The herald., 1894-12-12
Strong Resolution Regarding
the State Division to
Come Up.
A TRIP TO WHITTIER.
Immigration and Other Subj cts OF I'm
portAnos to this Section DiAoussed.
Now Ideas Advauoed-rhs Con-
greas to Meet Again To-day.

The reception and club rooms OF the
chamber of commerce were handsomely
decorated yesterday on the occasion OF
the congress Of supervisors of Southern
Cslifornia's seven counties. President
Freeman. Superintendent Virgins and
Secretary Willard, together with MEM
bers Of the board OF directors OF the
chamber, We'd with each other in mak-
ing things pleasant for the delegates
to this congress. The magnificent ex
hibits in the rooms of the chamber
we're inspected and admired. and a
committee took charge OF a number OF
the delegates. eecorting them about the
city and giving them q birde-sys view
OF Los Angeles from the dome OF the
new court house. Many OF the delegates
from Santa Barbara and Ventura did not
arrive until afternoon. and consequently
the opening OF the congress WAS delayed
considerably. Then visit to the
Whittier reform school made ON adjourn.
ment necessary until this afternoon,
whsn some new matters will be brought
up and subjects only partially broached
yesterday afternoon be fully discussed.
The club room presented a lively
scene at 2 O'Clock, the half hundred or
moro chairs and divsns were occupied
by men who rule the destinies of coun-
ties, while others stood about and
taik,d. In the buzz of conversation
e)uld be heard comments on the cost OF
bridge building. road repairing. the
49,
liability to "job" an unsuspecting board
ell was harmony and for the good OF the
dear people. In en- adjoining room
the directors room-was spread an
ample lunch. with coffee, cigars and
other accessories to pleasant time.
THE CONGRESS- CONVENED.
Shortly before s O'Clock the congress
WAS called to order by President Free
man, who congratulated the congress on
the large attendance, showing as it did
the great interest manifested in the
work. Mr.. Freeman said:
GENTLEMEN You come together to-
day at the call OF the chamber OF COM
meroe of Los Angeles, supervisors OF
seven counties-from Santa Barbara and
Ventura on the north, Riverside and
San Bernardino on the east. Orange
and San Diego on the south, and from
Los Angeles in the center. You are the
local law makers Of Southern California,
elected by the suffrages OF your neigh
bors to guide the business affairs of our
individual counties, and upon your ad
miDistraiion depends, in large meas
ure, the future welfare OF all this Sec
tion. No set OF men or of officials has
the power to accomplish greater good
for Southern California than yourselves,
and upon none does a greater reepon"
sibility rest.
The present is q critical epoch in the
history OF Southern California. A con-
Hnuous stream of immigration is pour
ing into this country, attracted largely
by the work at the worlds fair and by
the wide dissemination of literature that
preceded it. They come not to specu-
late in lands but 10 plant them; not to
talk sentiment about the climate, but to
grow irnits and vegetables and cereals,
Some OF them bring capital to help de-
velop the country. They are starting
neS industries. opening up new lines OF
trade and commerce, and in their conf
dence and enthusiasm they even 60 be-
yond those of us who have been a much
longer period here on the ground. They
are the right kind Of people-no country
could ask for better-not the ignorant
and squalid foreigner, who brings with
him q blight of poverty and anarchy.
but people Of our own sort and kind,
out of the progre ssive, enterprising
American west. Let no one question as
to their coming. In Los Angeles city
32, ,O0O, 900 worth OF new buildings have
been erected within the last year, of
which sum enough was expended for
residences alone to call for an increase
of population by eight or ten thousand
people, yet today a vacant house 10 hard
to find in the city.
LOS ANGELES AS A CENTER.
Los Angeles being the central point.
where the railroads come together,
settlers who are undecided ss to their
final location remain here temporarily
until the advantage OF some outside
section is brought to their notice. From
the reports that reach US, however, it
seems that all sections of Southern Cali.
fornia are receiving their share of the
new immigration, as all have partici-
pated equally in the work which has
helped to bring it here.
Tne coming Of these people means
greater prosperity to the country,
greater development of its resources,
better transportation facilities, better
freight rates for our products as the
volume to be exported increases, greater
influence for this section in the affairs
OF the state and the halls OF congress,
better times for US all and for the vari-
ous sections that we represent. In all
our pride over the wonderful resources
OF our country-its fertile soil, its per-
feet climate and the variety OF its horti-
cultural products, we must not forget
that this is essentially a new country
and but sparsely populated. Iowa,
where the farms average five or
six times the size of our
ranches, has "a people to the
square mile, while in Southern Califor-
1is. leaving out all the ountains and
desert land. we find only 8 to the so uare
mile. To build up new business req uires
capital; to build up a new country re-
Quires people. We are still suffering