This Colony is two miles from Merced City, California. Merced, from
its fine fountains, is now known as “The Fountain City.” It is the
county seat of Merced County. The Southern Pacific Railroad, a
transcontinental line, passes through this place, from San Francisco
to New York. The Oakdale Line from the north also starts from Merced
City, giving direct communication by rail with Sacramento Valley,
Oregon, Washington, and all points north. Merced City is the nearest
point in the San Joaquin Valley to the great Yosemite Park, and
commands the only passable railroad route to this “World’s Greatest
Wonder.” Merced City also lies in a direct line from Yosemite, through
Pacheco Pass, in the Coast Range, to Del Monte, on the Bay of
Monterey. These great natural advantages are now being developed on a
scale commensurate with nature’s own great gifts. The largest and most
costly irrigating canal in the United States has been completed, and
is now discharging the crystal snow waters, fresh from the Yosemite
Falls, into Lake Yosemite, one mile from this colony. Thus we find
ourselves in the possession of a combination of nature and art, which
present advantages in climate, health, water privileges, wealth of
soil and their productions which are not as fully possessed by any
other locality in California. And, as an enduring crown to our
prosperity, we point to the late Act of Congress of the United States
in setting apart the Yosemite Park, with her giant Sequoia and
sugar-pine forests, insuring and perpetuating the annual snow and rain
on the watershed of our canal system. The Yosemite Colony contains
about 5,000 acres, and is beautifully situated by the side of Lake
Yosemite, and bounded on the north by the fine Colony of Rotterdam.
“The Yosemite” was the first colony subdivided and placed on the
market after the perfection of our irrigating system, two years ago;
and a large main ditch was then brought by the proprietor from Lake
Yosemite to and through these lands. Young Orange Groves, Almonds,
Prunes and Apricots, Figs, Pomegranates, Peaches, etc., etc., have
already been planted; also several fine young Raisin Vineyards, of
only two years’ growth, which this autumn produced raisins of the most
superior quality. The soil is from four to twelve feet in depth, with
under strata of heavy, rich clay, which will always insure an
abundance of moisture, when with proper irrigation. These lands are
all free from alkali, and about one-half of them situated on the rich,
alluvial plain; the other half are gently rolling, and extend into the
red gravelly soils, so much prized for Olives, Oranges, Lemons, Wine
Grapes and Strawberries, while the lower levels are especially prized
for the famous Muscat Raisin Grape, as well as for the Prune, Almond,
Pear, Apricot, Alfalfa and Vegetables. Merced City, situated one
hundred and fifty miles from San Francisco by rail,--one hundred miles
from the coast,--in the center of the San Joaquin Valley, is also the
exact geographical center of the State--north, south, east and west.
We are not offering you land that has not been thoroughly tested to
produce what we advertise. Neither are we offering you hog wallows,
salt grass and alkali flats; but we offer you a block out of one of
the richest fields of California. As to health, we challenge the whole
world to surpass us. Our locality is free from malaria; and fogs in
summer and autumn are unknown in this dry and equable climate. Not
only is our locality free from fog, and fanned by the gentle
invigorating sea-breezes from the south and southwest, but we are
protected from the harsh, desiccating northwest winds, offering a
retreat to the weak and ailing; and its rich and attractive location
contributes greatly to its charms.
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,