The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-20
L OS ANGELES rs PREFERRED.

toned to regard San Francisco as their
best market, and to look to that city for
friendship and aid. They have not,
until recently. supposed there was any
other place in the state that possessed
or aspired to metropolitan importance.
Bv dint OF persistent industry Los An
gsles has made herself known to that
aecsion of the atate.
1t is an old saying that il you want to
get news about homs affairs you must
90 away from homs. Los Angeles has
achieved widespread reputation of
being not only an attractive and healthy
city, but one of exceeding activity aud
prosperity. Oar friends up north have
discovered this through communications
from the far esst-in1esd. from all over
the nation outside of California, and
have commsnced to turn their eyes
away from San Frauciuco and are study
ing the surroundings and advantages of
this city. The more they study the
more clear will they comprehend the
Importance of a close connection be-
tween them and US. Fresno is situated
almost exactly midway between this
city and San Francisco, and 80 Jar as
distance is Concerned there is no sub
stantia difference t, them between the
two places.
San Francisco has very much worse
weather than Los Angeles aud Is nearly
three times larger in population, but
the bulk of the wealth in San Francisco
is in the hands of few men, of men
who have all they want aud who have
passed the period of life's activities. In
Los Angeles there are man OF wealth.
not such great wealth that they do not
wish to acquire more. and who are not
8, advanced in age that their activities
have begun to flag. Dssire to gain is
the m ,inspring OF business energy. and
it exists to greater dsgrse in Los An
gees THAI in San Francisco. Besides,
the business men OF that city have
grown sluggish from the belief engen-
dered by past experience. that all
things on the Pacific coast must fall
into their laps. They have been. and
still are, 70 confident in the strength OF
their position that they havs not given
themselves the trouble to keap up
with the changes that have been going
on all around them, and which have
very much circumscribed their field OF
operation. The trade district of San
Francisco is interfered with on the north
by Portland and on the south by Los
Angeles. 1t is limited eastward by the
nature of the country. Chicago invades
ner trade district as it formerly existed
at Salt Lake City aud much farthsr
westward.
San Francisco Is market for the prod
ucts OF the San Joaquin valley to the
extent of the consumption locally and
in her proper trade district. but the bulk
OF the products OF the valley go east.
ward and beyond the Rocky mountains.
A railroad to San Francisco would be of
no benefit. So far as shipments eastward
are concerned, it would be going east by
way OF the west. Products going east
from San Francisco have but one line
but il they come to Los Angeles there
are at present two routes, and good
prospect OF q third at no distant day.
However liberaI the operators of the
road from San Francisco might be, they
! could not compete in transportation
from Fresno and sections farther south,
because theirs 10 a most expensive line
10 nd 10 ka
which to pass in reachiog the larger
part OF the country whore Fre,no prod
ucts are consumed. Undsr present
conditions freight rates should b, less
by way Of the south to the east.
The San Joaquin valley is suffi GENTLY
large ia area and present productions to
support two or more roads. The latter
is destined to rapidly increase, and a
road thithsr is already assured of bust.
ness that will reasonably compensate
those who put their m oney into it. And
such road would necessarily run
| through different parts of tho valley,
and be an accom- % odation to a new class
Of people. The p.ops of Fresno and
| oiaoW now cooh uiSiHS tho poOplc
OF San Francisco to take hold OF their
projsct. ana have been hoping against
hope. The men of large wealth the 70
have little care for the business OF their
city. certainly not enough to induce
them to respond to the appeals that
have been m ads to them. 1t i, not 40
much opposition of the Southern Pacific
that has Defeated or deferred tho coa-
struction of road from Fresno to San
! Fr4ncisco 40 the abssnc CO OF realization
ri their needs and the apathy OF tbs
merchants Of the latter city.
l. As tho distances to Los Angelica is not
apprecaDly greater thao to Saa Fran
clscp from Fresno, ihers ia no reason
under present Conditions, why the mar
CHI ants OF L,i Augelss shpuld not com.
mind this trads OF the lower half Of the
San Joaquin valley. Ffei9hta from the
Atlantic coast cities and from Cnica 20
are cart Nnly NJ highsr than over the
| Union and Central Pacific road, and
especially by the southern route from
] tina Qaakarn o0aat tho fyopanorks ~,