The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 98

os dimes SUNDAY MORNING. MARCH 13. 1910-IPART VI HAS THE COua'U. BANNING, A RIVERSIDE COUNTY FRUIT CENTER, IS PROSPEROUS. from Banning.

The name Malku mean "running water." Tne Indian school there is called the "Potrero." As we came to the wire fence along the line of the reservation Graham pointed out the reservation boundaries extending for miles up to the summits of the mountains on each side, there being many thousands of acres with a level valley of about 6000 acres lying between dotted with the orchard! and barley fields of the Indians. The government has. this year, expended about $12,000 in developing a larger supply of water for irrigation by running a tunnel under the mountain, thus giving about 150 Inches of water, which Is led In cement conduits to the different parts -of the farming lands. There are sixty-three Indian families, and 265 Indians on the reservation. The valley land has been surveyed into five-acre tracts, so that about fifteen acres Where Txccnty-five Hundred Acres, Divided Into Small Tracts, Set in A price ts, Peaches, Almonds, Pears, Grapes and Prunes, Has brought Independence Water Supply Sufficient for Many More Acres.

BY E. C. PENTLAND. if ing done. The bruh is very thick and It 1 not an easy country to prospect.

There has been float rock found here that went as high as $25 000 to the ton, but no one has ever discovered the ledge. In the Banning water ditch I once found, after a cloudburst, rock that went $10,000 to the ton; but. although I employed men to search for a it haa never been found. Some day there may be some rich ledges discovered. The drawback to prospecting has been that so mucjt of the land is cither railroad land, deeded land or on the reservation.

A mineral here which wilt some day be developed Is the paint rock yellow, red. blue and black which la only about one mile south of Banning. In Millard Caflon are ir.n and limestone deposits. These are easy of access, being at a distance of only eight miles, and could be reached by a branch The Iron deposits carry also copper and gold, some of the copper being 20 per cent MANY COLLEGE GRADUATES. We were Informed that there are twenty or more graduates of California colleges and universities smong the younger generation In Banning and that there are three Stanford in Banning one for football, one for baseball and the other for track work.

Prof. McLean of the High School Informed us that of the eight graduates in the school this year, six of them will attend some college or university. This speaks well tor the parents at Banning. BANNING CREDIT MEN'S ASSOCIATION. The dbjects of the Credit Men's Association, of which W.

O. Mattjetscheck la secretary, are stated in the constitution to be the bringing together of the business men of Banning and vicinity In close fraternal fellowship; to build up and maintain a bureau of credits for mutual guidance and protection; to provide for the official Indorsement of legitimate advertising devices and to guard agAlnst loss and Imposture from Illegitimate advertising schemes; to devise and execute plans for the proper enlargement and development of Banning and vicinity as a business community." An effoft will be mad to have all the credit associations of Southern California form a federation so that the worlt may be more systematically carried on throughout the territory where there are mutual Interests. In some respects this organization is doing the work of board of trade. The National Bank of Banning has In course of erection a concrete addition to cost $2000 and a Mock of buildings ts being built near by for retail stores to cost about $2000. more.

The Baptist denomination has the plans drawn for the erection of a new church building to cost in the neighborhood of $5000. PLENTY OF WORK. During the months of June, July, August and September several hundred men, women and children earn good wages cutting apricots, peaches and pears, and packing fruit Children, as young as 7 years, can earn money In this way. Women and children from Los Angeles and other towna find It profitable to spend a few months at Banning during the summer vacations, and the fruit picking season. The camping place Is usually on 'wrm an Ills fir Ql AZi'K.

ni mil tf iT lut AX tf ml Hi i.l, ii. mi i.tC ill nFi ii( Mrt Jfm. will go to each Indian. The mountain lands will be held for the use of the whole, until It is opened for settlement. The lndians will have twenty-flve year to xieeupy the land before they can gea title.

