The morning call., 1892-09-28
sold THEM A DESERT.
Eastern Settlers in a Sorry
Plight.
UNABLE TO RAISE CROPS.
The Southern Pacific Colonization Agency
and It's Operations in the San
Joaquin Valley.

Several hundred deluded people. who
were induced by glib-tongued agents of the
Southern Pacific Colonization Agency to
settle on an alkali desert in the San joaquin
Valley, are making loud complaint.
There is no redress for the victims but to
stay and suffer or else move out and lose the
money and labor invested.
Over year ago the Southern Pacific Colo
nizatlon Agency, ever on the alert to ad-
vance the interests OF mankind. conceived a
scheme TO colonize a portion of the San
Joaquin Valley a few miles below Tracy.
As the spot selected was a desert the
company at once realized the necessity Of
penping the spot with tender feet
Natives knew the futility of trying to re-
claim the land, so coloniz!ng agents were
dispatched to the East.
Miller & Lux were the original owners Of
the land, which was purchased by the
company with view TO WORKING lis little
scheme.
In all the tract comprised ten sections,
through which ran an irrigatiDg ditch But
even water will not induce vegetation TO
grow on sterile land.
About six bushels of barley to the acre
could be raised, but this would not pay
unless the Industry were conducted on an
enormous scale.
When the company secured the land 1t
sent its agents East 10 see the farmers OF
the Middle and Eastern States.
They had their little speeches well
learned. and supplemented their remarks
by exhibiting highly colored cuts of this
garden spot OF California.
The prospective immigrants were led TO
believe that everything indigenous to the
soil would grow in luxurious profusi0n in
this favored valley. Fruits and vegetables
OF all kinds could be grown in abundance.
Lithograph prints CT punches OF grapes
weighing several pounds were shown as
products Of this district.
The people were impressed by these
statements and many were induced tn leave
their homes and journey 10 the new FL
Dorado.
1t was represented to them that owing to
the exceeding richness of the land it was
only necessary TO purchase small tracts and
let nature take her course IN pilIng up
wealth for the owner.
About seventy families we're induced TO
settle in the new colony.
The victims were all landed at one time.
They settled on the tract and the COM
pauy erected small depot in their midst,
painted it red, aud called the place Dos
Palos.
That means "two poles" Not a very
we'll timbered section, at al events.
A man by The name OF |. \. hyde was in
the rush when the pilgrims got 10 delvug
in the soil and developed It's marvellous re-
sources.
The land was sold of in small tracts and
tie settlers started in TO improve their new
possessions.
Trees and vineyards were planted. but
nothing would grow but the Interest on
their debts.
The barren desert refused to yield forth
fruits or anything else, and ii has gradually
dawned on the people that they have been
deceived.
They own ranches. ii is true, but they
cannot raise enough TO live on.
Complaints are pouring in from al parts
OF the colony and there is strong talk Of a
series Of necktie parties If the proper SUBJ
| jects can be LAID hold Of
The hotel man is a badly bitten as the
rest of the deluded people.
He has q large establishment at Dos
Pal0S with no one but himself and family
as boarders.
The settlers are in sorry plight.
They cannot make living on the land.
They have no money with which to make
their escape. and the only recourse they
have is to Eold meetings and denounce the
company that put them there.
The Southern Pacific CCmpany's agents
emphatcaliy declare that they had nothing
started by unauthorized persons, who used
tile name Of the Southern Pacific TO further
their own ends.