Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-13
vANDEvER AND BooDLE-BABCoCK IN
THE PERSPECTIVE.


1t is with great reserve that the HER
AID ventures to indulge in any refiec-
lions upon the actions of the venerable
vandever, the present representative OF
the Sixth congressional district of Cali
fornia in the congress of the United
States. There was cast around this old
gentleman during his several campaigns
such military and romantic halo that
it was difficult to entertain the idea that
he could possibly be anything but one
of the apochalyptic walking figures
clothed in white, whose shoulders were
ornamented with white wings, in the
true cherubic style. 10
To those who know a thing or two
when they see it, Gen. Vandever's all
too apparent connubiating with the In
ternational company, with headquarters
at Ensenada, in Lover California, was
revelation. The old gentleman failed in
this quarter. Very happily for the
country his efforts fell still-born.
The latest phase in which our do-noth-
ing representative, as respects the real in
terests of his constituents, comes before
the public is in the shape of introducing
bill into the house of representatives
calling for the establishment OF q twelve
company military post on the northern
end of the peninsula, opposite the city
of San Diego. The HERALD would have
nothing to say in opposition to the es-
tablishment of such post ii there were
no niger in the woodpile. But for this
purpose it is proposed to appropriate the
sum OF 100000, $5OO,0OO OF this amount
to be applied to the purchase OF not less
than five hundred acres of land on the
northern end of the peninsula as site
for the barracks which would accommo-
date this twelve company post.
OF course, any one familiar with the
lay OF the land on the peninsula knows
that this means that the enterprising
Babcock and his hackers, the proprietors
of the Hotel Coronado, if this bill shall
pass in its present form, are to be paid
$500, 900 for five hundred acres of land.
In view of the fact that these gentle
men bought the whole peninsula, con-
tanning four thousand acres, for 500, 900,
or at the rate of $25 an acre, this deal,
if consummated, would be very neat
speculation. In other words, the enter
prising gentlemen who bought the pen
insula would be recouped their whole
outlay by the sale OF traction of their
purchase, would have made four hun
dred per cent. ON the transaction and
would have .seven-eighths OF their real
estate still in hand for other astounding
operations, whose magnitude would
have enlisted the interest of the Count
OF Monte Cristo.
The most curious feature about this
proposition to invest $500, 900 in buying
a site for tweive-company post is that,
if these men are ever stationed there,
and the United States should ever be-
come involved in war with foreign
power with any naval equipment, they
would be caught like rats in a trap.
They could not retreat by the narrow
line of the peninsula, and they could
scarcely walk across the bay to the
main land.
On the other hand, Immediately op-
posite the northern point of the penin-
sula, the United States owns reserva-
ton consisting of four thousand acres.
1t is quite hilly, but it contains nice
and convenient hooks where the twelve
company post could be pleasantly
located. 1t adjoins Ballast point and
the Playa, and is attended by the happy
circumstance that the twelve COM
panies, If they were ever located there,
and were menaced by a competent naval
force, could run away, via Old Town,
and would not be obliged to surrender
in an ignominious way.
That there is danger OF this corrupt
job passing there is no doubt. Through
some agency the name of Senator Hearst
was made use of to introduce it into the
senate. Ithas received the approval and
is supposed to have the active co-opeIa-
tion of Gen. Cadwallader. Ex-Governor
Eli H. Murray is now in Washington.
and is supposed to be active in his advo-
cacy of the measure. Col. Chalmers
Scott's services have also been engaged
in pushing it. Taking it for all in all,
this raid upon the treasury of the United
States is quite formidable, and needs the
careful attention of those who do not
like humbug.
No line which we have written is in
hostility to the expenditure of 100000
for twelve company post ON the gov
ernment reservation at San Diego. We
are merely protesting against the $780,
600 steal.