This Is to prevent them from selling the lands until they have learned how to farm It, when a patent will be issued to them and they can do a they please with It. We drove bv a twenty-acre tract belonging to Joe Miguel, a full-blooded Indian, who has six acres of as fine fruit trees as you will see anywhere: who has money In the bank, and owns gas stock In the Banning gas plant. The house Is painted; the windows have lace curtains and things look neat and clean. He has six children. His wife died a few months ago.

but his fourteen-year-old daughter keeps house for him. We drove to the agency buildings where we met Miss W. F. Bryan, who was acting as reservation agent In the absence of Miss True, then In New Mexico. We asked Miss Bryan if she was any relation to W.

J. Brysn. She said, "no. but on the contrary could trace a relationship to William McKtn-ley. In the Indian school wrre probably thirty Indian boys and girls.

asked the teacher, Mrs. Gamer, If educating the Indians was showing any practical results' and she pointed out two pupils who were children of parents who had attended school, and she said they were much more forward In their studies than those whose parents had never attended school. We drove tip to the caflon where a score of men were at work rushing to completion the cement cased tunnel, six hundred feet long, which Is to furnish a larger supply of water. Enough water has been developed, it Is thought, to supply the lands lor the Indians to grow grain and fruit. It i surprising how well the Indians take care of their farms, considering the advantages they have had.

AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, In company with Mr. Clark of Banning we visited the St Boniface Industrial School for Indian children, of which Rev. B. Florlan Hahn is superintendent, assisted by eight Sisters of St. Joseph as teachers.

The average attendance has been about 114 boys and girls. The three-story brick building was a gift. In 1889, of Mother Cath erine Drexel of Philadelphia, and cost, with the ninety-eight acre of land, about $35,600. Other buildings have been added, making the total cost about $50,000. The Indian children are fed, clothed and given an education, the funds coming from the mission collections of the Catholic church, the monthly expense being about $1000.

Both the boys and girls are taught to work and are given Instruction along Industrial lines In occupations wjilch will help them to earn a living. This work among the Indians Is said to be bearing very satisfactory fruit. THE MINERAL PROSPECTS. "Are there any minerals In the mountains tributary to Banning?" was asked of J. H.

Seymour. he said, "there are cropplngs of gold, silver 'and copper, and deposits of precious stones. The gold Is In ledges from one to eight miles distant, the trend being southwest to northeast, the ledges ranging width from one to forty feet. The values on the surface have often gone as high as $40 to the ton. The sliver ledges lie north of Banning about eight miles, in Millard Callon.

where there have been assays running as high as $100 to the ton. This Is combined with copper and gold. There are belts of copper strata also, north of Banning, from four to six miles away, extending about twenty-five miles east and west. The copper ledges have never been sufficiently developed to know what there really Is there. A great part of the mineral indications adjacent to Banning are on the Indian reservation.

The reservation covers an area of more than 16.000 acres. When the reservation lands are opened there will then be much more prospect YOU MUST a SrrTTXG In the same seat with me. on a Southern Pacific train out of Los Angeles, was a middle-aged ge ntlfiun, whose dress and gential appearance would point to his being either business man or a mining man. Our train had scarcely left the Arcade Depot when there was a stop of nrarly an hour. re-ion beings tint theatrical company's tcencry cir would, not couple safely on our train, and the adjustment of the coupling caused delay.

This gave an excellent opportunity for conversation, so I asked my fellow-traveler where he was going. "I am on my way to Banning," he said. I have been roaming over the country, for the past ten years, sometimes in California, other times In Arzona, Nevada, Oregon or Washington: sometimes mining, sometimes merchandising. I have always Intended settling down; but have kept putting It off. I have seen Los Angeles keep growing and I have 6een the outside towns double snd treble In population; I have seen the tracts of land where there was only greasewood srowin? a few years ago transformed into vineyards and orchards and or- ange groves, until I am beginning to think that If I don't make a selection pretty there will be nothing left." "Why, out of all towns, have you chosen Banning?" I asked.

"Well, In the first rlace." he said, "I like the people of Banning. Tou won't find in all California a more intelligent, hospitable nor more moral people. They are almost universally industrious, thrifty and well-to-do. The town was formed from a colony of small farmers, on five and twenty acres each, who are engaged In raising deciduous fruits, such as apricots, grapes, prunes, peaches, almonds, pears, etc. To make a success of fruit raising in Calfornla, three conditions are necessary good soil, suitable climate, and an abnudance of water.

