Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-10-13
THE "PRESsr ENTERPRISE.
ATruthfuI and Camsfic Letter fron, Col.
Hodge, I'm which who May will
Find q Lesson on Ingratftude.

1
of the Sd inst, entitled "Stabbed in
the Back" which 1 have read with
much interest. Having been for over
three months actively engaged with
Mr.. Johnson and Prof. James in pre-
pairing material for the Illustrated
Press, and having been on intimate
terms with Mr.. johnson, with whose
plans and objects was quite familiar,
1 feel it duty as well as pleasure
as he is now East perfecting his work
to add somewhat to your just and
generous article referred to above.
| 1T Is WELL KNOWN
That for years past Mr. ]. has worked
faithfully and effectually as citizen
of Santa Barbara to induce immigra-
ton to that point and make il sue
cessful and desirable resort for invalids
from other States and countries. In
| this work he has been successful, and
Santa Barbara is now improving as
never before. Mr.. Johnson is q man
of enlarged views, and many months
since, in considering the capacities of
Southern California, he became fully
| impressed with the idea that what
had been done for Santa Barbara could
be done with the whole of Southern
| California, with its beautiful climate,
its rich soil and varied productions.
Filled with this idea, for many long
months he studied the subject in all its
phases, revolving plan after plan in
his mind, how and in what way
Southern California could become
known to the world and be settled up
with an active, earnest and stable pop
ulation, who would develop it's re-
sources and assist to make it what it
must in time become, one of the most
beautiful and
PROSPEROUS COUNTRIES OF THE
| EARTH. ....
He finally decided upon the plan
which has heretofore been fully ex-
planned in the columns of the HERALD
and other papers that saw the grandeur
of the plan and its undoubted success
if carried out as contemplated. But
in order to succeed in the enterprise
which is destined to add many mill
lions to the wealth and many thou
sands to the population of Southern
| California, money was needed to carry
on the work, and this Mr.. j. had not.
| 1t became necessary for him to appeal
for assistance to those who would be
benefited by the work-to large land
holders, to bankers, merchants and
business men of all kinds, and espe-
cially to the Press of Southern CdtifOr-
MIA. This appeal was met by a.noble
response, and Mr.. Johnson went on in
good faith, sparing no expense and
trouble TO make the work complete in
all its parts, with the intent to do full
| justice to each and
EVERY PORTION OF THE COUNTRY
REPRESENTED.
Professor James and myself travelled
in company by private conveyance
over every portion of the southern
counties, more than 1900 miles in all,
and took 226 Photographic views, fully
written up with descriptive articles
explanatory of the views taken, the
soil, productions, climate, and in truth
every fact necessary to give full and
complete knowledge of the country.
The cost to Mr.. Johnson up to the
close of Professor James and my own
labor, was about S3,000-to which
must be added thousands of dollars for
engraving and much other necessary
work. But small part of this sum
has been paid by those who promised
assistance, and from jealousy, envy or
other reasons, several papers are now,
I learn, making an effort to break
down the whole enterprise, runin Mr..
Johnson, and thus for long years re-
tard the growth and development of
the southern counties. l am thankful
that the HERALD is true to its pledges,
true to the future of the south, true to
the noble few who stand by Mr.. John
son in his great work. To the charge
of partiality, etc., made against Mr..
j. in reference to his lecture and exhi-
bition at San Francisco, I have to say
that
1T is WHOLLY UNFOUNDED.
I knoW that much larger number of
views were taken in Los Angeles and
San Diego counties in proportion to
the amount of money pledged, than in
Santa Barbara county, and that the
| descriptive articles were more lengthy
and carefully written, as Mr.. j. gave
special instructions so to do. If he
took up more time at the San Fran
cisco exhibition in speaking of Santa
Barbara-of which L have doubts
than any other counties, it is easily
accounted for from the fact that it was
his first lecture OH the subject, and it
was perfectly natural that in his first
lecture he should speak of places to
him the most familiar. Again, the
work for Santa Barbara was first COM
pleted, and large portion of the
whole is yet to be completed in New
York. The whole work will comprise
series of lectures of six or more, and
no just criticism would apply to one
lecture separate from the others. 1t
will be seen at glance that such crit
icism would be unjust and unworthy
true and honest critic.
Permit me, before closing, to say
that, having the full confidence of Mr..
johnson in this work, know that his
object is to develop
ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Alike, and that from San Luis Obispo
to San Bernardino and San Diego
each and every point and place
has had its full share of attention
from Mr.. ]. and his assistants, ana
that Los Angeles, the central
point now and in all future time, has
had its full share of attention, giving
it far greater prominence in the work
than entitled to in proportion to the
amount raised to assist in the work.
hope that those citizens of
Los Angeles county who have