Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-04
rHs DlrFERsmcr OF A DECADE.
While Land Advanced Other Essen
tial Articles Have Declined-The
Balance In Favor of 1893.

In conversation with many Of the new.
comers for settlement in this part Of the
country, the remark Is often heard that
land is so dear at present that there is a
very poor inducement for people to set
tie, and regcet Ia expressed that the
parties now arriving did not arrive ten
years ago. when land was much cheaper
than 1t Is at the present time,
An examination Of the facts iu the
case shows that, while lands have adj
vanced In price. the facilities for irriga-
tion have increased, the market price for
all kinds of fruits is rewarding, the price
Of agricultural implements has been re-
duced. az well as that of farming ma
chinery, the overland fare and freight
has been reduced, while the cost OF trees
and vines has been reduced about 500
per cent.
In 1878 irrigable fruit land could have
been purchased at $3.50 to 500 per
acre. At the same time six.year-old
orange trees were selling at 81. so apiece;
budded orange trees Of bearing condition
were worth IS apiece; spple trees then
sold at 5oci pear trees. Jeci apricot trees.
00c; walnut trees. Soc; eucalyptus trees.
So per 100; Muscat cuttings. $40 per
1000.
By considering the price OF land at
that time. and the price OF trees aud
vines in contrast with the prices prevail.
ing BOW, it will be seen that the average
is in favor OF 1888; 50 that, all things
considered. the people who buy irrigabls
land to-day at $3.50, with certainty Of
market for all kinds Of produce. are
better OF than those who purchased
similar lands at half tho money in 1873.
Parties who bought land at $50 per
acre then, and planted it with the best
budded orange trees that cost S5 apiece,
with seventy trees to the acre, had q
planted acre that cost S400. Now as
good trees can be obtained for 81 apiece,
making an acre of planted orchard cost.
with $50 for the land and $40 for best
budded trees, S220 instead Of s40O. II
planted with six or seven year old seed
ngs in 1878 an acre would have cost
for land $50. for trees $3.50, making
q total Of $500. Now an acre
would cost planted in The same
way Sl75. and so on through
the calendar. with lower prices for
trees. lower rates for agricultural i'm.
plements. better prices for fruits and
vegetables, the settlement in colonies so
that all the land will be subdued at
once, and prevent the danger from
grasshoppers and rabbits. which ruined
the orchards and vineyards of solitary
settlers ten years ago, the present is
vastly more auspicious. The price of
lumber and labor is no dearer now than
it was then. while the price Of clothing,
hardware and provisions that settlers
would have to purshase In 1873, is now
% per cent cheaper, in 1888. So. that
notwithstanding the advance in land,
the improved water facilities and the
reduced price of trees and other essen.
tials required by settler, and the Ger.
tainty of q market for all their products,
the settler of to-day is more favored
than those that preceded him. This
fact is 50 patsn. that there should be no
further controversy about it. Hortieul.
turists are now doing better in Southern
Cal fornia than they ever were before,
AID have good prospects ahead for en-
during prosperity.