The herald., 1895-01-07
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.

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Southern California 10 preparing for
the greatest effort in the history OF the
state. A crisis lie at hand involvin g
every commercial interest affecting the
community directly or remotely. A
tremendous movement Is in progress,
the result of which will Affect this Sec
ton OF California beyond the widest
dreams oftheorists and Missionaries. No
power can prevent the inevitable result
Of this movement. but concerted action
will hasten 1t. II is this action on the
part Of the people ofsoutbern California
that 10 now being considered.
The meeting Of the chamber Of SOM
merce to be held in this city on date
between the 10th and Goth instants. 10
iraught with possibilities, some OF
which are sure to become actualities.
The primary object of this meeting is to
consider the feasibility, practicebility
and ACCESSIBILITY of building an indie.
pendent competing railroad from Los
Angeles to Fresno. Incidentally will
now lacking but 26O miles Of compile
ton, and the conversion Of San Pedro
into deep water harbor. Whatever
may be the result OF this conference its
ultimate effect must be for the advance.
ment of every interest involved. The
popular sentiment of twelve counties
comprising the section of the state south
OF Fresno and including that county.
will be crystslizsd, and basis OF action
will be formulated. upon which future
enterprise will rest
The conference will include an ad.
dress by Colonel W. H. Holsbird OF
Bakersfield, the only man in California
competent to give the technical result
Of work already accomplished by rail-
road engineers in surveys for practicable
and inexpensive routes through the Te-
hachepi range into the lower San Joa-
quin vAllsy. Other engineers will add
the weight OF their knowledge to that of
Colonel Holabird, and business men
will detail the material advantages &C.
cruing from the absorption OF the trade
OF the San Joaquin by Los Angeles, as
well ae the reciprocal advantages result
ing to the section represented by Fresno,
Bakersfield and Haniord.
In conjunction with these discussions
the splendid future OF Southern Caifor.
MIA when the Nicaragua canal is finished
must become apparent, and the effort
necessary to profit by the shifting Of the
trade centers OF the world induced by
the operation of this enterprise will
necessarily be considered.
Southern California will not allow this
glorious opportunity to slip by them.
! They will place men on guard who will
direct the energies of the people towards
a contamination that will lay the foun-
dation OF an enterprise in the region
affected by this GENERALIZATION OF com.
merce.
The railroad into the San Joaquin
valley must be built. At the present
moment it is only aquestion Of method.
That will be attended to as soon as the
representatives. Of the people Of South
ern California figure the cost and the
profit. None OF these 10 engaged in
this effort for his health alone. There
10 no sentiment in business, and the
basis of the proposed enterprise
10 strictly business. The difference be-
tween the commercial community OF
San Francisco and that OF Southern
California is the superior energy, judg-
ment and foresight of the latter. This
has been demonstrated in the effort ON
behalf OF Los Angeles by which the
fame Of this community has gone farther
abroad than that of any section of Cali
fornia. 1t is this aggressive, progressive,
enterprising spirit that has made the
capabilities and possibilities OF Los An
geles more familiar throughout the
world than those OF San Francisco. 1t
is not to San Francisco, but to Los An.
geles that the people Of the east con-
template removing when they decide to
take up permanent residence in Califor-
mia. AS consequences the streets of
Los Angeles are crowded with strangers,
while San Francisco is content to re-.
| uoiso AoI moeker eutTe VI tulh Ia mlKrd
ton at three or four down town hotels.
These are facts that cannot be DO sue
cessiully controversial, and they are sub.
stantial incentives for renewed effort
effort that will, within FIVE years, con.
oentrats the commerce Of Utah, Ari.
zona, Mexico, Central California and q
part of the trade from over sea, in Los
Angeles, to give substance and prosper
ity to a million Of population. There is
no reason why ell that has been planned
for Southern California may not DO &C
complishsd. Our motto is, II Can p
and our slogan 10 Forward" The
future 10 assured.
Whatever may happen to rstayd the
progress Of other, less favored. less am.
bilious. less energetic sections, cannot
affect the purpose Of Los Angeles, the
queen city, and the capital Of Southern
California.