The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-14
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

1t has been subject Of regret ever
since that did not buy Southern Cali
fornia when l was there last March. 1
should have made enough to pay my
railway fare back and purchase provis-
ions to last through the deserts of sand
and feeding places; and had money left
to negotiate for one of the little States
on the Atlantic coast, and settle down in
such plain living and civilization as it
might afford. 1t was all offered to me
but hesitated, and before the end of
the month it was beyond my reach.
There is not much of it, little more than
what you may call strip of irrigated
sand between the Mohave desert and the
Pacific Ocean; and if you do not secure
portion of it now it will be forever be-
yond your means. For there is but one
California in the world Zone ought to
know this after hearing it a hundred
times day, and everybody "has got to
have" some of it. There is nowhere else
to go in winter. Travellers who have
been in Southern Italy, in North Africa,
in Sicily, in Florida, in Greece, in Ma
diera, in Jamaica, in Bogota, in the
Pmey Woods, are perfectly open in tell
ing you this. There is no climate like it.
But it is rapidly going into the hands of
investors, climate and all. IL the present
expectations Of transferring half-frozen
Eastern and Northern people there by
the railway companies and land owners
are half realized, Southern California
in it's whole extent will soon present the
appearance Of mass meeting, each IN
dividual fighting for lot, and for his
perpendicular section of climate. In
year, perhaps in six months from now,
you mightsas we'll attempt to buy plot
in London City, near the bank, on which
to set out an orange grove and some pep
per trees as to get footbold in the Gar
den of the World. 1 am not an alarmist,
but have seen London and know what
its climate is in winter. 1t is sufficient
to hint to prudent folks that there are
many people in the world, that there is
but one California, and that there is
not room enough in it for all. Somebody
is going to be left out.
There is nothing that will grow any
where in the world except, perhaps GER
tain great staples-that will not grow
there in greater abundance and per
lection; oranges, lemons, lines, peaches,
nectarines, grapes, figs, almonds, olives,
Madeira nuts, every edible vegetable
known to woman perhaps even grass
might be raised by constant and Excess
sive irrigation. Happening one night
into the Pullman smoking room after
days of travel through the Sahara wastes
of New Mexico and Arizona, 1 CHANGED
to hear fragments of a conversation be-
tween a man familiar with the region and
a new conner, who was evidently little
discouraged by the endless panorama of
sand and dry sagebrush.
Anything grow along here?"
Everything, sir, everything; the most
productive soil on God Almighty's earth.
All it wants is water"
"Fruits?"
"Fruits? / should say so. Every sort
that's known. This country right here is
going to beat the world in fruits"
"Melons?"
"Well, yes relapsing into csndor and
confession. "No; the fact is, melons
don't do so we'll here. They amt apt to
be good. The vines grow so fast that
the melons are bumped along over the
ground and bruised"
"Ahr without any sign of surprise.