Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-20
OUR OLD CALIFORNIA CORES
PONDENT-

NEWPOGI, Los ANdElhS w.. Sal-s
Jan. II, 1856.
Dear Old SCREAMER:-A showery,
drizzly day gives me time to write my
semi-occasional to you. Can you find
time and space for it, full as you are
of your own schemes and "booms,"
railroad prospects and manufacturing
plants, wholesale houses and govern
ment buildings, circust and district
courts, RELOCATING Kansas City, New
York and London TO secondary rank!
Well, scream away old BIRD! You
have as good grounds therefor as any
of the "states," as we OF California
call the eastern portion of our country.
Los Angeles, too, is enjoying boom
not second even to Sedgwick, perhaps.
The assessable values have increased
400 per cent. within the past ten
years, it now being about $4,000, 900.
In seven years the area of titled
land has increased from 100000 acres
TO 425, 600 acres. Vineyards have in
creased from 5000 acres TO $1,000 in
the same time, the number of orange
trees, from 100000 to 725,000: bushels
of barley raised from $50, 800 to 1, 200.-
600: wheat, from $1,000 to 2,250, 900;
and corn from 10000 TO over q
$1,000.
The population of the city is $1,000
permanent residents and 1000 floating;
of the county the population is $4,000,
having doubled in five years.
During the year of 1885 besides the
regular travel there have been forty
one special excursions, bringing to Los
Angeles alone, over 1000 tourists by
railroad, 200 arriving in one day on
three excursions. By steamer 5000
passengers have arrived at San Pedro,
the seaport of Los Angeles; and still
they come. and good share come to
remain.
What was the cause of this pros
perity? The same, dear BIRD, that
was conduced to the wonderful
growth of Kansas, Sedgwick county,
Wichita, and even of your own self
solid resources TO be developed and
wind work; of which latter have you
ever been slow to avail yourself? And
this reminds me of a remaIk you once
made in one of your locals years ago
in describing one terrifically windy
day, that your worst enemy never ac-
cused you of not blowing for Kansas,
but that day Kansas bowed for her
self. And all Californians, be they
forty-niners or tender foots, are ever
ready TO blow for this state, or rather
to show it up and let it blow Tor
itself.
What are some of our resources?
First and foremost, climate; of which
so much has been said, which will al
ways attract invalids and men of
means as well, who, having made
competency, will come here 10 enjoy
it. Second, as result of this climate,
the wonderful variety and remarkable
excellence of our agricultural pro-
ducts. And yet, prior to 1876 but
little had been done in fruit raising,
though the first orange orchard was
set out ninety years ago. 1t was the
,,,sx-or-ol haf,nf that o,a,alac
peaches, apricots, plums and similar
fruits could not be raised here. APP
pies were shipped from Oregon, april
cots from near San Francisco, and
sold at from 10 to 20 cents per pound,
and even vegetables were not raised.
If California is good for anything it is
good for fruit-raising, and if our
county enjoys any pre-eminence at all,
it is for raising more varieties and
those of more excellent character,
than almost any other county in the
state. Here temperate and sub-tropi-
cal fruits grow side by side. and be-
come larger and more luscious than
on their native heath, our own people
even being astonished at our displays
at our fairs.
Third-Ordirary farming, of which
have already given statistics.
Fourth Stock raising, the para
mount advantage for which is in the
mild and equable climate. The thou
sands of dollars expended by northern
and eastern stock-growers in buildings
to shelter their animals from the biting
cold of winter, and the other thou
sands expended in extra feed and care
of stock, may be almost wholly saved
here. Then again, stock does proper
tionally better on the same feed; the
vitality which an eastern steer wastes
in keeping himself warm is here ap--
piled in laying on flesh.
One of the members of the cele-
brated firm of Smiths & Powell, of
Rochester, n. Y, who was in Los An
geles last season, said, 81 believe this
is destined TO be one of the gregtest
stock countries in the world. l
am certain that l could put