Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-26
HE DREW A GLOWING PICTURE.
A Bankers Opinion of Southern
California.
He Depicts It's Beauties and Its
Financial Resources.
An Eloquent Address Delivered by A.
ID. Childress In San Francisco.
Some Valuable Facts
COllated.

AT the Bankers convention IN San
Francisco, just closed, A. D. Childress,
president Of the City bank of Los An
geles, responded on behalf of Southern
California to the address of welcome in
an address of more than usual eloquence.
The description of Southern California
and its development was in able hands,
and the address was heartily received.
A glance at what Mr.. Childress said will
be of interest.
when the traveller first enters
Southern California" said the speaker,
through the narrow gateway of San
Gorgonio Pass, the transition from the
treeless, arid and desolate wilds of the
Colorado desert produces sensation OF
surprise and delight never to be forgot
ten. 1t is refreshing scene when one
gazes out of the car window upon fields
of snow, high up on the hoary tops Of
San Jacinto and San Bernardino, while
all around is the bloom and beauty of
almost tropical luxuriance.
'sThe sudden change from cheerless
desert to a semi-tropic cline is bewilder-
ing. His eyes rest with pleasure upon
lofty mountain tops, the home of ice and
snow kings, as we'll as upon sun kissed
and fertile valleys rivaling the Arcadia
of the ancients. Here to him is para
disc, all around him is the Eden of his
brightest youthful dreams. AS he is
whirled onward he ia greeted with the
perfume from veritable world OF flow
ers his cheeks famed by the balmy
breezes of an eternal spring time. Here
is Southern California, Our Italy, the
paradise of the world. Here is our sunny
southern cline where the morning-glory
and century plant submit to the same
conditions, and flower with equal fre-
quency; where the rose and lily are free
from the environments of the hot house,
and the tree geranium evidences perpet-
ual summer"
After still further description OF the
climate, Mr.. Childress proceeded to a
more practical review of the physical
features of the country. "The area of
the southern countless" said he, ICON
stituting Southern California-Kern, Los
Angeles, San Bernardino. Santa Barbara,
San Diego, San Luis Ooispo, Orange and
Ventura-is 81 ,S60ssquare miles, of which
22.3S1 are mountains, and 29,3S0 desert,
leaving only 5,S05 square miles in val
leys utof such vast scope of territory"
This area, he continued, was adapted
to all productions of semi-tropic cline,
and within few years the prairies
where the Indians hunted and the coy
ote dwelt, had become orchards bending
under the weight of the golden apples
of the Hesperides. 1t had increased in
population more than 200 per cent. In
1880 it was only 1851. whereas in 1889
it had swelled to 227 1882. The assessed
valuation of the eight counties in 1880
was only SAL ,460, ,2l8, which was in
creased to $199, 1884 ,4l6 in 1889. grand
difference of $169, ,000,0 900 within short
decade. Since then there had been the
same ratio of material development of
the whole country, the bloom and
beauty Of which is so bewildering that
it is beyond the power OF any one to
adequately picture or describe.
Referring to Los Angeles, the birth
place of the California Bankers asso-
citation. Mr.. Childress spoke convinc-
ingly as follows: From thriving town
of 22, 800 people in 1885, it has grown to
be a city Of beautiful residences, the
dwelling place of over 10000 happy and
contented people. In July, 1885, there
were only four commercial banks in Los
Angeles, having total capital of $500,
900, with surplus of 100000. The COM
bined deposites of the four banks
amounted to $3,128, 900; whereas, in
July of this year the number of com.
mercial banks had increased to 13, with
combined capital of So, 100000, COM
bined surplus ef over 81 1876 900, and the
large sum of $7,50O,000 deposits. Be-
sides the commercial banks there are at
present five prosperous saving banks,
with total capital and surplus Of $780,.
600 and combined deposits of So, ,275 900
as against two institutions in July. 1885
with a total capital of only $142 900
crease of banking capital within the
crease of deposits of over 81 800, 900.
No less wonderful has been the aston
ishing incresase in number and wealth
of all financial institutions in Southern
California.
fornia exceed $22 2,000, 600; showing
rarely if ever equaled by a country
which score of years ago was regarded
as sheep pasture, and little better thar
a desert waste. This sum is nearly II
per cent Of the total deposits in all the
banks OF California, which exceed $l96.
100000. When we consider that in 1881
there were only 10 banks in Southern
California, with combined capital o
$l,540, 900, and total deposits of $4,000,
600, and contrast them with the 8
banks which exist to day, with com
bined capital of $11 800, 900 and deposit
OF over $22 900. COO, it is difficult to real
ize the grand growth and increase whicl
statistics prove beyond doubt.
The speaker good humoredly referre'
to the claims of Southern California a
a growing commercial rival to San Fran
cieco, and the apathy of our friends c
the north to recognize our advancement
and closed by predicting that the Who'll
state within 25 years will be the riches
and most prosperous country in th