Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-09
"A Rich Region Which Is at
Our Doors.
Editor Mulholland of Indepen-
dence Interviewed.
The Trade and Resources Which
Should Come Here.
A Most interesting Talk-very Valuable
Mineral Resources-The Coun-
ty,s Agr icultural Pos
sibilities.

During the past three years Inyo
county has been kept before the busi-
ness men OF Los Angeles by Mr.. G.
Mulholfand, editor of the Independent
of Independence, Inyo county, the
county seat. He is 80 we'll known to
many OF our leading citizens that his
statements concerning that county are
received without question. Mr.. Mu!-
holland arrived in Los Angeles few
days ago, and as the promised extension
of the Carson and Colorado railroad is a
matter OF great importance to Los
Angeles, a representative of the HERALD
called upon him and had talk in re-
gard to the matter. The following is
the substance OF what was said by Mr..
Mulholland: The older business men
of Los Angeles remember we'll the ex-
tent and value Of the business that came
here from Inyo county when the late
Remi Nadeau did all the transportation
for that county by teams hauling across
the Mojave desert. So great and valua-
BILE was that business that Senator John
P. Jones and others organized a company
to build railroad from Santa Monica
to independence, and today part Of
the road then built extending from this
city to the sea is called the Los Angeles
and Independence railroad.
About the time when the road was
completed from Santa Monica to Los
Angeles, the financial troubles that de-
veloped in 1872 had extended to the
Pacific coast, and enterprises OF all
kinds we're arrested. The Los Angeles
and Independence railroad shared the
common lot. Before confidence had
been restored and money again become
easy, new conditions had arisen in Inyo
county. d. o. Mills, the well-known
capitalist OF New York, had become in
terested in Inyo to such an extent that
he determined to build railroad, and
the Carson and Colorado was begun.
This road was extended to Keeler about
eight years ago, and there it has since
rested. From Keeler to the Central
Pacific railroad at Reno the distance is
1886 miles. Although the distance from
Keeler to San Francisco is nearly three
times as great as from Keller to Los
Angeles, yet the railroad was able to
give cheaper rates than the teams, and
all the business of Inyo county was
diverted to San Francisco.
1t has always been with the greatest
reluctance, however, that the people of
Inyo were drawn away from Los An
geles. All their sympathies are with
this city, and it will give them hearty
satisfaction to resume the old business
relations. So strong Is this old feeling
of attachment for Los Angeles that the
people of Inyo have for many months
past been buying large quantities of
merchandise here and hauling by teams
from Mojave. This they are now doing.
and will continue to do till railroad
shall be built, even if the cost of freight
be somewhat greater.
Mr.. Mulholland has described to busi-
ness men here the immense value of the
soda that may be obtained from the
water of Owens lake, and tried to have
Nobody was willing to take hold. how
ever.
About four years ago D. O. Mills be-
gan operations, and now bicarbonate
and carbonate of soda are obtained by
simply running the water into ponds
and letting it evaporate. This is the
cheapest and best source of supply for
soda in the United States, or the world.
Recently company of capitalists in
London sent representatives to Inyo
county, who examined Owens lake, and
upon their report the principals have
bargained with Mr.. Mills for all of his
interest that he would sell. The Eng
lishmen will now control a majority OF
the stock. These people intend to
greatly extend the capacity of the
works, bringing the yield up to %, 900
tons year, and ultimately to double
that amount. The need for short haul
for this vast amount of material to tide
water may be part of the inducement
for the extension of the Carson and Col.
orado road. The great bulk of the stuff
would of necessity pass through Los An
geles to reach one of the ports in the
neighborhood.
All citizens of Los Angeles have for
years realized the importance of having
smelling works here, but the project has
been more talked about than worked
for. The extension OF the Carson and
Colorado road ought to bring that about
if anything will. Inyo county has for
years been the principal source of sup.
ply for smelling ores to the great works
OF Selb7 & Co. of San Francisco. These
ores are of especial value to smelters, fol
the reason that they carry very high
percentage of lead, and by mixing enable
the smelters to work ores 30 deficient in
iodu tuat tuoy COulU uOC OCQorW160 De
smelted. The extension of the road
from Inyo will open up mining districts
of great extent and value that have not
yet been touched. Here will be one oil
the best fields on the Pacific coast fol
parties who want to become interested
in mines. About three years ago q
marble quarry was opened up near
Keeler. The deposit is OF vast extent and
the marble of rare beauty. On Mont.
gomery street, San Francisco, D. o. Mills
is now constructing building that will
be one of the show places of California
1t will be eleven stories high and will
be constructed in great part OF Inye
marble. The cost of the structure il
estimated at over two millions of dol.
lars. The extension of the railroad will
make this beautiful material available
for Los Angeles and doubtless much o
it will be used here. Owens valley il
one of the most fertile regions in the
state. There is ample land there for q
population OF 100000 people, and there
is far more water than all the land viii
need it is the best watered region in
the state. There will be the future sup
ply Of cherries. apples and other decid'
uous fruits for Los Angeles. Competent
judges who have Investigated say that
acre for acre, the growing of those