The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-08
THE NEEDLES.
A TOWN THAT POSSESSES MANY
ADVANTAGES.
A Desert Thstis Only Waiting tina Watoi
of s,io Colorado River to Be
Msdn n Garden.

EDITOR HARALD:-You haven't had
anything from the Needles for long
time, not because the Needles has
waned but because your correspondent
hes been derelict. Many people, other"
wise fairly intelligent, don't know about
the Needles. Unjust be INDUCED in in
PRODUCING them. Our prospective city
is located on the Colorado river, which
is the line between California and
Arizona, and at the crossing Of the At
lantic and Poetic railway, which is the
trunk line Of the Santa Fs system. We
are in the midst of what is commonly
called the Colorado, or Mojays desert.
q tract which includes several million
square miles and looks the sum of all
barrenness, but which grows anything
committed to 1t with irrigation. 1t is no
moro barren or desolate than would be
tina valley OF the Nile without
water. And here is water in
abundance-a great river like enc
Mississippi flowing through the center
OF this desert, only awaiting the genins
and capital that will turn it into fructi-
flying channels. Raisin grapes. figs and
other fruits thas will endure very
littlo frost will some day make this same
desert a garden OF wealth and beauty.
The climate at the Needles is always
exceedingly dry; during II months Of
the year it is much milder and more
equable than that of Pasadena, Pomona
or Riverside, to say nothing oil Los An
geles or San Diego, where cold fogs pre-
vail. 1t is peculiarly adapted to con-
sumptive and rheumatic people and
they resort thither in great numbers to
get we'll and not to de.
Two months Of the summer are very
warm-not hot az hades, by any means
but With the thermometer at 40 de-
gfees Fahrenheit the heat is not op.
pressive. because OF the extreme dry
mesa O! the atmosphere. Then we have
good shade, n river full of good water
and an ics plant OF 80 tons per day Ca
uacity to keep us cool.
We have a white population of nearly
1900 Our men are all railroaders, ex-
cept perhaps 80. These do the necessary
merchandising Of the community. This
is the junction of two divisions of the
Atlantic and Pacific. The shops are
quite exteneive. employing from $50 to
800 mechanics. The snperintsndent's
offices employ many more. and train
men make up the rest. The people are
vastly more Intelligent and cultured
than in the average rural town of simi.
lar size. | venture the suggestion that
O larger proportion OF first-class maya
zines aud HERALDs are taken hsre than
in any community of like size on the
coast. l venture anOther-thSt We have
fewer ssIoons, fewer DRINKS and disor-
derlies, etc, than any timi!ar railroad
town i'll America. Our justlces and
constables aie obliged to do something
else for living, and prisoner in the
calaboose is an actual curios-
ity. We have back o. US,
with trade csntering here, vast
and exceedingly wealthy mining region
and considerable camps, RS Wander bilt.
hex, Gold Stone, Hidden Hill and
Providence. Recently there have been
several magnificent finds, which have
given mining interests vsritable boom.
We are to have, in the Immediate future.
large reduction works located here. and
two or three short branch railway lines
are projected. Indeed, located thus, IN
the center OF this vaet area that water
will mako productive, 400 miles up on a
stream navigable for Mississippi boats,
and backed by 20 rich and barely pros
pected mining field, the Needles has
splendid prospects for becoming city.
Oar merchants now divide 10 come
extent their trade between Los Angeles
and cities lying eastward. the only ad-
vantage of the eastern cities being in
the matter OF railway tariff; but with
shorter distance end less expensive road
building, see no reason why your city
should not control the rapidly growing
trade Of all this region. IL behooves
your merchants to BIO looking after it,
The Mojave Indians, of whom there
are perhaps 400 abous here, and OF
whom travellers see such repulsive
specimens at the railway station, are
worthy Of separate mention. To all
travellers and to the untraveled, l say
again. Don't damn the Needles in your
ignorance. We hsve two ohurches--a
Roman Catholic and Congreg
presided over respectively bv Rev.
Father Bonan and Rsv. Geo. W. Hem
ming. Their congreg atoms are good,
and their churches constitute the saving
salt of the community. The latter lie
just completing beautiful house Of
worship. II.
RRnT AIMING