Il8 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



" It is sad to say, the game flew too, and at the sunset hour when the 

 hopeful party gathered for the feast, the disconsolate hunters unpacked their 

 stores, consisting of one ancient owl. Finding nothing in Nordhoff, Black- 

 stone or Euclid, by which we could adapt the bird of wisdom to our necessi- 

 ties, it was left to the culinary skill of the coyotes, and all tried their skill at 

 cooking on an alcohol fire. The bill of fare was brief and the cooking sus- 

 ceptible of criticism. 



"Owing to a disappearance of the carpenter, the roof of the house had 

 been omitted, so the building was well ventilated, and there was no necessity 

 of putting in a sky-light. But as the season of rain was supposed to be 

 gone on a summer vacation along the Mississippi, no inconvenience was an- 

 ticipated from the absence of a roof. The first attempt at sleeping was in- 

 terrupted by a company of owls that perched on the rafters, to hiss their 

 indignation at the sleepy sinners beneath, for shooting their venerable com- 

 rade. The shooters devoutly wished the defunct bird re-animated and back 

 in the canyon with all his noisy tribe. On the third night, during the most 

 slumberous hours, a heavy rainstorm put in an unexpected appearance. The 

 agility and zeal displayed in improvising a shelter in midnight darkness was 

 worthy of a good cause. It was then discovered that even so trifling a thing 

 as a roof to a house was not to be despised at all times. As soon as the 

 spring rains were apparently passed, the carpenter appeared and the roof was 

 put on, to lie in idleness during all the summer time, 



"In the few weeks since the Hoosiers took possession of their lands 

 great activity has prevailed. Three miles of flume and ditch have been 

 made; three miles of large iron pipe made, laid, and covered below the 

 depth of a plow ; a reservoir with the capacity of three million gallons has 

 been constructed on the highest land of the settlement, and the water has 

 been let in. An occasional mountain brook trout takes an unexpected trip 

 through three miles of darkness, and is hurried into the reservoir at the 

 speed of a railway train. Eighty acres of grain have been raised for hay, 

 100,000 grape cuttings have been planted, and a large quantity of orange 

 and lime seed ; about ten thousand small trees for nurser}^ planting have 

 been purchased ; and a large area of land prepared for corn and semi-tropical 

 fruits. 



"Potatoes and other garden products, planted in February and March, 

 are now yielding a good return without irrigation. Our company has been 

 recently re-enforced by Major Erie L,ocke, who is actively at work as a 

 ranchero, and seems to enjoy the business as a pleasure. Tree planting will 

 be commenced in a few days." 



In a letter published in the Los Angeles Herald^ Nov. — , 1874, Mr. 

 Berry again wrote : 



" Major Erie Eocke has just completed his residence at San Pasqual, 

 (Orange Grove Association) and gave a house warming last night to cele- 

 brate the event. * * Within the past month Dr. Conger of Salt 

 Eake, Mr. Cooley of Marysville, Mr. Weldon of Truckee, and Mundell of 

 Eos Angeles, have built comfortal^le residences, and Messrs. Porter and 

 Green are preparing to build. Messrs. Berry, Elliott and Conger have con- 

 structed private reservoirs to hold from 75,000 to 100,000 gallons, and 

 Messrs. Berry, Eocke, Banbury, and Bennett have planted out a considerable 

 number of orange, lemon and lime trees." 



