Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-08-21
san DIEGO TO SALEM.
An Observsnt Mans Favorable opinion
Of the Willamette ysnY-He
Thinks immigration Will
Flow in Here Before
Long.

| N6d1yj 6A-ulSJIlCJ JuugSJ hOul OdLl
Diego, Southern California. The
judge is a very affable gentleman of
marked intelligence, with good
powers of observation, and a man of
means. Some matters of general
interest were CLEANED for the readers
of these columns.
REPoRTER-Judge, is it true that
the bottom has all fallen out of San
Diego and that it is now as dull as
ditchwater?
JUDGE-Oh no. San Diego is still
there, firm and solid and growing,
The extraordinary real estate boom
is over and things are much quieter
than they were. But good deal of
real estate is changing hands and so
much building is going on that
Salemite would suppose that the big
boom had just begun. Outside
blocks and fields cut up into an inn
mense number of "town lots" for
which there never was anyneed, and
for which spectators tried to create
an artificial demand are not selling.
But some inside, gilt edge property
on the main business street still
brings a thousand dollars a front
foot. Then our superbly even
climate stays with us, and brings
constant influx, of visitors by rail
and steamer. Many of these buy
and become residents.
R.-The impression here is that
you barely escaped drOuth this
year and that crops are very short.
People who have not travelled
through California forget that it is a
state of magnificent proportions and
infinite variety. Some years rain is
scarcer in the south than in the
north. This year it is vice versa.
During o residence there of twenty
years have never seen a finer
season nor better crops. Thisis true
of San Diego, Los Angeles and San
Bernardino counties. But further
north the rainfall and crops are
below the average, .,4
R.-How is our old friend, Frank
Kimball, the man of indomitable
faith, energy and enterprise?
J.-Frank still lives in spiteof lack
of robust health, if only
to enjoy the fulfillment of
his prophecies about the growth
of San Diego, and to spite
the enemies that a man of such force
of character always makes.
R.-Has National City, where
Kimballs place, few years since,
looked like an oasis in the desert,
developed into anything?
J.-Yes, indeed. 1t would
you. A Boston company |
has spent two million dollars in
the Sweet Water creek and
water works, and now the
whole place blossoms like a rose.
Rand what do you think of
this country?
Ut is astonishing for size, fer
tility and resources.
R.-Is it not pretty good for
seeing that it is now well on
towards September, and yet so cool? |
J.-Yes, 1 have been up in this
part of the world for a month and
can but admire the weather.
R.-How far north have you been?
Unto the Sound country. And
1 confess there is a great future
before Oregon and Washington Ter
ritory, beyond all question.
R.-You think heavier immi-
grafton will come this way?
Ut could not be prevented.
With the climate, extent and cap
abilities of the Willamette valley, it
will so attract home seekers and in
vestors, as TO fill up and improve
more in the next twenty years than
the east does in a hundred.
R.-What do you think is the
main hindrance to that coming about
We'll, to be candid, you people
are too well off, and do not half
realize what a good thing you have.
Rim what way?
J.-Wen grass, grain and fruit
grow so luxuriantly, l was going TO
say spontaneously, and with such
absolute certainty, that it seems TO
call for but moderate work and
scarcely any planning or anxiety. l
believe drouth OF failure Of crops
would do Oregon good.
Rim what way?
Ut would wake them up out Of
their easy going ways. II would