Next week marks the 50th anniversary of the California Fruit Growers Exchange, and it is fitting that this article should review the life of one who was always a loyal supporter of that organization, the late Alfred P. Griffith.

By continuity of purpose and enthusiasm of leadership he contributed much toward turning the arid and forbidding desert that was the San Gabriel Valley of 50 years ago into one of the most beautiful and prosperous sections of Los Angeles county.

With his young wife he came to California early in the 1890's on the recommendation of his friend, Frank Wiggins, founder of the well-known trade-school bearing his name.

Although an Eastern business man without any knowledge of horticulture or irrigation, nevertheless Mr. Griffith was impressed with the possibilities of this region. Future developments proved his astute judgment.

He bought land, planted citrus trees and before the close of his life in 1914 had developed two hundred acres of citrus fruit. He was among the first in this locality to set out navel oranges, and one of the first to ship fruit through his own private packing house, known as the A. P. Griffith Association.

Mr. Griffith was born on the island of Cuba, in 1845, while his parents were visiting his father's uncle, an American consul. He was reared in Philadelphia and attended school there.

The dynamic, forceful personality which was to make him meet insurmountable problems as a personal challenge, was evidenced at the age of sixteen. Growing a beard and mustache and donning a high silk hat in the hope that they would belie his years, he started to work.

From that time on he was dependent on his own resources. His first employment was with a saddle, harness and carriage furnishing house. He subsequently represented other prominent firms until coming to the valley in 1891.

He first bought a part of what is now the El Rancho Grande which comprised 30 acres. The balance was planted from time to time to half navels and half valencias. It now comprises 185 acres made up of three separate holdings.

Recognizing from the beginning that an ample water supply was the key to the future development of the region, he made a study of irrigation. At that time the district was divided into two warring factions, and one of his greatest achievements was harmonizing these factions so as to open the way to a successful solution of the irrigation problem.

The old mud ditches were replaced by concrete waterways, and 35 miles of cement pipe was laid. By the old system the loss of water occasionally reached 50 per cent in the distance of an eighth of a mile. He was especially active in promoting the irrigation system of the valley known as the Azusa Irrigating company and was president of the Glendora-Azusa Water company for many years.