Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-03
COOPERATIVE SUGAR
Cahuenga Farmers Trying to
Get a Factory.
An Encouraging Meeting Held
at Denker's Ranch.
Almost the Necessary Amount of
Acreage Pledged.
Further Explanation of the Details of
the P1an-A Hitch About the
Bonds-What Is Said About
the Possible Profits.

Under the vines, fig trees and bana-
mas of the Rodeo de las Aguas, yesterday
afternoon, another meeting of prospect
i've s6gar-beet growers was held, it being
hoped and expected that the co-opera-
tive company would be finally organ
lied. Though this result was not Sc
cured, the matter made 80 much progress
that another week will see the an
nouncement that the machinery for the
factory has been ordered. The land
owners between Cahuenga and Ballona
are beginning to understand the scheme,
and inasmuch as they control thousands
of acres, will give the decisive endorse
ment. The meeting yesterday was a
joint one of the delegates from The
Palms and Cahuenga districts.
The day was perfect one, and the
drive to the Rodeo de las Aguas rancho,
through the Cahuenga valley over the
road skirting the foothills, was one of
| the most exhilarating experiences that
anyone could possibly have. With Mr..
A. II. Denker as guide, philosopher and
friend, and the spanking team of thor
oughbread bays as means of locomo-
ton, one could appreciate nature to the
greatest advantage; while the cool,
velvety sea-breeze from the blue Pacific
made one congratulate himself upon be-
ing alive in this paradise. The land
scape as spread out beneath the foothills,
the broad fields of Cahuenga and Ballo-
ma, the gardens and groves of Hollywood,
the inviting shades of Cahuenga, and
the promising acres showing the hope
full growth OF delicious spring vegetables
were enough to make the heart Jump
with Joy and the mouth water in antici-
patton. One of the most remarkable in
stances OF the fertility of that region was
lemon orchard seen near Hollywood
which, although only planted year
ago. yet throughout shows trees which
look as large and strong as any three
year-old trees elsewhere in the state.
When the electric road system is de-
veloped in this direction, there can be
little doubt but that the whole valley
will develop into an Eden providing
ideal homes to thousands of people. A
person can now buy five or ten acres
along Sunset boulevard for about the
price of fair city lot, and within few
years the same land will be worth $4,000
an acre. AS one of the level headed
ranchmen at the meeting said, people
before long will not be able to afford to
live in the city.
! About fifty farmers had responded to
the call and assembled before the
veranda of Denker's ranch home. Mr..
F. j. Captain called the meeting to
order, and Mr.. f. j. Moll, who has pre-
sided at the Colegrove meetings, was
elected to the chair. The first thing
done was to call for report
from the committee appointed to see
land owners. Mr.. Conner reported that
he had seen Mr.. Wolfskill, who had
promised to attend the meeting, but had
not as yet put in an anappearance. 1t was
also announced that plat of that por-
tion of the Denker>ranch which would
be on the market for leasing for sugar.
beet planting would be ready in about
thirty days.
Mr. Moll said there were many who
would like to rent land on favorable terms
for sugar-beet planting, if land owners
will give them choice of renting with
an option OF purchasing during certain
period of time. Mr.. Arnas replied that
he would be willing 20 rent his land for
sugar-beet planting, but he did not wish
to bond his land.
This is where the hitcl aas seemed to
be, right along. The farmers listen with
pleasure to the statistics and records
showing how they can make big money
out of sugar factory provided for them
for nothing, but do not understand the
very evident essential that the price of
the factory must be secured in some
way or another.
Mr.. Captain said that lots of land
could be rented if the factory was built,
but that, without the bond, no factory
would ever be obtained. The man who
gives the bond on his land being part
owner and getting share of the prof is
OF the factory, can even well afford to
let out his land rent free.
Mr.. Arnas, Jr., who represents sew.
eral Thousand acres, said that owners
would probably yield to the bond propo-
sition if they could obtain guaran-
tee that renters would plant beets fer
five years, and was instructed by Mr..
Captain to the effect that that would
have to be made condition of the
lease itself, because the factory cannot
deal with tenants.
The farmers did not seem to under
stand that the bond on their lands does
not give them actual liabilities to out
siders, but that they are really only
agreeing among themselves to devote
the subscribed and bonded number OF
acres to the sugar industry. Mr.. Henry
H. Denker made a ten-strike in speech
of few words, but of unlimited COM
mon sense. He said: 'You must know
that. in the bond you are not mortgaging
your lands. As long as you plant the
agreed number of acres to beets your
land is safe; no one can touch it, and it
is in no way liable. The people who
will advance the money for the factory
will take a mortgage on the factory as
security, while these bonds on the
land are not OF any effect, unless you
break your promise to plant beets."
Another question was now raised
namely, whether land already mort
| gagged could be bonded in theil
cooperative scheme. Mr.. Captain
replied that it would be better not te
bond mortgaged land, because the mort
gage might run out before the five years
passed, and any trouble between mort
gagor and mortgage might interfer'
with the beet planting. This seems t.
be at variance with the idea on which
the prospectus is based, because unde
that agreement the bond does not affec
the land at all, but only the planting Q
it. These matters were discussed by Mr.
Stoll of Cahuenga, f. B. Anderson Q
Colocrnva and others