The sun., 1895-01-20
COLONIES IN CALIFORNIA.
DANGER or RUTING LAND ON
FAITH FROM EASTERN AGENTS.
pits OF the Maisvs Desert sna seetio.s or
Mountnins Sold as Choiee Fruit Lssd-
Success OF Coionies MsssGsa Honestly.


Success or Coiories Managed Honestly.
sAs FRANCISCO, Jan. 1o.-The California col
ony system, carried on by honest men in the
true spirit Of cooperation. has done more than
any other single thing to build up the successful
fruit growing districts Of southern California.
Most Of the widely known colonies-such as
Anaheim. Riverside, Pasadena, Pomona, On
tario, and Fresno-had their birth in CO.
operative societies. largely farmed by people
who were noyicea in fruit growing. The
colonies which wero we'll managed have succeed
cd beyond the dreams OF their most sanguine
projectors. Those which have failed were
wrecked by INSCRIPTIONS Spectators, who used
the bait OF the success Of others TO ertrap ig-
norant investors. The very name OF California
has been made hateful to hundreds OF credulous
Eastern people because OF the frauds practlsed
upon them by swindling land agents. The sound
old business rule not to buv land from map
has been ignored By thousands TO their loss.
1t seems strange that any one, for instance,
In the Middle or Western States should buy
iand in far-oT California. Of which he know
nothing definitely. simply because 1t is offered
for small sum per acre Yet 1t was to this Curl
Gus weakness of human nature that swindler
named Raymond appealed for several years.
He established himself in several Ohio towns
and advertised widely TO sell choice California
fruit lands on the installment plan. lie cum
ningiy omitted to mention the exact location OF
the lands except by township, and he artfully
included some testimonials from authorities
in regard to the merits of lands in that same
county When 1t is remem bered that more than
one-half OF California consists Of mountain
and desert-wastc land which can never be re-
deemed the danger OF purchasing land without
q guarantee OF It's character may be appreciated.
or course the dupes OF Swindler Raymond could
have learned that he was a fraud had they
written to the county seat OF the county in
which his bargains were located, or had they
sent letter to the United States land Office in
San Francisco. Apparently they did neither,
but paid their good coin for deeds to land that
were absolutely worthless.
An investigation Of this fellow showed that he
sold ten-acre fruit uacts on the slopes Of the
TchAchapi Mountains. where nothing fourishes
except dwarf oaks and pines. and that one U (
his most attractive colonies was located on
q section in tho heart Of the Mojave
Desert miles away from any water This desert
may be reclaimed some day. when all the fertile
acres of California occupied. for the soil will
produce anything when water is brought upo n
81 butt will require fifty years to overcrowd the
arabic parts OF the State. So the purchaser
OF ten-ncre fruit ranch on the Mojave may
sign himself to the conviction that he hns been
swindled. How many dupes Raymond made 1t
is impossible to say. but his victims were num-
bered by hundreds. as he was literary artist In
the preparation Of seductive advertisements.
Some OF those whom he defrauded tried to pros
ecute him in the courts but when the cases
came up for trial it was found that he had
Morded buth advertisements and contracts that
he was able TO escape criminal liability:
On the heels OF this fraud came the failure OF
several large land colonies in California, notably
the John Brown colony in MADEIRA county. This
man Of MADEIRA. IN the heart OF the San Joaquin
Valley. Tourists who went to Yosemite from
tn s9 Ssy 9 hs
and took the stage for the long and dusty ride to
Tie famous VA XoIley 1t WAS then The Post ONCE
could see stretched yellow, rolling plains. The
town consisted of hotel. saloon, and general
upon upon ,Sess hess MADEIRA plains grapes and
ceivcd the idea of dividing his ranch ,of 5000
Ares into ten.acrc vineyards and selling the
operative company was formed. and each pur-
chaser OF a tcn-acre tract received n town lot,
where. IL he desired. he could build and enjoy
the social advantages that could not be found
on ranch. As the company was in good hands
in one Of these little vineyards. and began MAX
ing the seIni-annual payments on what they
fordly hoped would DO n comfortable and reve-
The managers were not economical and they
were, soon forced to borrow largely from the
Pacific Bank Of San Francisco. IL WAS the large
to ony ht 1s ths SPs
@
stopped paying, What WIN be the outcome it IS
"pss Of PRO Pfomisna @ eoiony scheme viii s deter S
many from investing in any similar venture.
come % under % observation recently About' ARb' two o
year, ago u company was formed to develop
ses Sn, lana sSsF ddea Hso s ten An
acre tracts and was planted for oranges and de-
ear%g zionist from npss sam rancsco f %s
oh-SS; & me payments % were light and the ten ten
Si.70o. keports were rose-colored until the
recent financial stringency set in. Then the
they could save from small salaries discovered
b that they were the victims Of clumsy trick.
the managers had assured all purchasers that
he had the usual search made without cost 10
mortgage covered the whole tract, and now fore
closure is threatened. As the amount of the
into the hands OF the man who lent the money.
The small holders Of land have lost their pay
tieir gold inio san Francisco bay.
Calitorniaus do NOT relish the repetition of
such stories MS these. but no harm Is done by
rac,ling them, us they cannot injure honest
dealers. Attention is directed to them here
To- buy land in California on the mere represen-
tation OF agents. IL costs so little now 10 see
an Eastern man has seen half dozen Califor-
mia fruit colonies he will readily perceive the
opportunity that is open TO any investor. But
he should see wth his own eyes with those
OF a trusted agent.
In nearly all The colony towns of southern CAL
ifOrnia arrangements are made for culuvatinR
the orchards of nOn-residents, but this Is O fea-
ture which will be far more thoroughly devel-
oped In the next few years. suppose man comes
out here from the East and iancies one OF tho
numerous colonies IN the southern counties. yet
Is unable TO move tO California for several years
lie may desire to huy "A ranch and have II inn
proved so that III three or four years. when he is
ready To come West, he may be assured of a
good home, with AN income. paying orchard
This man will lind great difficulty in getting
Ruy reputable. trust worthy person To look alter
his place during his absence, Every colony
ought u have several firm, OF nurserymen or
ing the places of nonresident purchasers but IL
g. tho exception to fnd such firms. II pur-
Causer hIrrs q man To develop his place the
chances Hreall against permanent success, as
the manager, IN nine cases out of ten. will not
practice economy, nor IN lie show good judR-
lnenI. EspeuHlly whpro irrigation Is necessary