The San Francisco call., 1895-10-07
Benefits of Irrigation and
Cheap Freight Charges
Discussed.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE WEEK
Building Summary for the Month
Coming Auction Sales-Gen-
eral Notes.

for the creation of a new prosperity under
more substantial conditions then was ever
known in this community.
Elimination of speculative activity, or
rather reduction of it, to its proper limits
and proportions came about through the
reverses of the passed depression. Men
have found that resources to he realized on
must first be developed. Things can no
longer be sold for prices which some time
in the distant future they may be worth.
Lands, lots and houses must be sold for
what they are worth to-day. The period
of depression through which we have been
passing has been intellectually useful in not
only settling our people down to the quiet
and orderly methods of industry and pro-
Guction, but in awakening them to a sense
of their own powers. There are multi
tudes whom it has aroused to the best eX-
ertions of which they are capable, with im-
mense advantage to themselves and to the
whole interests of this City and State.
C. s. Capp of the real estate firm of C. S.
Capp e Co. believes California must have
more railroads before immigration can be
induced and the settlement Of the lands of
the State desirablv effected. In discussing
the question of immigration during the
past week he said;
There can be no doubt that California is
person writes 10 a friend or relative in San
Francisco or the surrounding country the truth
is told that we excel only in climate. This is a
one railroad town, and although we are much
ahead OF what we would have been without
the Southern and Central Pacific. are not
so far along in the settlement of our country
lands nor are we so near a half million inhab-
itsnts in san Francisco as we would have been
with railroad competition. Few appreciate the
manifold good things that would follow abund-
ant facilities OF getting to local and Eastern
markets.
Diversified farming, that we hear SO much
about these days, will be possible only with
more trade arteries. Wheat has been grown
and is grown now on many places because it
could be stored and kept until opportunity for
marketing occurred. Fine fruits are more
perishable, hence they must be carried TO mar
ket as soon as in condition. With railroad
competition freight rates will be reduced re-
gardless of Commissioners. The Halfmillion
Club and all other organizations should con-
centrate their efforts in aid of the promoters of
the San joaquin Valley Railroad until il is
connected with some Eastern road, and then
turn their attention TO purely local roads for
Central and Northern California, as this is the
only territory left tributary to San Francisco.
In the issue of the Real Estate Circular
of Thomas Magee & Sons last week the
statement is made that too much has not
been heard of prohibitory railroad
charges, and the evil is emphasized by
comparison with another. The editorial
referred to reads as follows:
The fall in price of country lands within the
past five years, is in one, and perhaps the most
important sense, matter for congratulation
rather than for regret, so long that fall only
means the squeezing out OF water which
boomers and booms had injected into those
lands. Except in some exceptional cases, and
with all circumstances of crop and markets
favorable, buyers of fruit lands could not pay
the prices current four to six years ago and
make anything whatever Now, with increased
production and far lower prices for crops, the
old prices of land are absurdly high. They
were born of pure greed on the part of those
in the San Joaquin Valley especially-who
originally bought the lands for 81 25 to IS per
acre, or who took up immense tracts under the
desert land act, which was framed to grab land
on wholesale scale.
Those who bought land at $2O to $50 an acre,
and who set g portion of it out in fruit of some
kind, have as a rule, not asked high prices
when they came to resell a portion of it as
those who paid mere bagatelle prices for
theirs. The prices heretofore asked for coun-
try lands, especially fruit lands, have been a
prohiDitory fence, over which it was not pos
sible for prudent buyers to climb. This must
change If new people are to be brought here,
population increased and increased cultiva-
tion is to prevail. We have heard much, but
none too much, of prohibitory railroad charges.
They have not been much greater curse to
the State than excessive prices for land.
J. w. Burnham of the Burnham & Marsh
COMPANY has returned home, and seems
greatly elated over the return of the husi-
ness activity and opening of many factories
in the East which have been closed for a
long time. He says:
visited many Eastern cities and went among
the business men and into manv large facto-
ries, and it appears that all through the East
there is general picking I'D in all lines, and
several factories that have started up have al
ready, on account of increased volume of de-
mand for their goods, advanced the pay of their
hands.
There was one familiar feature of San Fran
cisco missing in these Eastern cities-that was
the empty houses, the proportion of which in
regard to size OF the city, seems much larger
here, and that of course is one great factor that
San Francisco must remedy.
This vii: be done; We viii have more people,
more factories to give a larger population
more work and larger consumption of home
made goods by the people living here.
inns VIII certainly take place in the near
future, large glass factory owner visited by
me says: lyon have remains of glass plant
IN Berkeley. Have your citizens give me a
SINAI small bonus and l will open that plant. and
give employment to several hundred men, but
freight rates must be cheaper, and fares over
your roads also, and this can only be done bv
more transeontlnental roads, and more partic-
City, ON- '"A
This was only one talk of several similar
ones ! had with representative Eastern men,
ana believe that San Francisco is now on the
verge OF q general breaking up of the quiet
times, and the beginning of a new season of
prosperity the opening wedge to which is the
road.
L: ID. Canaan of Canaan & Lyon, country
land dealers, is of the opinion that few
can appreciate the full fruition of new
Valley road. Among other things he said
In speaking of its effect few days ago:
am loath to insinuate that we have more
croakers in this City than elsewhere but it is
strange what statements men given credit for
being broad-minded Will make in regard to the
SGn Joaquin Valley road. It's building and con-
sequent reduction OF freight rates is considered
py some as detrimental 10 our home Industries
lnasmuch as II will allow the Importation AT
less cost OF Eastern goods. Los Angeles, Port
land and Tacoma have comparatively ont
stripped san Francisco in the race for CONNER
cial supremacy and general prosperity on ac-
count OF superior railroad commu unication
These are living examples near at home. The
railroad that Mr. Spreckels and his enterpris-
ing associates have assured the people of the
great San Joaquin Valley will be the fore
runner of others which win utilize and de-
velop the incompatible resources of Central
and Northern California and bring this Citv the
hali-millfon inhabitants so much desired
Charles c. Fisher, when interviewed in
his offices on California street, said:
Before the advent of the railroads the settle
ment OF this great State was confined to Iocali-
Ties along the seacoast and water courses ex-
cept Tor the camps OF the miner and occa-
slonaI stock-raiser Without the railroads
we have had these conditions of settlement
could have been but slightly modified and for
the present settlement and DEVELOPMENT of the
10 T0ET T~nIl g 4, So.