The herald., 1896-02-14
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY "a, 1896.
THE TIMES FROST" IN THE
EAST

EASI
The returns from the "frost" enter
prise of the Times are beginning to
come in. As might be expected the
mendacious and malicious statements
made by that paper to the effect that
certain famous orange growing centers
Of Southern California have been de-
vastated by frost are being reprinted
In eastern journals. The HERALD is in
receipt of marked copy of the Wash
ington, D. O., Star containing the en-
suing excerpt from one of the truth
ful ~ and public spirited % publica-
ton of the Times. It is under the
caption of "CALIFoRN1A ORANGE CROP"
-"THE CITRUS BELT Is SAID TO BE
Too NEAR THE Frost LINE" and is as
follows:
Very gloomy reports come in from the
orange-growing districts. The extent of
damage done by the frost during the clos
ing days of the year is beginning to be ap-
parent, and it is much heavier than was at
hrst supposed or reported. One report
from Pomona estimates the loss by frost
at three-fourths of the crop on the lower
lsnds, and another estimate from River
side gives the probable shipments from
that place for the season at 1000 carloads
less than it WAS expected would be sent
forward. Even supposing that these esti-
mates of loss are exaggerated, there is no
doubt that the damage has been severe.
The lesson taught by the frost of Decem-
bsr 10 that which has been preached over
and over again in the Times. namely, that
Southern California, which we are in the
habit of referring to as the ''home of the
orange" is really on the northern edge of
the true citrus belt that extends through
Mexico and Central America. The area of
territory, even in the seven southern coun.
ties, within which it is safe to grow citrus
fruits as commercial enterprise is really
quite limited-much more limited than most
Of us are in the habit of supposing. In fact,
the safe area of citrus culture in Southern
California is really confined to those
stretches of land known as frostless belts,
not because they are absolutely free from
frost, but because there is so little frost
that delicate winter vegetables are seldom
injured. On such lands citrus fruits may
be raised with absolute safety, but, as we
all know, the area of such land is quite
limited, and is cheap at $500 an acre, with
water.
"During the last ten years the exagger-
ated reports of the profits of orange grow
ing, which have been spread abroad in the
newspapers, aided by Misrepresentation
on the part of real estate dealers, have
combined to push the orange-growing sec.
ton far outside of the safety line. In some
sections, such as the lower portion of Riv-
erside, oranges have been planted on land
that is touched by frost almost every
year."
The action of the Washington paper
in reprinting the utterances of this
journalistic buzzard bird that fouls its
own home, is typical of that which will
or has been taken by the press in gen.
eral of the eastern part of the United
States. Substantially the worst that
the Times has published will be re-
produced, and in a majority of cases
with a measure of endorsement or
satisfaction. Thus Southern Califor-
mia will get in abundance kind of ad-
vertising that will be both unpleasant
and unfair.
The attack on Riverside is not only
unfortunate for that place, but for all
of Southern California. In the east
Riverside is looked on as the orange
center par excellence of California. By
q very large proportion of intelli-
gent people on the other side
OF the Rockies it Is believed
to be the only "sure enough :"
orange growing point outside of Flor
ida and Louisiana. The HERALD's pur-
pose is not to consider now whether
this view is right or wrong; it is suf-
ficient for the present to know that
the opinion stated is held. With the
existing point of view of the eastern
people the condemnation of Riverside
as an orange growing district means
the condemnation of Southern Califor-
mia. This is something that the Times
editor, If he is as well acquainted with
eastern opinion as he should be,
knows.
With the methods that are custom
ary and characteristic of the Times the
real facts Of the situation have been
grossly exaggerated and distorted, but
this, of course, will not be apparent
to the eastern press and public. The
latter will, of course, consider that a
home paper, moved by natural sense
Of loyalty to its own locality, would
underestimate rather than exaggerate
the damage wrought to the most con-
spicuous product of its section. We
may be sure that the Times allegations
will be made blacker even than they
are. It is needless and Improbable to
speculate on the effect that will be pro-
duced in the eastern mind regarding