AND PACIFIC COAST GUIDE.

245

 

north, 470 miles. Los

 

 

 

Angeles is an old town,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

having been settled in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1771. Itislocated atthe

 

 

 

 

 

southern base of the
Sierra Santa Monica
range on a_ gradual
slope, and is completely
embowered in foliage.
The vineyards, in and
around the city, are very
numerous; they are to be
seen on all sides, equaled
only by the number of
orange, lemon, and fruit
orchards. It is really a
city of gardens and
groves. Then, as one
rides to the westward,
or the southward, mag-
nificent plantations
stretch away as far as the
eye can reach. Here is
the wealth of the tropics;
here can be seen the
orange, lemon, lime,
pomegranate, fig, and
all kinds of tropical and
semi-tropical. fruits, at-
taining to the greatest
perfection; here will be
seen the huge palm-tree,
the banana, the beautiful
Ttalian and Monterey
cypress, the live oak,
pepper, and the eucalyp-
tus, as well as the orange and lemon
trees in the grounds and parks, gar-
dens and lawns, of almost every citizen’s
residence. One orchard—situated in
the heart of the city, the “ Wolfkill *—con-
tains 100 acres. In this orchard are 2,600
orange trees, 1,000 lime, and 1,800 lemon
trees; besides, there are adjoining 100
acres in vineyard. But why particularize?
Look where you will, and you will see
vineyards and orchards laden with luscious
fruits, and will be ready to exclaim:
“Why, oh, why was ‘mother Eve’
driven out?”

Leaving Los Angeles, we will take the
cars on the

Los ANGELES AND INDEPENDENCE Rat1-
ROAD— under the management of the
“Central” Company, of which W. J. L.
Moulton is Assistant Superintendent, and
speed away to the westward. The first
few miles is through the edge of the city,
and then past a succession of vineyards,

 

 

YUCCA PALM OF MOJAVA DESERT.

See page 241.

orange and fruit orchards, nurseries and
groves of planted trees. Then come
broad fields and pretty little farm-houses ;
then through a succession of deep sand
cuts, and the broad ocean appears, and then

Santa Momnica—called by some
the “Long Branch of the Pacific Coast.”
It is certainly a beautiful location, and if
it does not attain the same popularity as
its namesake, on the Jersey shore, it will
not be for lack of natural advantages. Its
location is one of surpassing loveliness—
infront the Pacific Ocean; in the back-
ground the noble range of the Sierra
Madre. Far out to the seaward looms up
mistily the island of Catalina. The facili-
ties for bathing could hardly be better.
The beach is fine, the sand hard and
smooth, and the slope gradual, with no
terrors of undertow to appal timid swim-
mers. The place is protected from cold
winds by a pruminent head-land, and the
climate Is very equable.