The herald., 1894-08-31
AS A CENTER OF SUPPLIES.

AS A CENTER OF SUPPLIES.
The rapid way in which Los Angeles
IL extending her commercial tributaries
Is one OF the strongest evidences we
could have of the substantial and rapid
growth OF our business interests and the
consequent inevitable expansion of our
business territory. 1t is but few years
agons that Los Angeles was merely the
source Of supplies for the spsrsely set
s tied valleys behind her and the few
mining camps beyond San Bernardino.
!. Now her trade extends far beyond
Bakersfield to the north; east, to the
4 oountry reached by the Nevada Southern
|. railway; includes Arizona and part OF
New Mexico, and is rapidly supplanting
ythe hold San Francisco has on the busi-
ness OF the coast counties between here
and San Luis Obispo.
One OF the strong evidences OF the ex-
! banding commerce of this city lie the
great increase of all large wholesale
houses successfully established here
within the past few years. Another in
dication OF the business advantage of
our situation is the fact that many OF
I the leading houses of San Francisco are
establishing large and important
branches here. When the projected
railway connection with Utah is made
and 1t is now assured as fact in the
near future-we shall not only be vir-
tually the objective on the coast OF at
least five overland railroad systems, but
We ghsll become the commercial distrib.
utor for Southern Nevada and Southern
Utah. Every Wholesale house estab-
ished here increases the area of our
tributary territory and contributes sen.
sibly to our ability to hold our ad.
yanced lines of trade against all corners.
We must never lose sight of the fact
that the great underlying reason for the
rapid increase Of our commercial tribu-
taries is in ths primary fact that we are
the focal center of an immense agricul.
tural region where all the products of
the soil are grown in the most generous
profusion. The finest and rareat fruits
Of the sub-tropics, the cereals and cub
stantial growths OF leguminous edibles
In universal use and demand, are here
produced in such abundance that they
of themselves form the basis for an i'm
mense traffic. We send potatoes and
cabbages to the market OF Chicago and
early vegetables of all kinds to all parts
of the east. This source of basic pros
perity is increasing every year and is
destined to become sn Important factor
in the great volume OF our trade ax-
change.
The war department was not slow to
recognize the advantages Of Los Angeles
as a point to purchase at the best COM
petitive rates line OF important sup
plies for its western poets, and therefore
established here bureau of purchase
for most oil the supplies required by the
military camps in Arizona and New
Mexico. When it is remembered that
the commissarv and ouartermaster's
departments of our army are conducted
on the most rigid principles of economy.
and that the reports OF quality and
prices of supplies furnished from all
parts of the union are carefully compiled
and scrutinized and compared at head
quarters in Washington, there is no
room left for doubt that the maintaining
Of . purchasing bureau here for the
division of General McCook shows that
this is the best, cheapest and most
available point at which to procure
large line of supplies for the army
posts of that generals department.
Here also is the cheapest point
1t which to purchase the lumber re-
0uired by the various military posts of
the adjoining territories, and as our city
IL within immediate reach of all OF them
BY rail, an added reason exists to main
tain purchasing Office of supplies in
Las Angeles. Transportation cuts very
Important figure in the economic con-
ejderation OF selecting purchasing
point for the army posts. The only
city that could at all pretend to compete
| with ne for furnishing the western posts
. with lumber, potatoes. onions, pre-.
serves. dried fruit, etc., is San Fran
pisco, and to buy the supplies in that
city would mean to pay freight on the
goods purchased for distance OF five
hundred miles greater than if pur-
ohased here.
We cite this faot for the purpose Of
effording the reader. who has not given
thought to the subject of the rapid
Growth and the remarkable expansion
our zone OF commerce las made, an
idea OF the true basis OF tho wonderful
>frides our city has taken as business
ter. We hold the interior CONNER
lines on vast territory that is rap
6lling with population. and we
orr very door an extensive and