Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-28
CLIMATE, LAND VALUES AND OTHER
THINGS.


%, 1890, contained an interview with
Mr.. J. t. Trezevant of that city, in
which among other things he gives
these views:
/ was agreeably surprised to find in
Southern California the most charming
climate l have ever witnessed in Febru-
ary. 1t was Just about such weather as
you find in the Oberengadine, Switzer-
land, in July and August. A climate
that all the world tries to enjoy during
those months is right here at our own
doors in California. 1t is cold enough to
be thoroughly bracing and to make a
Sunday off thoroughly enjoyable.
Taxes in Los Angeles are about the
same as in Dallas, and the banking cap
ital of the two cities is about the same,
but their deposits are double ours, while
the school system of Los Angeles is
about the same as that of Dallas. AS to
the boom, while it led to the ruin of
many private fortunes, as a whole it was
beneficial to Southern California. Prop
erty has gone back to its natural level,
but well improved, centrally located
business property still commands
figures which seem to be very high
best blocks situated relatively as the
blocks on Main street, between Lamar
and Sycamore streets in this city, lots
are worth 81 500 front foot and corner
lots from $4,000 to $2,500 front foot,
which you will notice is about so per
cent in advance of values here Resi-
dence property in Los Angeles sells
about as it does in Dallas, but in Los
Angeles the residences and the business
buildings are much handsomer. The
public and other grounds are improved
with palms, ferns and other tropical
verdure that are SO pleasing to the eye
of the American from other States.
This is emphatically a rich mans s
country. The man in New England
who has made a million dollars and in
its accumulation has lost a lung is will
ing to give up large amount of his
bullion to live in climate where his re-
manning lung does duty for two.
1t is very seldom that an Eastern paper
presents views so near the facts as the
above. In the main they are thoroughly
fair, and they are in all respects intelli-
gent.
AS to the climate frst-note that this
observer is speaking of Los Angeles as
he found it in midwinter. At the end
of February he had just returned home
from our city. He says he found our
climate at that season like that of
Switzerland in midsummer. 1t would
be difficult to put its at
fractions in stronger language than
that. He declares it the most delight
full he ever experienced, and observe he
speaks of the climate Of Europe from
the standpoint evidently of one who
has known it.
Then as to the value of real estate.
He certainly puts business property in
the heart of the city high enough. 1t
would be difficult to get his prices for a
choice lot To be sure there is not
much of it for sale at these or at any fair
rates. 1t is thought too much of to be on
the market freely. There is too much
confidence in the future of Los Angeles.
Residence property he considers to be
held at about the same prices as in
Dallas, Texas. That city is two-thirds
the size of this, according to
the latest obtainable estimates, which
give Dallas 40, 900 and Los Angeles 60, 900.
The estimate for our city is low, as we
look at it here, where registration of
10000 to 900 voters causes us to think
our population is upwards of $4,000.
There is one statement of Mr.. Treze-
want that is a half-truth, and therefore
the most dangerous sort of error. He
says this is ''emphatically rich man 8
country" The natural inference, of
course, is that it is poor country for a
poor man. The inference is wrong
While for all time to come the million
aire who has made million, and lost
lung in the making of it, in some rigor-
Gus climate, will be attracted here,
where the one lung may do the work Of
two; and while this stream of rich men
into this section must continue forever
to dot its surface thick with costly and
luxurious homes, and thus make all
our slightly knobs and particularly salu-
brious spots worth as much silver as
would cover their surface; yet that is
not all. 1t IS the poor mans country
too. 1t is the best poor mans country
on the globe, as it is the best rich mans.
Health is as great boon to the humblest
toiler as it is to the richest millionaire.
Climate is more valuable to the poor
than to the rich. The rich man can
hedge himself about to certain extent
and defy the cold. This the poor man
cannot do. His humble cottage with it's
scant supply of fuel is comfortable here
when it would be hardly inhabitable in
the rigors of an Eastern winter. The
mild climate makes dollar worth as
much in physical comfort in Los An
geles as three dollars are in New Eng
land.
But that is not all. Here is vast
valley of the most fertile soil, capa-