Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-04-19

during the pact three or Tour months,
that dry season this year would prove
to be blessing in disguise. They rea-
soned from the past TO the present, bear
ing in mind the remarkable boom of
1924 and ls74-75, the collapse of
1876, and the melancholy procession
Of years down to May, 1881, when the
change for the better took place, during
which the people of this then devoted
city were treated to the panic following
upon the failure OF the Bank Of Califor-
MIA, in San Francisco, and that of Temple
g. Workman in this city, with the drouth
Of ls76-77 and the smallpox epidemic
superadded; and they assumed that we
had too powerful head Of steam on.
With these persons, who are thoroughly
friendly to Los Angeles, the idea pre-.
vailed that it would be a good thing If
the signal "down- brakes" should BIO rung
out for year or so. We confess that
there have been moments in which we
ourselves have yielded to this idea, but
we have been compelled to reconsider
our position, and for the following rea-
sons:
Los Angeles county is not only des-
tined to be the seat of the most various
and remunerative productions known on
the Pacific Coast, but, in addition, q
subtle charm attaches to her climate.
People who have traversed all the zones
of the earth are unhesitating in their nd.
mission that the narrow strip Of terri
tory which lies between Point Concep-
cion and the San Diego line contains
the most exquisite climatic manifesto
tons recorded on the footstool. Amongst
travelled persons there is too unanimous
voice to that purport to admit OF any
hesitation on our part in proclaiming
Southern California the sanitarium Of
the world. This, of itself, is great
thing.
But, in sooth, no region Of the globe
is more independent Of the aid which
invalids, however rich, can give to a
place, than Los Angeles. In addition to
being the center of treasure region
which has been shown to be specially
rich in gold and silver, Los Angeles
county is the depository of beds of brea
and petroleum which are absolutely
without rival in the world, outside of
Pennsylvania, and of Pennsylvania in
her palmy days, at that Our oil wells
are already yielding crude petroleum in
an abundance sufficient not only to sup
ply the Pacific Coast, but to furnish re-
fined Illuminating oil to the States of
Mexico, the Islands of the Pacific, and
even the State of Texas, where the
famous Standard Oil Company has been
met and vanquished by the producers of
this Coast.
1t is curious matter that this tire.
mendous development has passed COM
paratively without notice. As to our
other sources of wealth, every one
knows the prodigious strides which have
been made in the growth Of oranges and
the spread of vineyards, in the past half
dozen years. In addition, the alfalfa
fields, and the consequent dairy inter
ests, have advanced in q ratio which
would make the milkman of Orange
county, New York, grow pale with envy.
To supplement all, we have had a
simply phenomenal development of the
cereals. A county which. five or six
years ago, was regarded as exclusively
semi tropical in its products, and which,
ten years ago, was looked upon as a
''cow county," has put in an appearance
us formidable producer of wheat and
barley. At all times intelligent people
have known that Los Angeles county
produced more corn than all the rest of
the State put together.
With a reputation for the unstinted
production of the corn, wine and oil Of
the commerce Of all ages it is somewhat
singular that, for years, Los An
geles county, with her three million
acres of soil of unexampled fertility, should
have been comparatively neglected.
To us there is nothing astonishing in
the universal interest which is now con-
centrated on this section.
In addition to the pre-eminent advan-
tsges limited at, Los Angeles is now the
center of railway system absolutely
without a rival on the American conti-
nent. Our merchants and orchardists
really have the choice of half dozen
routes by which they can reach the East.
Their own special and peculiar route
the "Sunset" -aifords them hnexampled
advantages. Our geographical and rail
way attractions are so great that no other
point on the Pacific Coast offers anything
like the inducements 20 the new settler
which we can truthfully chronicle OF
Los Angeles.
1t is in view of these innumerable
strong points--every one of which draws
with the. attraction of the magnet that
we think dry year might have proved
to be blessing in disguise. 1t would
have given both our own people and the
strangers within our gates breathing
space. Ii there has been too much
steam it would have admitted of some
OF it being blown off There is nothing
like a stopping place, at intervals, in
which every one, like the mariner, may
take his bearings. For good or i'll, for
some years to come. our fair orange
city will know no such halt A plunge
forward, pell-mell, and perhaps an in
considerate plunge, is all that will per-
nit the investor to figure in our coming
developments, He will be Obliged to go
it blind. We have plainly started out
on career in which the enhancement
OF property values will simply be phe-
nomenal, and in that respect our future
will simply be in unison with our past.
s-------------s----
ANY one who has at heart the tri.
umph of the Democratic party in the
next Presidential election. in our opinion.