These Banning has almost to perfection. The soil Is a sandy loam, slop ing toward the southeast. The elevation of Banning is 2:13 feet above the sea level, so that there Is enough dif- ference between the summer and win ter months to give distinct summer and winter seasons, hence the fruit raised is of a superior flavor. The water supply, coming, as it does, from the mountains, where snow lies nearly the whole year, is pure and never failing. One of Banning's leading assets is its supply of pure mountain water, and this is furnished to the orchard-1st at less cost than any other section.

Banning Is only about eighty-eight miles from Los Angeles on the line of this railroad, so that there Is always a market for green fruit, as well as the dried. "What are you planning to do?" I adjoining the town is a tract of several hundred acres of fruit land now being placed on the market, and I am going to buy twenty acres. I have enough money to pay rash for five acres (J1000.) and I am to get time on the other fifteen acres. I will put up a small portable building on my five acres and will set out the land In apricots, peaches or almonds. Around the outside I will plant a row of fig treos.

Iter I Intend setting out the other fifteen acres, each five acres in one kind of fruit. At the end of from three to four years I anticipate having a yield of fruit that will pay all the expenses up to that time. After that the profits on the crops will pay for the land. I have seen others do it, time and again, and I can do It. A SUCCESSFUL FARMER.

"Now, there Is the case of Conrad Graf, who recently completed a J200 residence on his ten-acre fruit ranch in Banning, who has given a good education to his family of eight children. One of his daughters is teaching in Los and a son Is now attending college. He ons property worth, at least and made It all from raising fru't at Banning. Mr. Graf told me the story himself.

"When I left my native country, Switzerland, I was 36 years of age, was the father of four children, and had living with me my wife's mother. I could scarcely epeak the English language. My uages at first were only $1.50 a day, and my wife often earned more per week than I did. We settled In Banning and Banning has been our home for the past twenty years. We were very economical, afjr tno years of saving, bought our first land, being two and a half acres, for which vre paid, in cash, $700.

I set out two hcres to almonds and later that two acres brought me a return of $So0 In one season. Later I bought some more land adjoir.lng this until I had twelve acres, all- In fruit. Then I bought this ten acres where live, and set It out In apricots. Then I fcought ten acres near the Indian school and set out in fruit. About a year ago I sold twenty acres of my fruit land for and rave remain ing about as much more In have worked hard all my Me bi 'om o.i now on my wife an tske life easier.

I can't be 'rale, how- i ever, Elnce I take an interest In fruit raising, but there is difference between working because you want to work, or because you must work." WAS WELL TREATED. "And there comes to my mind." said my fellow-traveler, "another instance of what Banning docs for those who invest. This gentleman came to Banning two years ago. He told me, himself, that ho bought a wagon and span of horses, when he first came, with which he has been able to enjoy delightful camping trips into the mountainsBanning has some very "outing" places and that he sold the team, after two years' use, for more than he paid. He bought a town lot In Banning, erected a small, but rosy cottage, and has sold it for more than the purchase price.

He bought thirty acres of raw fruit land and can that at a handsome profit. Everything aid, seems easy to me. "I hatre been told. by Mr. Hatha-way, one of the Banning business men, that twenty odd years ago the lands surrounding Banning were sold In ten n4 twenty-acre tracts for fruit raising.

The promoters of the enterprise wore fortunate in attracting a more than usually intelligent -and industries tmm of settlers, hence there now reside in Banning men and women who Jrtvj their homes, their families and fh town of Banning. The snaded the attractive residence, with. and shrubs and well-kept are remarked upon by ctrang- The fact that Banning has an ex- nd sufSripnt supply of cheap for Irrigation, which goes with i i when purchased, one share r-r was what gar the first "--tu in tie developaumt of this tar fmit nOmng. 'The people Ty'vtl you will find but few of the improved properties for sale. Banning is all right.

