The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

wonderfully profitable, still every portion
OF the State will not grow every class OF
fruit, and l am of the opinion that the
financial conditions that have prevailed
for two or three years are proving bless
ing in disguise to the State at large, but
must be disastrous to many landhoiders
who are placed in an unfortunate position
owing to the changing conditions of the
past five years and previous to the present
financial pressure. 1t has been clearly
demonstrated that good land is the pre-
ferred property, and that second or third
class properties could not be marketed as
readily as in times gone by.
The State just now is creating a new
value that lands which show an earning
have price and can be sold, but many
lands are practically not marketable at the
present time, owing to the fact that they
are not in earning condition and it is not
clearly demonstrated what they are most
available for
An object lesson can be found in differ
ent parts of the State where value is GER
tainly fixed and based upon actual reve-
nue.; this is the case in the beautiful Santa
Clara Valley-surrounding the Garden
rate of interest planted in deciduous
trees; we find in Vaca Valley and
along Putah Creek, at Winters, also
the same conditions and fixed
income on a value possibly of $500 an
acre for improved land. In San Joaquin
and Stanislaus counties along the princi-
pal waterways we find river bottom land
that would pay fair rate on interest COM
mencing with vacant land at SIS to 500 an
acre, and from that to $500 an acre planted
with deciduous or citrus trees that earn a
very handsome annual revenue. South
through the San Joaquin Valley in Mer-
ced, MADEIRA and Fresno and along the
principal irrigation system we find land
that will pay handsome revenue on $3.50
an acre improved land, but will not pay q
big return when quoted at $500 to $500 an
acre.
The question OF freight in this part of the
State being entirely railroad haul is be-
coming quite an important factor. In
Southern California at Riverside, Red
lands and along the foothills through Po-
mona, Duarte and to Pasadena, certain
locations grow the citrus friits TO perfec-
tion and land is a financial success; full
bearing trees paying good rate of interest
on $500 an acre. This same condition pre-
walls further south, being an extension of
practically the same belt of country into
the beautiful chain of valleys lying
back from the ocean from ten to
fifteen miles, in San Diego County, Escon-
dido and Ell Cajon Valley, growing the
citrus fruits to advantage, especially the
lemon, commanding the highest price IN
the market and competing with the i'm
ported lemons; but while these conditions
do prevail in a number of these fertile
spots. decidr Gus trees cannot be grown to
profit on all land in the State; neither can
the vine nor the orange, and while the
State is drifting into this condition it is be-
ing demonstrated very clearly that the
change is imminent, that values have been
overestimated, in many cases based upon
the results obtained in other portions of
the State.
The pressure in financial affairs has
made this condition more apparent, and
the result appears to be an immense
shrinkage of value; but in my opinion it