Sari Juan Baytista, California *-./u4?^^>>^. .^t '^i.' -7'- '-^i-ffw* -/■:> AND SAN JUAN VALLEY SAN KENITO COUNTY (-. -^ V ISSUED BY TME 0)3.(1 Juan Va-\U_j I]MUROYE]VIENT CLUB ifSfe-- LOCATION The place of which this booklet is written is locat- ed in a southerly direction, about 90 miles from San Francisco. The San Juan valley is at once one of the most fertile, healthful and beautiful places in the State of California. The town now called San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) is one of the oldest settlements on the western coast, it having been founded with the establishment of the Mission of the same name in 1797. Taken together they constitute the garden spot of San Benito County. This district is easily reached from any part of the State, the coast line of the Southern Pacific Railroad crossing the northern end of the San Juan valley. Two trains daily from San Francisco and two from the south stop at Sargents, the station for San Juan Bautista. Busses meet all trains. The return trip from San Juan Bautista to San Francisco can be made in one day, allowing three to five hours in San Francisco. CLIMATE The entire State of California offers climatic ad- vantages over the eastern and middle western por- tions of the United States, and this particular por- tion of California possesses advantages which are not present throughout all the State. Protected on the north, west, and south by mountains, the valley is free from disagreeable winds and fogs, and being only 15 miles from Mon- terey Bay, obtains in full measure the cool ocean breeze from that famous liarbor. We quule from the State Horticultural Society's report, which says: "San Benito County, situated midway between the San Joaquin valley and the coast, has a climate tempered by both, avoiding the extreme heat of the former and the chilling winds of the latter; it is separated from the coast by the Gabilan Range, but is yet near enough to the coast to feel its tempering influence. Fogs are not of frequent occurrence, but during the summer sea- son the ocean breeze finds its way through a moun- tain gap, rendering the climate very healthful and l)leasant. The health of the neighborhood is at once appar- ent to the \isitor. SOIL The soil of the valley is a rich alluvium or sedi- ment. It is of great depth and suitable for a great variety of products. The lower foothills are ad- mirably adapted to the raising of grain and hay, while at a greater elevation the hillsides can be planted to orchard and vinevard, which thrive splen- didly. AGRICULTURE An item of impurtancc to l)c noted in this vicinit}' is the rapid ehange whieli is Ix'ing made in the vari- ety of products. Where for many years grain and hay were raised, now will be found seed farms of many varieties, sweet peas, mustard, onions and ca- nary seed being some of the principal ones that we may mention. Sugar beets, which are raised under contract and shipped to the sugar factory at Salinas, form a considerable crop and are very profitable, Chili peppers are being raised with some success, and truck and vegetable gardens in this neighbor- hood have established for themselves a good name, and for their products a great demand, by reason of their excellence. Garlic, corn, broom corn, beans, potatoes, cauliflower, celery and cabbage are some of the most important vegetables grown. It is impossible to give in full the variety of prod- ucts which can be grown with profit, and each year sees further development in special crops. Where the land is sown to grain good yields are usual. This is especially true of barley, and the hay from this vicinity commands high prices wherever marketed, being in demand in the east, where it is much desired for its quality. HORTICULTURE ^Vhc hillsides generally are well adapted to fruit, and the fruit grown is conceded by competent judges to be superior to that raised elsewhere throughout the State on account of its flavor and keeping qualities. The varieties grown include apricots, peaches, prunes, apples, pears, and many others, while almonds and walnuts are also grown successfully. VINES The vineyards already established have convinced that much might be made of this source of revenue, and we anticipate that the near future will see a big increase in this direction of profitabk industry. About nine miles from San Juan Bautista is located one of the finest vineyards in the State, which is famous for the quality of its wines, and in proof of its standing the acreage is shortly to be doubled. DAIRYING Of dairying- in this section we would say that it is to become one of the chief industries, if not the chief industry of this valley. Much of the land is splen- didly adapted to the raising of alfalfa, and with sev- eral crops a year, a plentiful supply of water easily put on the land, the products, cream, butter, cheese, etc., all commanding good prices, all count in favor of the dairy farm. A creamery in San Juan Bautista produces butter which commands top prices where sold. IRRIGATION A few words on irrigation will not be inappropri- ate here. The valley has an abundance of artesian water, which can be used for irrigation purposes, while where pumping is resorted to as a means of increasing the supply the results are very apparent. An abundant flow of water can usually be procured at a depth of from 90 to 110 feet. There are already many pumping plants in the valley, and new ones are being installed from time to time. While