There are excellent hotels, the business men are courteous and ac commodating and the residents neigh-borly. Can't you stop off at Banning and see it for yourself? There is room for at least 500 more fruit growers, on Ave acres each. There are 'opportunr ties' in Banning." "I believe I will," I said. "I want to be better able to answer the Inquiries of those whom I meet on the trains, in Los Angeles, and nearly ev erywhere, who are for homes. They have been attracted towards California by the reports of the delightful climate, of this part of the State, but they know they cannot live on climate alone, so they are seeking to establish themselves where they can not only enjoy the climate but make a good living.

What has Banning to offer?" My acquaintance made it very pleasant for me during my stay in Banning. I met nearly all the business men and a great many of the orchardlsts, among whom were: J. M. Westerfleld, C. D.

Candy, W. G. Mattjetscheck. C. S.

Holcomb, C. D. Hamilton, C. D. Hauverman, E.

B. McAllister. C. A. Reld, v.

A. Innes. I. II. Gates.

G. M. Fountain, Charles' Mrs! M. J. Tudor, W.

S. Hathaway. J.H. DeVine. C.

H. Warren, C. A. Sweeters, J. J.

Jost, M. G. Jost, J. A. McLean, W.

J. Clark. F. W. Cornell.

N. L. Prince. Mrs. Ida H.

M. Proutv. J. M. Forquer, S.

S. Cutler. B. Barnes. D.

Skulty, R. E. Harkness, B. F. Hahn, E.

S. Tripp, F. M. Butler, C. O.

Barker. B. F. Southworth. J.

A. Ball. George W. Parker. J.

H. Seymour, E. L. Robertson. Mrs.

F. Fraser, Conrad Graf, J. P. Fountain, C. B.

Hughes. BANKING'S WATER SUPPLT. The present water supply of Ban ning comes from Big San Gorgonio Canon, at a distance of six miles in the mountains; at an elevation of 4300 feet above sea level, and 2000 feet above Banning. The present flow of water, for irrigation purposes, is about 600 Inches, and this is sufficient for about 3000 acres of fruit land. Negotiations are now pending between the consolidated Reservoir and Power Company, and the Banning Water Company, which, if consummated, will give the Banning Water ComDanv a preferred right to a certain amount of additional water, which.

It Is estimated, will largely increase the available supply of water for the colony. A tunnel is to be cut through the mountain at an elevation of 7000 feet and the waters of Whitewater River brought to Banning. Not only will there be water for irrigation but also available power sites for developing about S00O horse power, and this will be utilized to great advantage for producing electricity, to be used throughout the valley. The Banning water system belongs to the farmers. It is a mutual company, the stock of the water company going with the land at the ratio of one share for each acre.

There are three thousand shares, of wbloh. so far. shares have been used, leaving 800 shares yet available. The cost of the water is the cost of maintenance and the cost of betterments, the present value of the holdings being estimated at l.tOO.OOO. There are some fine bodies of land near Banning which now are above the line of the present water supply, but this land is soon to have water and thus there will be added to the area of fruit production near Banning about 2600 acres of land.

This will be sold In ten and twenty acre tracts, and will cau.e the population of Banning to about double. This land will be sold especially for the growing of spples. its elevation of 4300 feet insuring a fruit of excellent qtialltv and flavor. Here within a few miles, you find three climates, for the growing of fruit, each superior In its way. The foot hills are for the oranges and lemons, the higher elevations for the peaches, apricots, and the highest elevations for the apple and cherry.

This Is destined to be a fruit center of more than usual variety, even for California. The work of Installing the electric power plant for Banning has already begun and the employment this will provide for the residents will be of mate-ial bneflt to Banning which has a bright outlook for the coming years. SOME STATISTICS. From figures obtained we learn that there are about 2000 acres now in producing fruit orchards at Banning, and available for Tuture use about 3000 acres more. On the 20(H) present acres are 100 orchardlsts, this being an average ownership of twenty acres to each orchardist.

The present population of Banning Is about 1000. In 1899, ten years ago, C. D. Hamilton of Banning read a paper before the Farmers' Institute in which he had carefully collected data showing that the population of Banning was then 276. and the shipments out S00 tons a year.

