The herald., 1896-04-10

try in the next few years than in the
city. City property has enjoyed an ex-
traordiny boom within the past year,
yet a gentleman, well known in the
city, who keeps close watch on real es-
tate transactions, both city and coun-
try assures The Herald that more
country property has changed hands,
that is, has been purchased by pros
pective residents, within the past
twelve months than in the previous
decade. He declares that published
list of the new property-holders in
Southern California outside of Los
Angeles would be q surprise and mar
vel. Not much has been said in the
public prints about the new comers in
the country districts, but the fact re-
mains that many people from the bliz-
zard belt and cyclone infested country
beyond the Rocky mountains have
been seeking homes in Southern Cali
fornia, where nature is always in her
happiest mood and does so much to
make life endurable.
The advertising which Southern CAL
ifornia received at the worlds fair at
Chicago, the midwinter fair at San
Francisco and the Atlanta exposition no
doubt did much to turn the tide of elni-
grafton hereward, but the half has not
yet been told. Each year the fame OF
Southern California as place for honle-
seekers is extended and immigration is
bound to increase at geometrical ratio
for some years to come. These people
will not all settle in Los Angeles or sur
rounding towns, but large majority of
them will seek country homes.
The visit of such men as Chauncey M.
Depew, who saw the Golden state for
the first time within the last fortnight,
will greatly stimulate emigration to the
coast. The most distinguished Amcri-
| can citizen in private life and une-
qualed after dinner orator waxed
warm in his praises of Southern Califor
mia, her soil, climate and possibilities,
| and he will sound them in terms more
eloquent than has yet been told upon his
return to the east, with q result that
will be highly beneficial to this section
of the country. Mr.. Depew has truly
said that California possesses an area
greater than France, which has a pop
ulaton of more than 100000 and is
relatively speaking the richest country
on earth, while California, with even
greater natural advantages, has only
| population of 100000. Mr.. Depew, in
! view of these facts. reasonably predicts
| that California will ere many years ri
| val the famous land of the Gauls in in
| dustrial prosperity, and why shouldn't
| it?
| In view of such eminent opinion to
| back him, there is no reason why the
| Southern California landowner should
| not be encouraged. No field of real es-
| nifty for capital. There are many large
| ranchos which If subdivided and put on
| the market would offer homes for thous
| ands of eastern people who are now bat
| tlipg against nature and raising little
else than mortgages.
| The sale of the Chino ranch to an
| English syndicate, which was consum-
mated within the past week, will stim-
! ulate the sale Of country real estate to
| marked degree. 1t is the purpose of the
| purchasers to found a colony of agri-
culturists, and this plan will no doubt be
| emulated by other landed proprietors.
| There are many fine bodies of land in
| Los Angeles, Orange. San Bernardino.
| Riverside and San Diego counties that
are suitable for colonization purposes,
| and which afford excellent oppOrtuni-
| ties for syndicates or individuals to in
vest in. 1t is gratifying to learn that a
number of rural colonies are being
worked up in quiet way. Among the
enterprises of this kind started of late
and of which little has yet been said in
| the public prints, is the "gentleman's
colony" of Andrew McNally of Rand.
| McNally & Co., the Chicago publishers.
Mr.. McNally is well-known as an en-
| thusiastic boomer of Southern Califor-
mia. Besides his magnificent home at
Altadena. he has purchased 22O0 acres
| of foothill land sixteen miles south of
| the city which he is having set to
| lemons and olives and which he will
subdivide and sell to wealthy eastern
| purchasers. Among the Improvements
| that Mr.. McNally is now making on
| this tract is a system of magnificent
| driveways, an artificial lake, a club
house, an olive mill, etc. 1t is UNDER
| stood he already has some sixty pros
| pective purchasers on hand, all men of
more or less wealth and prominence,
and that this will form one of the
wealthiest and most aristocratic colo
MES in Southern California. Mention is
| made of this simply as an instance of
what is going on in this section, prac-
| tioal1y unknown to the people at large.
! In land where al good living for an
| average family can be made on ten
acre tract. it must be expected that real
| estate Will sell at fancy figures. Such
| being the case. there is no better field
for investment at the present time
than in country real estate. Shrewd
| investors will govern themselves accord
ipgly.
The Wiltshire company has just sold
| two lots in the Wiltshire Boulevard
| tract to Mrs. Irene G. La Forge for
$780, who has already commenced the
construction of two houses costing
$4,000. Another $4,000 house will be COM
| menced on this tract this week. With
| the prospect of the immediate building
| of the new electric road to this tract the
demand for these lots will increase
| quite rapidly. The owners of this tract
| are making some of the finest improve
! ments in the city, are putting fine ce-
ment sidewalks and curbing all through
| this tract, also cement cutters three
, feet wide in front of each lot, which is
| decided improvement on the old style
| of boulders and should be adopted as
| the city specifications for all their work.
and will meet with great favor of all hi
! cycle riders and at the same time would
| keep them from the center Of the
/ streets. The City Water company is
/ busily engaged in laying four-inch
mains throughout this tract.
! Thomas l.. Morgan has purchased
! from George r. and Sarah A. Segar lots
| II, 1S. 19 and 20 of the Mrs. Halls tract;
! consideration, 100000 r. Walter con-
| Quoted the sale.
! Edward Fraser sold lot 16 in the Uni
! versity Addition tract for Ella c. Fraser
to William Neef yesterday, for the sum
| of S4O0, also lots SO and SO. block 2. Santa
Monica Commercial companys tract, to
| Samuel Wells for the sum of $3.50.
| For latest building news resd the Builder
| and Contractor. Office 132 Broadway.