The herald., 1895-02-18
How AzuSa Gained a Good and
Solid Citizen
AND HOOSIERDOM LOST ONE
A Happy Sequel to the Chicago Orange
Carnival of 1891
Hoosier Enterprise and Philanthrophy In
Southern California A. p. Griffith's
Benefactions

As the result of the orange carnival
held in Chicago several years ago, Los
Angeles county gained at least one solid
citizen and Indiana lost one of her most
progressive men. The gentleman referred
to is 4. p Griffith of Azusa. While tray
cling for an Eastern mercantile house Mr..
Griffith visited Southern California, but
happened to reach here during one OF the
most inclement periods this section has
ever experienced. After brief visit he
got disgusted with the country and re-
turned East. In Chicago he visited the
orange carnival and ran across Frank
Virgins, one of the managers of the eX-
hibition and Il fellow Hoosier, to whom
he expressed his opinion of Southern
California in no complimentary terms.
Mr.. Virgins told him he had received a
wrong impression of the country and that
he should go and see it again under more
favorable circumstances.
Mr.. Griffith did So and upon his arrival
here Mr.. Virgins took him in hand and
showed him around. Under such guild
ance Mr.. Griffith had his eyes opened to
the advantages of the soil and climate of
this region, and he then and there re-
solved that Indiana couldn't hold him any
longer.
Having decided to go into orange cul-
ture, Mr.. Griffith took a pick and shovel
and went prospecting for the right kind
of soil. He examined the foothll lands
from Pasadena to Pomona. and decided
that Azusa was as good a place as any.
He accordingly bought forty acres of land
which by subsequent purchases he has in
creased to 100 acres, now owning alto
gether seven ranches.
Next he settled up his affairs at the
East moved his family here and started
in to develop his new possessions, which
he has done with vigor. AS the result of
his labors he has now as fine young or
chards of deciduous and citrus fruits as
can be found anywhere along the foothills.
Last year he experimental with three
tfths of an acre of strawberries, which
brought him such satisfactory returns
that ne will this year put out ten acres.
Mr.. Griffith has erected in the town of
Azusa $25, 900 business block, the finest
in the county outside of Los Angeles and
Pasadena, the rentals of which at the
present time net him per cent on his in
vestment. In this building are located the
postotfice, a drug store, shoe store, hard
ware store and one room is held in re-
serve for dry goods establishment. Thus
is this enterprising citizen contributing to
the prosperity of the village in which he
has so recently located.
Nor is this all. Mr.. Griffith took hold
OF Une OlU AZuSd water company ana re-
organized it. He is secretary of the rri-
cation district, which is laying many
miles of new pipe and is now in most
hourishing condition. He has also just
completed an $4,000 reservoir for his pri-
vate use.
The enterprise of this gentleman does
not end here. He is also philanthopist.
At his own expense he has founded a
kindergarten and free public reading
room, having erected building especially
for the latter purpose. He is now on the
point of building Baptist church. He
also contemplates erecting a number of
residences for rent or sale.
The benefactiOnS of this model citizen
are not limited to his own immediate
vicinity. He takes a live interest in all
public matters pertaining to the welfare
of the county and state. He is an active
and enthusiastic member of the Los An
geles Chamber of Commerce and can al
ways be depended upon to lend helping
hand when agricultural or citrus fairs are
being held He contributed greatly to the
success of the citrus displays at the
Worlds Fair at Chicago and the Midwin-
ter Fair by collecting fruit for the exhibit
and otherwise assisting in the work.
In short, there are few "tenderfeet"
who have made themselves so generally
useful to the community as has Mr.
Griffith during his few years residence
in the county. While he is, per-
haps, an exceptional example of the
class OF persons who have been
attracted to Southern California through
the agency of such advertising as was
afforded by the orange carnival, the
worlds fair and similar exhibitions, there
are abundant instances where men of
wealth and enterprise came here as the
direct result of such exhibitions. Red
lands and Pasadena especially received
valuable accessions to their population
Immediately after the Chicago orange
carnival. There are hundreds of others
who will admit that the Southern Califor-
mia exhibit at the worlds fair and the
midwnter fair fetched them, and the
Chamber OF Commerce lays claim to
bringing hundreds of Others which claim
can be fully substantiated
Los Angeles understands the art of ad-
vertising as no other section of the coun-
try does The results fully Justify the
trouble and expense. Let the good work
go on.