To learn just what Banning is doing along that line now. figures were obtained, which are reliable, showing that last year the shipments from Banning were 31S4 tons. Tl.is is nearly four times what it was ttn years ago. The this fruit, honey, hay. etc.

is estimated at or an average of for each farmer, and of 100 to eon acre, of the total ioOO. If 2000 "wwrt a town of acres, which will eventually be set out awai.a Ul uwi LIU I niKtU in iruu at tsanning, win support 2500 population or more. Of the shipments from Banning last year, there were 45,333 pounds of honey, 1,083.6:4 pounds of hay, 1.6S5.S6 pounds of prunes. 1.313,059 pounds of apricots, 619.206 pounds of peaches. SI 1.5;; pounds of raisins and grapes.

1.091.395 pounds of barley, 132.502 pounds of plums. 24 37 pounds of pears. 154.26 pounds' of almonds. 143,302 pounds of pits, the total being 169 carloRds. BEAUTIFUL SCENERT.

The rugged snow-capped mountains adjacent to Banning are an ever-present Inspiration, and among the cartons and gorges are many delightful nooks; where the residents of Banning and visitors can conveniently, and at small expense, enjoy an outing. Particularly this true of the new Idyllwild wagon road which has been building and Is now about completed. From Banning out toward the San Jacinto Mountains, to an elevation of 11.000 feet or more. Commencing on almost the outskirts of Banning the route Is picturesque. Forests of pine cast a grateful shade; views of valleys to the east, south and west are constantly chaminr.

Th. ple of Banning are very enthusiast' ure ruio Deauues or this mountain road. Banning has a national bank. In its own building, two livery stables, two hotels and a rooming-house, four ron. eral merchandise stores, two doctors, one dentist.

thre churches, Catholic and Methodist) a High School and grammar school, an Indian inuuBinu scnooi, drug store, two blacksmith shops, newrrvDe r. con crete block plant, undertaker, barber. bakery, grocery, tailor, butcher shop, feM store, barley will, two frh trvtt packing-house, tight fruit Lry 1 if fincyicxoti '3 grower. It could be accomplished, if we-would unite in the movement. There are about 100 fruit raisers at Banning, and there wili soon be twice that number.

We are close together, and this would give nucleus for a fine association, on the same lines as that of the orange growers, the walnut growers, and. in some localities, of the apple growers. Even at the present prices, and under present conditions of doing business, many' of us are doing quite well, but I cannot but think that we' could do better if we were organized. 1 would like to see the good orchardist. who raises a superior article, receive more encouragement than ho does now.

The suggestion has been made that If we had an official grader and Inspector of our fruit, wno was paid for ch package Inspected, and placed on It his official mark as to the quality, and had to pay a penalty out of his bond If the quality was proven Inferior, that it would have a good effect on our prices. We raise a superior quality of fruit here, and we get better prlrea than some localities, but we are still not getting all that Is comftig to us. If we were property organized 1 feel sure our fruit would b-lng us a yearly return of at least $50,000 more than 1t now does. WARDS CF.UNCLE SAM. Is company with D.

D. Graham, who represents the United Ft ate government in allotting lands In severalty to the Indians, we wnt out to th MalkJ Indian reservation about three vim wvr i i vr 1 1c 4t s-rw V' Banning and thereabout. vation, J17.25: irrigation, JS3.05; h'aul- iruii cost, for picking, $4.30 a ton. hauling, $2.13 a ton. yard expense, J4.42 a ton, wood cents a ton.

a total of $11.63 a ton. FAR1TXRB MIGHT ORGANIZE. "Why is it that the fruit raisers of Baniing and vicinity are not organ Ixed into some kinl of a mutual as sotiation for marketing their crop3. similar to the orange men. so that Banning can advertise itself for the superior quality of its fruit?" I asked F.

