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“We mentioned, yesterday, that a Committee of the Stage Agricultural Fair have been
in the southern counties to examine the branches of industry in that portion of the State,
preparatory to a report on the subject for the coming fair at Marysville. They visited the ex-
Mission of San Fernando, Los Angeles county, the residence of Don Andreas [Andres] Pico,
a number of the last Legislature, and a writer in the Southern Vineyard accompanied them.
From his notes of the trip we extract the following: San Fernando lies about northwest from
Los Angeles, distant about twenty-one miles, on the road to Fort Tejon and the Tulare valley.
The Mission of San Fernando was founded in 1794, by the Franciscan Friars. The church
and principal buildings are constructed of adobe, with massive walls, and are in a much
better state of preservation than any other of the old Mission establishments with which we
are acquainted. Quite a number of detached buildings are in a dilapidated condition, owing,
as we are informed, to the using of the roofs for fuel by Col. Fremont in 1847, while on his
way from the north to join Commander Stockton at this place.

“San Fernando is situated on a plain, which to the view is surrounded by mountains,
forming a grand natural amphitheater. The central part of this valley is sandy, and in the
absence of water for irrigation is not fertile. The mountain range which lies on the north
spreads out northerly to the Tulare valley, and forms the shore of the ocean to the San
Bernardino mountains, while a spur which protrudes from the mass along the sea shore
passes inland in an easterly direction, separating this valley from Los Angeles. On the east,
projecting curves and hills, through which the Los Angeles river bends its way, confine the
view. The valley is about twelve miles broad and twenty in length, from east to west.

“[…] Under the preserving efforts of Mr. Pico, who held this Mission under lease in
1848, the buildings and enclosures have been preserved. He made eight hundred gallons
of sweet oil in one year, from the olives of his garden, within the past three or four years.
The olives of San Bernardino are unequaled in California, except those of San Diego, and
for richness of flavor and delicate fiber, and are superior to the far-famed Italian Olive. The
main source of water from which fields and gardens of San Fernando derived their supply
was an artificial reservoir near the source of a small stream in the mountains, at some
distance from the Mission, which has been neglected or purposely damaged, by which the
outer fields have been neglected for some years.

After visiting the vineyards, we returned to the mansion, and were shown over the
house and church. The latter is situated in the rear of the mansion, and is in good state
of preservation, and is kept in order. Religious service is celebrated here monthly, by the
resident priest of San Gabriel. The ornaments and consecrated vessels of this church were
a few years since, by a decision of the Courts, removed to Los Angeles. At the
southwestern extremity of the main building, an extensive suit[e] of rooms is being
prepared for the Overland Mail Stage and Transportation Company…”

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