Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-18
IMPORTANT LINES OF DEVELOPMENT,

For a decade the HERALD, always
foremost in the advocacy of any line OF
development that would do anything in
the way of bringing out the latent re-
sources OF this section, has been the
champion of this view--that the pro-
duction OF winter vegetables for the
eastern markets would in due time
prove to be strong rival of our match
less orange groves. There is the high
est type OF humanity in these develop
ments, for like the quality of mercy,
they are twice blessed. They bless the
man who is engaged in them here, in
the way of most plethoric returns as a
reward of his labors, and they bless the
people at the east, who are equally ben
eficiaries of our soil and climate, in
that they thus procure an article OF food
not only delicious to the palate,
but most healthful to the system.
Good food lisa prime prerequisite of good
health, which is the cornerstone of both
happiness and sound morality.
Therefore, with our eye on this double
benefit to the people of the whole coun-
trv, we have been laborious advocates of
the proposition that Southern Califor-
MIA must in time become the great store
house for the union, whence all the
millions of our population might draw
full supplies of fresh tomatoes, as big
in circumference as saucers, OF caull-
flower as white as snow, and as large as
basket. of Strawberries as sweet as
sugar, and of green peas as tender as
grass butter at all times of the year.
Even new potatoes and heads of sound
cabbage fresh from the fields are ac-
compartments of these more costly
! delicacies not to be overlooked.
1t may at many times have appeared
to the unthinking, as if we were talking
into the air during all these years. But
we are beginning to have our reward for
our wise persistency; and our readers
having proceeded to take our advice, are
beginning to reap their reward in the
big revenues they are now receiving for
their shipments to all the cities OF the
east. There is really at this time very
encouraging movement of these crops to
many points east Of the mountains. AS
far east as New York, Boston and Phil
adelphia we are sending crates OF ripe
tomatoes, green peas, strawberries and
other products OF our soil of kindred
quality. These commodities are being
shipped by express, and as they go
through on passenger time in the best
cars, they arrive in perfect condition.
The prices being realized are surely
satisfactory. Tomatoes sellin New Y ork at
so cents per pound, peas at 20, and straw
berries at 652s cents. The sight of these
fruits and delicacies in eastern cities at a
time of the year when all the country is
buried under several feet of snow, and
when the surface of the earth is as hard
as rock from the frost to depth OF six
to ten feet, the people will realize as no
words could express the beauty OF oul
climate. The express company sends
out in day or two great crate Of fine
strawberries as a present to big social
club in New York city. The intention
is TO have the fruit appear on the tables
of the club on Christmas day at dinner.
That fact will convey to thousands of
minds such an impression OF the climate
of Southern California as never was
made before.
The profits from these crops to the
producers rival those from our orange
groves. There have been great many
acres planted to these vegetables this
winter, and when the wind-up is made
next spring, the results will astonish the
most sanguine of us all. Farmers will
add up their accounts and there
will be footings of 5000 to $500
an acre as common things, while
in some cases it will take four figures to
express the happy facts of the case.
There is only one thing more to be
done in this line. That is to go right on
as we are going, until, instead of few
packages day sent out in the express
car, we shall have car full go on by
each passenger train; and then develop
the industry into full express train a
day, to 60 on just behind each passenger
train and on passenger schedule time.
That is what we are coming to.