For scenic beauty it has but few, if any, superiors in California. Standing at the lake, or on any other elevated point on the Colony, a most inspiring panorama is presented to the eye. The vision reaches one hundred and fifty miles south and east, and takes in the ever snow-capped Sierra Nevada; thence south and southwest we follow the long blue line of the Coast Range to the Mt. Diablo, one hundred and thirty miles to the northwest, in the vicinity of San Francisco. Looking to the north and east, you see looming up the grand Sierra Nevada, with its mantles of perpetual snow, seemingly so near in the pure air that, although it is one hundred miles to the summit, strangers are almost tempted to quit the green colony fields and visit them as an afternoon stroll.
A fine school-house has been erected on the Colony, at a cost of $5,000, and is now in good working order. Trees of one and two years’ growth border most of the avenues, including Palms, Locust, Olive, Magnolia, Eucalyptus, Mulberry, etc., etc.
Under our irrigation system the owner of the land purchases water from the Canal Company which is filed in the County Recorder’s books, and is then inseparable from the land, and is always conveyed as a part of the realty.
We now offer you this land, together with perpetual water-right, at from $150 to $200 per acre, according to quality and location. No land will be deeded to any persons except actual settlers. As inducements to families, we will plow and prepare the land ready for planting, as our aim is to settle these lands with families. Payments may be made in installments to suit purchasers. We make the following liberal offer to those who do not feel able to pay cash for the land: The purchaser is to build and occupy a neat and substantial cottage; also build all needed outhouses, paint or whitewash the same, and plant the land to such trees and fruits as may be agreed to be the best. This done the first payment will be deferred for five years, one-quarter to be paid annually thereafter. Said sum agreed to be paid to bear eight per cent interest per annum from date of sale. Deed will be given purchaser when he builds and plants, and the purchase price secured by mortgage on the premises. A family with from $1,500 to $2,000 to make their improvements can settle down and safely wait until their fruits or raisin vineyard come into bearing. The whole purchase price should be produced from the lands the fifth year.
For those who have not experience, or are desirous of avoiding the expense of team and tools, we will plant, cultivate, irrigate and care for their orchard and vineyard until it comes into bearing. It will be worth about $25 per acre to furnish and plant the first year, and $10 to $15 per acre each year thereafter. The above figures mean compensation for good, first-class work.
We have already some fine planted tracts for sale, embracing Raisin Vineyards, that will come into bearing next year (1891), also young Orange Groves, as well as deciduous Fruit Orchards. We also aim to keep a vacant cottage on the Colony, for the accommodation of each newcomer until such time as he can build on a lot of his own choice. Deciduous Fruit Trees can be planted commencing January 1st, and as late as the 1st of April. Orange Trees in March and April. Grape vines, rooted or cuttings, should be planted in February or March. Peaches and Apricots will bear light crops the third year. Pears, Almonds, Figs and Oranges will begin to bear the fourth year. Raisins begin to bear, from the cuttings, in the third year. One year’s time is gained by planting rooted vines. It is safe to expect $50 per acre the third year from rooted vines, and $100 per acre the fourth year, at least, gross product. A respectable cottage should be built, with from four to five rooms, at a cost of from $500 to $800; barn, $200. One pair of horses and harness, $150; milch cow, $25; tools, $25; wood is high, $7 per cord; flour, $3 to $4 per barrel of 200 lbs.; beef, from 6 cts. to 10 cts. per lb.; hens, from $5 to $7 per dozen; eggs, from 25 cts. to 50 cts. per dozen; building lumber, $25 per M. in the valley or farming sections of the State. Male labor on the farm, $30 per month, except four or five months in the summer, when they receive $1.50 to $2 per day. Female labor has never been ample, and commands from $20 to $30 per month. Families coming out here can bring with profit all clothing, bed-clothing, table cutlery and such articles as would not be bulky. Large furniture or farming implements will not bear transportation.
The very favorable conditions existing for small farming in this rich valley of California, where water can be obtained to render crops certain, are not generally known in the East and Europe. For instance, our breadstuffs (wheat) must be shipped around Cape Horn to Liverpool to find a market. Beef and pork the same. Our wool also has to go around the Horn or across the Continent. The consequence is that the fruit farmer eats the cheapest bread and beefsteak of any people in the world. Our woolen mills are able to furnish the finest and cheapest clothing worn. Labor is high, and everything the small farmer produces is high, including poultry, vegetables and fruit, and will always be so. The big farmer can’t get at this business with his steam engine and long sickle. We can close Europe and the United States out of the fruit-producing business, and force them to become consumers. Why? Because of the certainty of our crops, and because we have the whole valley for a drying house.
Address or call upon the undersigned, owners and proprietors,
V. C. W. HOOPER &. SON,
Merced, Merced County, California.
EISEN & STEWART,