited. No where in the State of California is there a better, more reliable water supply for irrigation purposes than that which furnishes the lands in the vicinity of Fowler. The supply is never failing and absolutely certain. Three irrigation canal systems flow through these lands, and from these main canals smaller ones branch out in every direction. The three systems referred to above are the Fowler switch, Kingsburg and Centreville, and the Church.

To those who once become accustomed to the methods of irrigation it is in every way preferable to the manner in which nature does her work, since there can be no possible disappointment in the times and seasons, and drouth cannot steal away the hard-earned prize.

HURON and COALINGO. These towns are situated in the south-western portion of the county, on the branch railroad from Goshen to Hanford. Considerable grain is grown around Huron, but it is chiefly noted as a fine grazing country, and the sheepman's paradise.

The most extensive coal fields in the San Joaquin valley are those at Coalingo. Two companies are now engaged in the work of mining the "black diamond." The veins are large and appear to be inexhaustible. These mines supply Fresno and other counties with fuel and find a ready market in Los Angeles.

Reedley, a new, enterprising and very promising place, is situated in the great San Joaquin valley twenty-five miles southeast of Fresno, in the southeast part of Fresno County, and on a branch of the Southern Pacific railroad. It is also in a fine grain and fruit producing section of the State, and unsurpassed as a raisin producing country. This great cash-producing business is only in its infancy, as is the development of the county; and the possibilities of this section are unsurpassed anywhere in the State.

In 1888 the railroad was built, and Mr. Thomas L. Reed gave the company an undivided half interest in 360 acres of land. They platted the town site, and in honor of Mr. Reed named it Reedley. The first sale of town lots occurred April 25, 1889; one year previous to this date the town site was a vast wheat field. After the wheat crop of 1888 had been cut from the land the work of starting the town was commenced, and the next spring when the town lots were sold, a depot, a section house, a warehouse, a store and a post office had been built. The hotel was fully up, and there were two dwelling- houses, quite a distance from the town. On the morning of April 25, the sale of town lots commenced, and at auction that day $16,000 worth of lots were sold. The town has since rapidly and steadily grown and few young towns can boast of such costly brick buildings, and they are a most fitting monument to the enterprise of the citizens of the town. It is live men who make live, growing towns.

Reedley now (1891) has forty dwellings, a fine two-story depot, a $15,000 brick school-house, two good church edifices, several general merchandise stores - one a fine one of brick, costing $17,000. The upper rooms are finished for offices and lodge rooms; and besides there are the drug store and meat market and all the shops usually found in such a town, and two large grain warehouses, one of which has a capacity of about four thousand tons. Then it has a well equipped lumber yard; also a brick yard, two real-estate offices - and in fact everything is represented by intelligent and capable people, and other valuable improvements are under contemplation, with excellent prospects of speedy consummation.

There is a Masonic lodge, just started by the best people in the town; they have an elegant lodge room.

The United Brethren and the Baptists are the church societies. There is a large Good Templars organization and a Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

The foregoing is enough to give some idea of this promising town, having now in the vicinity of 500 intelligent and enterprising inhabitants.

The water supply is all that could be desired, as the grand King's river goes flowing by adjacent to the town, and the whole of the lands in the vicinity are under the Alta irrigation district system, leaving nothing to be desired in that direction.

The Exponent, a recent journalistic venture, weekly chronicles the happenings in the community.

Herndon and Borden. Of the many towns in the county none are located on a more desirable site for a city than the little village of Herndon, on the southern bank of the San Joaquin river. Herndon is but ten miles distant from Fresno, and is a station on the Southern Pacific road.

Borden was once the metropolis of Fresno County, but the birth of Madera, two and a half miles northwest, handicapped its further growth. The town is really surrounded by the richest farming land in the entire valley, and its possibilities, with the application of water for irrigation, cannot be estimated with any degree of correctness. Borden has the advantage if railroad facilities, a church, school-house, two hotels, warehouse and other business enterprises. This is the nearest railroad point to the John Brown colony, and in the immediate vicinity of the town there are many large and well-improved farms. More extended notice of this section appears elsewhere.

Berenda and Minturn. The junction of Berenda has recently commenced extensive improvements. The country surrounding is well adapted to agricultural pursuits, and will be irrigated by the Madera irrigation district system. Berenda is located seven miles northwest of Madera, and is the junction of the Yo Semite branch railroad division to Raymond.

Minturn is situated near the northwest boundary line of Fresno County. The place is simply a station and postoffice, and makes no pretensions as a town. Some of the largest and most remunerative vineyards in the valley are located near there, however, and a large vinery distils a part of the product of the vines.

Fresno Flats is the metropolis of the mountain towns of the county, fifty miles northwest of Madera. It was settled in early days by farmers and stockmen, and several good mines have been developed. Apple and peach orchards in that vicinity produce large and exquisitely flavored fruit. Fresno Flats is the trading point of the mountaineers and sheepmen, who take their flocks to the mountain pastures during the dry season.