Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-07-18
nsssurses oass,ae OF Agrieu,surs.

resources Oasside OF Agriculture.
No one who rides over the broad
valleys Of Los Angeles county can
doubt that, with all the awbacks
of regularly recurring drouth
within q period of from five to
seven years. and OF excessive rains
10 the year Of transition from
drouth to fruitful seasons, our
county IL destined to have q great
agricultural future. Further than
that, there lies to-day upon our
plains food for two years for our
herds and flecks. But we could
waive all this. and yet find ele-
ments of prosperity outside of our
orange groves and vineyards, our
irrigated and moist lands, both of
which are independent Of tho sea-
sons, to guarantee US q substantial
prosperity.
First, Los Angeles county has a
climate which makes residence in
her borders q desideratum which
cannot be ignored by the wealthy
valetudlnary. But this matter has
been written about so much that
we pass It by without comment.
The real interests Of Los Angeles
county are little understood. We
are shortly to be indepe ndent of
our oranges, grapes, wines and
b.nndies. First in importan nee is
our petroleum interest, which is
still, to our shame be it said, in Its
infancy. Our oil deposits are tan
gible and valuable and OF tremen-
dous extent. Outside capital has
forced them to "a degree Of develop
ment which shows that all our most
sanguine anticipations are certain
to be realized. The history Of
Western Pennsylvania has shown
what a splendid outponr of wealth
has been the result Of the discovery
Of reliable petroleum beds in that
region. A yield of q couple OF
hundred barrels OF oil day, with
the proper energy, is only the pre-.
cursor of an output of $50, 600, 600
or $40, 600, 900 year, in due time.
Petroleum finds ready market in
every corner OF the world.
Another important development
Of Los Angeles county, of late, is
the discovery, in the Santiago
cafion, Of valuable coal measures.
This coal can no longer be ignored.
1t is sold III the city Of Los Ange-
les for ten dollars a ton. 1t is In
the market as a rival OF the Sidney
(Australian) coal imported by our
Gas Company. 1t is a valuable
fuel, and the fact that its merits
are being discussed in comparison
with a coal Of such recognized
standard as tho best Australian
shows the importance OF the dis
csvery. The coal is here, and it is
being mined, and this fact guaran-
tees q manufacturing future to Los
Angeles. 1t has been the fashion
Of most geologists, in discussing
Southern California, to hold that
this section is too young for coal.
Facts, however, are stubborn
things, and the facts have given
the lie to the spsculstions of the
scientist.
Nor are these all the en-
couraging factors in our future
Independently Of the slow develop.
ment OF our farms and vineyards.
The first gold deposit ever discov-
cred In California was found in the
San Gabriel range Of mountains.
Our later and present silver discov-
cries, "a the same Santiago range
whI- yields coal, seem to prom
lec exceedingly valuable and re-
munerative mines. or course we
can't develop all these sources Of
wealth to the first magnitude at
once, but they are certain TO be
made the most of in the coming
years.
The amusing feature OF our Los
Angeles population is the laugha-
BILE way In which we are always
either very exultant or very des-
pondent. When crowds of strang-
ers are pouring into city and
county, seeking what they may de-
YOUR in the way of real estate;
when our "solid menu are clinking
the shining shekels from abroad,
Los Angeles is at once on the way
to metropolitan status. On the
slightest reverse motion of the
crank, however, we are plunged
into q dependency so profound
that 1t is almost syncope for the
time being. We are not without
hope that we may, some time or
other, strike the mean of common
sense. and that our people gener-
ally will exert themselves to real
ize the brilliant future that un-
lies before us, and lies