M. Butler. "Because." said Mr. Butler, "it 1s thought that the farmers will not stick r'u't- The fruit should aa'0 that tne orchardist who "ualit' "uJt could fZZli A rrll'e- nd not hav to "ll 'n crop: MOSl OI OUr BPncctS. Iai-h.

unrl prunes are put on the market, pot as "Banning fruit," but ju-it fruit. What we need rn Banning is some sort of an organixation that wilt piecing of the lower grades' of fruit generate tarkim ti i. 1. nt.i wnai it is reallv worth. and the superior fruit bring "a better price.

That would en con car. th. raising of only tn bnt grades. When our inw oeen so thu retailer often repack H. and obtains enough better price to amply repay him.

This should hava ba done hy the fruit --v All HIPOLITO Self-Regulating I W. v. 'i'Vff1 if ers. one dried fruit packing plant, I I III i the land of the parties employing them, and wood and water can bo I easily obtained. Thus an outing Is had with the earning of wages at llgtit work.

Parents of large families In Banning are fortunate, since each child oan earn (enough during tne vacation season to clothe themselves the whole year. MAY INCORPORATE. Speaking to a Banning business man we asked If the town had been incorporated. "No, not yet" he said, "but we hope to take the matter up as soon as the present fruit season Is over, and we think Incorporation will carry by a vote of two to one. Banning hart changed so rapidly In the last four years that th older residents do not fully realize, that the town Is ready for Incorporation.

We are particularly well situated so far as the Improved part of the town goes, for Incorporation since could take in a strip three to four miles In length and from one to two miles wide, and have, prae- tlcally. all tho district in fruit trees. 1 and include both the residence and business section. We have beautiful streets' and shade trees, which could then be better cared for. We have a water system, and at very little expense added to our present fire protection insurance rates would he considerably lowered.

When the new power plant Is completed w-e expect to nave electric lights, and then we will make other Southern California towns take notice." HAVE IT A Brand New Ideal Com bination It will revolutionize window" construe- tion. See that your contractor uses it. or write for folder. SASH COMPANY Main 1806 Ladies4 Tailor 622 8. Broadway, Room 301.

ROLLER SCREEN and REVERSIBLE WINDOW Call HIPOLITO SCREEN FS190 634-38 MAPLE AVE. lumoer yard, gas plant, snoemauer, ing iruit to depot. 111. 95. making a to-water works, telephone.

hardware' tal of ll.u.io. or $10.05 an acre. The Bmimc Fruit Fmms Will be placed on the market, by the undersigned, about April lit next This tract, of several hundred acres, is already being spoken for, In ten and twenty-acre subdivisions, with water. Those wanting to know more about this opportunity to secure Banning Fruit Laid should address, 0. C.

BARKER BANNING, CALIFORNIA. store, pool room. ice plant, pnotog-1 rapher, etc. Tnere is said to be room for a steam laundry, some kind of an amusement enterprise'and a garage, FHUIT RAISING FAYS. B.

F. Southworth's apricot orchard of two and a half acres has netted, so I was told, $900 an acre for the past five years, or an average of $180 an acre per year. Ten acres of apricots belonging to Paul M. Davis has netted $500 an acre for the past three years, or $166 an acre per year. The Shirley peart orchard paid, on the tree, to $410 an acre for three cort- secutlTe years.

We were the books of a prune grower the actual returns on Ms twenty acres of prunes, for the past five years. In 1905 the income was $22S8 05i in 1906 It was in 1907 It was I In 190 it was and In 1909 it was $057.75. These prune trees were fourteen years of sge In 1905. The average yield that year was $114 an acre. In 1S09 the income had Increased 10 iu re.

car prunes wens at a low price. Tae.net profits on the twenty arres last year were $117 an acre. This same gentleman kept a detailed statement of his expenses on fifteen fccres, and the furores he gav us are interesting, especially the trutt grower. Hauling and burnir-g brush cost JCS; 1 Ready Made Uf)! QFQ and Portable RvUO L0 H. J.

miMSD, MHO, 37 Cluiir if tattrci, In Itjiltj S. Lippman, Formerly with Marshal Field Co Llld J. MeQh, Ladies' Tailor 12? 0. BROADWAY, Third Fluor. Phone F645S, I.