Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-05

stroyed their orchards and sold half
dozen lots out of thousand and next
to those losers were the spectators who
had bought property on partial payment
and were not able to pay the balance as
it became due. For three years Los
Angeles, taking that city for ex-
ample, experienced season of compar-
ative inactivity. Its floating population
in great measure disappeared, build
ing operations were suspended, and
hard times generally were the fruits of
wild speculation which inflated not
only prices but the ideas of men and
women. 1t is mere matter Of history
to recall the rise and collapse OF the
Southern California boom, but the fact
that the country passed through such an
experience makes the present condition
of affairs the more noteworthy. The
prosperity now enjoyed by the farmers
of Los Angeles is fact proving the
country and city had righteous cause
for their growth and development. 1t
was not their. fault that the movement
for this prosperity gained too much
headway and so brought grief and
three years of stagnation. 1t is well
for Southern California that it had its
boom.
''More was accomplished during the
few years of its continuance than would
have been during twice or three times
as many years of an ordinary period.
Railways were constructed with remark
able rapidity; the country was adver-
tised at home and abroad; capital was
poured into the region with a reckless
disregard of future returns. The
collapse of the boom did not
mean dire disaster, or an undoing
of all that had been 80 rapidly accom-
plished. All it did was to destroy
speculation, disappoint the hopes and
schemes of impecunious spectators and
turn the thoughts of farmers away from
corner lots and brass bands to the less
exciting, but, in the end, more profit
able business OF cultivating the rich soil
of their lands and making them, as they
are today, so productive that twenty
acres in the San Gabriel valley will sup
port family, and forty acres will make
one rich. The climate and the soil of
Southe California caused the boom,
but when the latter took unto itself
wings and departed it did not take away
one single attribute OF country most
wonderfully favored.
"At the present time Los Angeles Il
instance that city because it is the
largest and most important in Southern
California; has we'll nigh forgotten its
three years of dull times. Its material
progress since 1887 has been remarkable.
1t has outgrown its experimental age,
it's time of doubt and questioning, and
is now an assured success. 1t is growing
slowly, but surely, and with age and
conservatism is becoming a metropolis
OF which Americans may well be proud.
Well-built, well-managed, -well-paved,
lighted and severed, and supplied with
all necessary transportation facilities,
it is easily the centre of ac-
tivity in Southern California. Its
actual wealth is greater today than in
1887 by nearly $15,0O0,000 In 1887 the
valuation OF city property was 29,l05,-
14S. For 1890 the valuation is $44, ,S71,-
073. In 1887 it had an estimated pop
ulation Of $4,000; now it has census
reported population of only about 81, GOO.
But the real loss is not material, for the
few that are gone are the 'foaters, the
spectators and visitors gathered there
for the sake of gain or the excitement
afforded by the times. Los Angeles has
eighty miles of graded streets, fifteen OF
which are paved or macadamized, and
the total cost of these streets has been
more than $2,0OO,0O0. There are twenty
one miles OF sewers, for the extension of
which 1914, 900 have lately been voted;
a complete system of water mains and
irrigation bitches; more than score of
large, handsome business blocks; and
with all bonded debt of only 1857 900,
which nearly all bears AZ per cent.
rate of interest. The assessors report
for 1889 gives the valuation OF real estate
at $31 ,675 1887, or nearly twice that Of
1887. In 1851, to illustrate what has
been accomplished, the Los Angeles
valuation of personal property was only
$1,124, ,643. In 1SS8-90 it was So, ,993, ,464.
The value o. the Improvements for
the year ending 1889 was nearly two
millions greater than the previous yeaI,
and amounted to $8,850,19 Two or
three years ago the street-car lines were
vastly inadequate. Now Los Angeles
has one of the best cable systems in the
country Chicago capitalists have in
vested 81, 900, 900 in the plant, and the
tracks cover twenty-one miles OF streets.
The cars are run by seven. cables, radi-
ating from three large power-houses. In
addition to this plant there are eight or
ten miles of electric car lines. The city
is spread over large area, and extends
far out over level country, beautifully
shaded. If one wishes to be impresse d
he should see the Los Angeles homes
houses surrounded by spacious grounds,
green from January to January again,
and shaded by groves OF peach, lemon
and orange. The wide avenues, level as
a floor, are enticing; and as for the