call- ing attention to the facilities for irrigating, we must not omit to mention it is not necessary that it be resorted to to insure crops, as an absolute drought is unknown in this district. ^- STOCK 'llic locality is eniincnlly suitable for stock rais- iiiiLi", ^i^ the winters are not so C(3ld that the stock have to l)e sheltered and the importation of thor- oughbred stock by enterprising owners keeps up the high standard of the cattle raised in the vicinity. Some famous cattle ranges are located v^ithin the confines of our county. Sheep are raised with great success in certain localities in the hills, and not a few hog ranches are located in the district. POULTRY Much of the wealth of this vicinity is represented in the poultry business, which offers advantages over other industries, requiring, as it does, only a portion of a person's time and only a small capital. The advantage of climate, also, is especially great, the weather permitting poultry to be out of doors every day in the year. The products of a poultry farm are always in demand, and command good ])rices, and the facilities for shipping and disposing of the products are very good. The raising of turkeys and squabs, as well as ducks and geese, in suitable sections of the vicinity, though at present receiving but little attention, would repay very profitably if extended. AFTER THE ROUND-UP. BERRIES riuTc is a i^rowiiii;- londoncy to cnlliNatc small iracls, and the raisin^' of berries of iiian\' kinds is found to repay very fully for eapilal invested and labor expended. Logan and mammoth blackberries, etc., are good bearers, and the strawberries grown in this neighborhood are famous throughout this part of the State and recommended for their excel- lent flavor. BEES A considerable area of the higher hills offers a field to the further introduction of bees, the variety of shrubs affording the best of honey-making ma- terial. The persons at present engaged in this industry find ready sale for honey, and good prices are obtained. MINERALS Within the county of San Benito are located the famous New Idria quicksilver mines, and the Cien- ega lime kilns and ledges of copper have been locat- ed in the range of mountains on the east. Large bodies of limestone have been uncovered about one mile from San Juan Bautista, and bodies of cement shale, fire and pottery clay have also been discovered within short distances. In the country adjacent oil wells are being operated with success, and mineral springs of iron, sulphur, magnesia and soda waters are within easy reach. 5^1 u I I IS 1 1 1 ij ' ' I'liiniiiiii I IS SNAPSHOT OF A CHICKEN RANCH. BABY CHICKS. ATTRACTIONS The scenic attractions arc nnrixalcd. A Irii) to I^'rcniont's Peak, from vvliich place a panoramic view is obtained of ocean, mountains, rivers, towns and country, will linger in the memory, and is difficult to equal. The ride through the San Juan canyon and the Gabilan range is very attractive. Drives in all directions can be taken over good roads, and the beauty of the scenery becomes more apparent as the excursions into the country are continued. The or- chards and seed farms in their seasons of bloom give color to the scene and add their perfume to the air. At the southern end of the county are located the Pinnacles, a mass of rocks which cover some six scjuare miles. The name Pinnacles has been given to these massive rocks because of the numerous spires, columns and towers scattered over almost the entire area. They are broken through by small water-courses, and the gorges are partly filled with boulders which form caves and bridges, by which one can traverse the length of the gorges. These gorges are worth going miles to see ; added to this the immense rocks of every conceivable size and shape, they form a beautiful, unique and interesting place which has no known counterpart. This place is some 43 miles from San Juan Bautista, and the whole journey can be made by wagon and team. CORRIDOR OF THli MISSION. The town of San Juan Bautista is one of the old- est incorporated towns in the State, receiving its original charter in 1854. It possesses a Public Li- brary containing about 4,000 volumes. There are two churches, the Mission herein described, which is of the Roman Catholic denomination, and the Congregational Church. Both enjoy liberal sup- port. An excellent public school is in the town, and in the township outside the town are located four other schools. The County High School, which is duly accredited to the State University at Berke- ley and the Stanford University at Palo Alto, is located at Hollister, the county seat of San Benito County, eight miles distant. The streets are lighted l)y acetylene gas, the plant being owned and oper- ated by the town. Located here is the St. Johns In- stitute, an orphanage containing 75 inmates, and conducted by the Sisters of Charity. The buildings are replete with modern conveniences and occupy land adjacent to the Mission. Mail facilities are very good. Three mails arrive daily from each direction, north and south, and telephonic communi- cation can be made direct with San Francisco, Los Angeles and other principal towns of the State. For the convenience of the residents in the valley a Rural Free Delivery system has been established, and a Farmers' Telephone Line connects the major- ity of the ranches with the town. Fraternal orders are well represented in the town and county, and THE HISTORIC ALAMKDA. HEADQUARTERS