The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-17
OVERLAND TRAVEL THEN AND NOW

The announcement that the officials of
the Santa Fe route will, a few weeks
hence, add another and q faster train to
their already excellent overland service.
and shorten the time by half day be-
tween Chicago and Los Angeles. the two
most progressive cities on the continent,
suggests the wonderful changes in over
land transportation facilities effected
within the past nine years. Up to and
including the year 1886, a journey to this
coast from any point as far east as the
Missouri river was deemed serious if
not hazardous undertaking. The at
fractions of Southern California had at
that time become heTalde1 abroad in
manner to interest thousands of people
living, or trying IL live, amid the freaks
of nature Astounding in the vast territory
east OF the Serras and they soon became
DESTROYS of visiting this wonderful reg on
of mercifuI sunshine luscious fruits and
marvellous productive capacities. But
the journey was long and the disoomforts
formidable. Five and half to six days
on the road, in rather inferior cars, often
attached to freights and subject to side
tracking and delays at numerous points,
caused many persons with California
Iongings to hesitate about starting on
such "trip. especially If they were at all
enfesbled by age or disease. A grei
many people came out here, but not
nearly so many as would have come had
the travelling facilities been better.
Since 1886 the conditions have so
changed that an overland Journey is now
q real pleasure to persons in fair health
and by no means "a hardship to those
slightly i'll. 70 enter magnificently
equipped train with Pullman sleepers
ana dining cars at Chicago or some in
termediate point, and without change of
cars ride over a smooth, safe line OF road,
and in sevensy-two hours from the tim
of starting be landed in the metropolis
of Southern California, is surely not a
hardship, but TO most persons luxury.
Modern skill and enterprise applied to
railroading have modified tedious Jour-
ney to the conditions of an enjoyable
picnic on wheels. Such facilities for
overland travel bring California and the
east into closer touch with each other
than they have ever yet been in, and the
relations between the two sections will
become still more intimate with the ad.
vance Of time and tbs increase of immi
grafton.
Indications point to large influx of
visitors to this country during the ensu-
ing four months. This IS the time of
year when the indications generally point
to ouch movement OF storm beaten east
erners. And everybody out here is gla d
to know it. Hotel men, rooming and
boarding house keepers. merchants. street
car companies, and especially real estate
dealers, rejoice at the outlook. Not all
who visit this country will remain, n or
will all who come and 60 be delig ted
with what they find hare. There are
some things besides climate 60 be consid-
cred i'll the selection OF country for re-
sidence purposes. or for the investment
OF money without residence. The morals
of the community, the character of Its
laws, the standard of business integrity,
.he rates OF taxation, the prices of real
estate-these and other important faU-
tors which the people themselves crea ate,
will affect, favorabiy or otherwise. the
minds OF eastern people who may come
here with view of either remaining or
coming again. The policy of right is
the policy that wins in the long run. 1t
is we'll for every body to understand that
climate is not a satisfactory substitute
for honesty, nor balmy weather in winter
an offset for extortioE.