The herald., 1895-04-25
RAILROADS AND A HARBOR
The Effect Both Will Have Upon
Development
SOME INTERESTING VIEWS
z. c. Kerens Pays Tribute TO Pioneer
Statesman
IE INTERESTING VIEWS
A Pleasant Talk With an Old Californian upon
nstters of Vital Interest to All OF
Southern California

OCedu. NdSftdlSo Npoh y>''s>i~N'S
Herald reporter. The latter expected an
interesting talk with the gentleman, and
was not disappointed. Comfortably
seated in Hollenbeck parlor, the man
with the pencil inquired:
How long is it, Mr.. kerens, since you
srrived?"
'.our party. OF which l am one, have
been here fifteen days, travelling for
recreation ana pleasure, during which
time we have been over Southern Cali
fornia pretty thoroughly. Some of the
ladies and gentlemen constituting our
narty have not been in Cali
fornia before, and the delight which they
express is, | suppose, like that OF all east
ern people who see this state for the hrst
time.
You perhaps know that am an old
Californian. ] lived here for few years
in the early '70s. Each time that | re-
turn to the state notice the improve
ments an the development that have
taken place. particularly in the southern
portion of California, which ! think are
simply marvellous.
you are interested, believe, in the
Terminal railroad?'
Eyes. quite largely; in fact I nave
always had interests in California-have
had them for the past twenty years and
always expect to have them
How long Mr.. Kerens, is it since you
last visited us-I mean Southern CallIor-
nia?'
Southern California. The changes in
point of the development of Los Angeles
county, the increase in population and
the increased acreage of cultivation is al
most beyond comprehension. From enc
end of the San Gabriel valley to the other
it seems to bloom as perfect paradise.
We have visited Riverside, South River
side, Redlands. Highlands, in fact all
parts OF the valley. The beauties of these
localities, with their orange groves and
orchards. surpass anything for beauty OF
landscape, fertility, productiveness and
thrift in the wide world, in my Judgment.
and language fails to adequately describe
what may here oe seen IN such pro-
fusion.
lone of our party, Mr.. S. E. Bemis,
prominent eastern manufacturer, was
here three years ago and purchased
small tract of land at Riverside, ordering
it set out to navel oranges Last Saturday
we drove to the spot and there beneld
beautiful orange grove, fairly well laden
with delicious fruit. some OF which we
plucked and ate in the grove. We also
took away with us large quantity-and
all of that in three years"
AS the gentlemen made this retrospect
I've exclamation MS lace SHOVEL lue SluO-
ton, not of surprise. but of admiration.
The reporter then asked:
And what OF the future of Southern
California, Mr.. kerens?'
II have heretofore predicted that in
the near future-say by the year 1900, that
the San Gabriel valley would have within
its confines 200, 900 people. l think now
that these figures will be exceeded iudg-
ing from the advance made during the
past four years. By the San Gabriel val
levi mean the whole extent of country
from the ocean to the mountains at San
Bernardino and from the San Fernando
mountains on the north to the foothills
below Anaheim, and of course includes
the city of Los Angeles. All of this ter
ritory is tributary to the latter city and
this fact is sure to make of Los Angeles
great city. All in all there is no such
spot Of country anywhere in the world,
and-there is nothing like it in America.
There is no place on the American con-
tinent that possesses all the advantages of
climate, unsurpassed fertility, fruits and
fowers-and it is these that have made
life here pleasure and your people con-
tented and happy"
Have railroads had much to do with
the growth of Southern California. Mr..
kerens?"
Certainly" came the promptly given
response. railroads have had every thing
to do with 1t. especially in the begin
ming. 1t is within the memory of many
of the citizens of Los Angeles when all
south of the San Fernando mountains was
considered as fit only for cattle and sheep
raising. In the SOS hundreds of thou
sands of cattle were raised in these three
or four counties. transportation was
then only by sea and the animals were
slaughtered only for the hide and the tai
low and these products had to find a mar
ket by boat. With the railroad came peo-
pie who called the attention of the coun-
try to the possibilities existing here and
30 the current was started.
''Of course the advent of the Santa Fe
railroad into Southern California marked
the beginning of the great growth, the
effects of which are everywhere visible.
AS for the growth of Los Angeles. l doubt
it for solidity and permanency it has ever
been excelled. It's second great growth
began years ago, when my friends from
st. Louis came here and invested their
money in the Terminal railroad. In do
ing this they exhibited confidence in
the future of Los Angeles and tributary
country that even inspired persons then
living in Los Angeles. This Terminal
enterprise has been the means of bring
ing hundreds of Missourians to Southern
California. and very many of them have
made investm ents here-and many more
will yet come.
: I'm fact it was the railroads that made
Sdl1IOTHld-eFeu l-NOTbutTH OdIlIOTuIa.
The passage of the bill in congress pledg-
ing the aid of the national government
to the construction of the Pacific railroads
marked new era for this great Pacific
state. remember the day that the DIS
patch carrying the news all over the east
ern states that Senator Sargent's great
work was done, was flashed. 1t is to his
ability in far-seeing, and it is to his
craftsmanship, that the honor belongs for
California's greatness. No people ever
had or ever will have a more efficient or
an ADLER representative than was A. A.
Sargent. This state should erect a mon
ument to his memory and TO perpetuate
his fame. In the pursuit Of CALIFORNIA;
interests at the hands of the national GOV
eminent. he oyercame every obstacle and
accomplished results. The bill for the
construction of the Pacific railroads was
passed by congress just after the nation
had emerged from a great war. and to get
the government under those circum
stances to pledge its credit to the gigantic
enterprises was triumph which only
man like Sargent could have accom-
plished. Twenty years ago and more,
with Sargent in the senate and Judge
Houghton in the house of representatives,
both from California. the states march
in the capital was that of giant"
What do you think. Mr.. kerens. of the
prospects of the national government
improving the harbor at San Pedro?'
II think that the government will be-
gin the construction OF deep water lar-
Dor at San Pedro in the very near future.
-, svxt1 h. kAA Gala <.I 49, IL