ol i,i:M.RA1. l AS rKO_ i )L KlNi, All.XlCAN V'lAK sources of enjoyment are presented in the social lif^: of the neighborhood which meet the ideas of all. It is to be noted that the early settlements estab- lished by the Padres are located in positions which are very healthful and fertile. When we add to this the charming scenery which surrounds San Juan Bautista, and the many advantages already enumer- ated, we have a locality which is eminently suitable for settlement. Flowers of all varieties grow with the utmost pro- fusion. Roses can be gathered at Christmas, the carnation, pansy, hyacinth and many others be- ing also in evidence in the winter, and the wealth of blossom is steadily increased as the year pro- gresses. The pepper, maple, elm, poplar, locust, umbrella, eucalyptus and many other trees line the streets and surround the ranch houses in the vicinity, forming cool and pleasant shade and adding much to the general charm. Game in plenty abounds. In due season quail and rabbit can be found in their accustomed haunts, and ducks are frequent visitors to the lakes in the vicin- itv, where, and in the streams, the elusive fish await the patient angler. At the southern end of the countv deer are also to be found in some num1)ers. SWARM OF BEES. HISTORICAL It is said of this place, and with tnilli, llial it lias histoi-N- ill its midst. 11ic Mission San J nan T.an- tista, which was founded by the Franciscan Padres in 1797, is well worth a visit. It is constructed of sun-dried brick (adobe) and covered with a red tile roof, and stands today as well-preserved as the best of the examples of the work of these men. It con- tains many relics of great interest, the walls are hung with old oil paintings, and the candlesticks used on the altar are the same which were brought from Spain at the time of the founding of the IVIis- sion. These are only a few of the many interesting features this building presents. The Mission, with its long corridor of arches, occupies one side of the Plaza, the scene of many a gay fiesta, and facing the corridor on another side of the Plaza is still to be seen the house built like the mission, of adobe and with a red tile roof, occupied by General Castro dur- ing the Mexican War. It was in San Juan Bautista that a detachment from the squadron at Monterey met Captain Fremont (Pathfinder) in July, 184(;. We cull the following from the 'T)espatches of Commodore Sloat," in the "Life of Rear Admiral Sloat," page 83. "On the 17th (July, 1846) Mr. Fauntleroy was di- ''rected to reconnoiter the country as far as the Mis- ''sion San Juan (St. Johns), take possession of that "place, hoist the flag, and to recover 10 brass guns, "said to have been buried there by General Castro " when he retreated from that phice ; on his ar- "rival there Mr. Fauntleroy found that the place "had been taken possession of an hour or two previ- "ous by Captain Fremont, with whom he returned "to Monterey on the 19th. He was subsequently "sent back to garrison the place, dig up, mount the ''guns, and recover a large quantity of powder and "shot said to have been secreted there, all of which "he accomplished before I sailed." It was here that the Mexican AVar commenced. General Castro, who had his headquarters and a Pre- sidio here, gathered together his troops and opened hostilities by ordering Fremont and his scientific ex- pedition to leave the vicinity. This occurred on March 2, 1846, several days before the American Army started from Point Isabel for the Rio Grande. A few miles to the south of the town, and easily reached by wagon road is Fremont's Peak, where the expedition under Fremont camped, and in- trenched themselves when menaced by General Cas- tro, and from which place Fremont overlooked the town of San Juan Bautista, and could also see the Bay of Monterey, where Commodore Sloat arrived on July 2, 1846. The American flag was first raised in California on Fremont's Peak on March 4, 1846. ■ KAM.VIAR SCHOOL. Hollister, the county seat of San Benito County, is an improved town with a population of about 3,000. It has water-works, sewer system, electric light and gasworks, and cement sidewalks and grad- ed streets. The County Court House is located here. It is a beautiful building, costing $50,000, and the town has also a fine grammar school. Aromas, a village hitherto receiving little atten- tion from the press, is worthy of mention. Situated in a small but very beautiful and fertile valley, it lies about 9 miles west from San Juan Bautista. Ap- ples are grown with great success, and berries are also a money-making investment. The village has a pretty church and schoolhouse, and located here are several fruit packing houses. The railroad fa- cilities are good, the Southern Pacific Railroad run- ning through the valley. Space precludes mentioning at length other dis- tricts adjacent to San Jtian Bautista, but San Felipe, a dairying section, and Tres Pinos, well known for the quality of its grain and hay, must not be over- looked. A Sug'gestion--When you visit California, why not make San Juan Bautista your headquarters, and while look- ing for a place to settle, see this interesting vicinity? Further Information can be obtained from Sec'y, of til e San Juao Vallej Improveinent Clu Box 50, San Juan Bautista, California, Photos by AMES, San Juan Bautista. SAN JUAN VALLEY ECHO PRINT. "^/>: ^^--.^ ^-^^^ V-'-fe-'^ !?i4^^' ?-^ .rl'-^-c \' ^ ^, v> ^^9t^,.^. -/V, ?/r-^' ?^ ^ ' >^' ^