Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-25
THE BOOM COMING.
An Eastern Journalists View
of the Country
The South California Sentiment
is Recognized.
Fasteners to Be Fully Advised as to
the Advantages Here.
Los Angeles Sure to Have Another Boom
and That SoOn-IndIcations of the
Prosperity-The Country Seen
Through Eastern Eyes.
LBY DAVID LEwsLEY.l

The following paper Is written by one
of the best known newspaper men in
New York, who is now here. 1t is inter-
eeting as giving the point of view OF a
novice in Southern California matters j
The city of Los Angeles has had one
boom within the last dozen years, and
it is about to have another. One boom
is usually all that comes to one place,
and when it "busts" the game is up.
One very seldom hears of complete re-
.coyery from "busted" boom.
But this City Of the Angels is going
to prove an exception to the rule.
The last census shows that betw cen 1880
and 1890 the population of this city in
creased from IL 1888 to 50,395, and If the
boom had not gone up before the time
for taking the census arrived, it is calcu-
lated the latter figure would have beeA
ever go 600. 1t is claimed that the city
contains over 60 1000 people today, and it
may be go, for undoubtedly the popula-
ton has greatly increased within the
past year.
Los Angeles is the capital of Southern
California. One hears SO much OF South
ern California in this latitude and so
little of any other part OF California. that
really Southern California seems to be
separate and distinct state. The busi-
ness men, boomers and spectators, and
to a certain extent the people of the six
southern counties, seem to have formed
a league, offensive and defensive,
for their joint and individual
profit. In advertising the vast
possibilities and the glorious fu-
ture OF Southern California these six
southern counties act like one man.
San Diego may kick once in while be-
cause Los Angeles is chosen as the loca-
ton for all the new railroad connections
and the other establishments that go to
build up city. Pasadena and Glen
dora and Santa Monica and Santa Bar
bara and all the other hundred or so OF
thriving and enterprising Santas may
indulge in their own little rivalrles as
pleasure and health resorts, but all are
for Southern California. Such dnan-
unity and CO operation, such apparent
organization for a big boom has seldom
been seen. During the next few years
Southern California, Southern Califor-
MIA. Southern California, will be
noarQ every WHSIc' AiOdAy OhO Auon
of advertising is on its way.
The daily newspapers almost ignore
party politics and the other stock sub
iects of general journalism and fill up
their space every day with glowing eulo-
oies of the glorious climate and the fer
tile soil OF Southern California.
The railroad companies, and especially
the Santa F6 and Southern Pacific, the
two great tcauscontinental systems
which are most deeply interested in this
part of the country, are scattering their
advertisements broadcast and are pre-
pairing to paint the whole continent red,
while and blue with literature about
the milk and honey that flow in South
arn California-or would flow if only a
few wise men from the east with heavy
nurses would come along and encourage
them.
A new monthly illustrated magazine,
The Californian, was started In San
Francisco the other day, apparently for
the main purpose of booming Southern
California. The leading paper was de-
voted to an account OF this city, and a
large portion of the remainder was de-
voted to what the people of this city call
their back country. Southern California
intends to get the worth OF its money
out OF the worlds fair at Chicago. The
intention at present seems to be to
make that exhibition one great glorious
boom for Southern California. 1t will
be an expensive affair, but the boomers
will put up their money like princes.
They have unbounded faith in the COM
ing boom, and if any reliance can be
placed in the facts which they adduce,
purporting to represent correctly
the result of actual experience on South
ern California farms, there is no reason
why they should not have unbounded
confidence in the coming boom. While
the orange takes precedence of all others
it seems to be true that pretty nearly al
the fruits of the temperate and sub
tropical zones can be grown to perfection
in Southern California. Instances are
cited where over $1,000 worth of oranges
have been raised on single acre in one
wear. If the farmer could depend upor
a Weld like that, or even one-half OF it
and $500 per acre is represented as being
a small yield, whether you grow oranges
or some other fruit-it would seem to b'
a good investment to buy few hun
dred acres of that land at th'
current prices, which do not, except IL
rare cases run over 5000 per acre. 4
net profit of from 200 to 800 per cent
per annum on ones investment is al
most too good to believe, but that is th'
attraction that the Southern Californii
boomers are holding out to those wh'
wish to take advantage of it. 1t seem
to me that there are millions and mil
lions of dollars in New York, Boston
Philadelphia and other cities whicl
would have discovered such an invest
ment, and monopolized the benefits OF II
long ago. l don't know much abou
booms or horticulture or finance, bu
when | see a number OF real estat
agents or agents of any kind strainin
every nerve to induce capital to com
and make two or three hundred pc
cent. interest in the most glorious eli
mate under the sun, with the most fertll
of fruit lands as security for every do
lar invested, can't help thinking this
there's a mistake somewhere some Ell
sential part of the proposition whic:
has not been set forth. For why shoul
capitalists and investors be satistie
with interest at the rate of five, six c
seven per cent. per annum, when the
could just as easily make several hui
dred per cent. with equally good sect
rity? believe that capital is quick
find out the most profitable investmen
where the utmost dollar is to be madI
and believe it will not willingly loi
any opportunity to increase its intere
with safety. When / meet man wit
straight tip" "a sure thing" I