The herald., 1897-10-19
DANA IN Los ANGELES
Why He Was So Warm an Advocate
Of Southern California Interests

the only reporter on the paper, and hao
to cover the entire field, courts, police
real estate, farming interests, churches >
dog fights, horse races politics, and TIL;
weather, besides editing the telegraph
George j. Denis was the editor and We
divided all the work between us in d
most amicable manner
The city had population of less than
12,000 and items were few and far be-
tween. So few that we had to use the
eyes of lynx to get anything of inter-
est, and so far between that all the
thirty-six square miles within the
charter boundary, besides much out
side that limit, had to be covered to see
that no trifling item escaped.
The paper went to press about
o'clock. There was only one edition.
After the infant was born day by day
I used to take rest until after dinner
and then I spent the evening around the
city, at the hotels, the police headquart-
ers the old Fountain theater, kept by
Jack Adloff and Dick Kuch. on North
Spring street H. ]. Woollacott occu-
pies the premises now. Many good
story I picked UP at these places.
One night things were very dull, and
went up to the Pico house, near the
plaza, and turned over the pages of the
register How delighted 1 was when
my eye fell on the names, Charles A.
Dana and E. Dorsh elmer of New York,
and David Davis of Bloomington, Ill.
asked the clerk if he knew whether Mr..
Dana was in. He said he was not in his
room.
Said I: "Is he in the reading room?"
| n ut cd he n1
was out when the gentleman registered,
and I do not know him."
| l strolled into the reading room, an6
two gentlemen sitting side by side riv-
tied my attention. 1 had no trouble in
Identifying the features so familiar to
the world, although 1 had never seen
them before. except in pictures.
| I walked up and accosted Mr.. Dana
| by name. He rose with most affa BILE
manner to return my greeting.
Have we met before?" asked the
great editor.
mo, SIR" said I. 8.
How did you know me?"
| Your features, sir, are familiar to the
world"
He bowed to the compliment and asked
me to sit down. He introduced me to
Mr.. Dorsheimer, who had just been
lieutenant governor of New York and
was power in politics.
l told Mr.. Dana I was reporter and
wished to interview him on politics The
presidential election of 1884 was at hand
| Cleveland's name had hardly been men,
toned at this time; but, of course, the
world knew Blaine would be out for the
Republican nomination. Guarded as
Dana was, I gathered even at that time
that the fat governor of New York haG.
warmer friends in the empire state than
the editor of the Sun.
Mr.. Dana suggested, with humorous
twinkle in his eye, that had better see
Judge Davis about politics Davis W as
known as the great straddler who never
said 1t is a fine day without qualif1ca-
tions. He had just had the indiscretion
at the age of over go to marry your 8
wife, the second or third matrimonial
venture. The fat man from Illinois at
that date thought his six feet four or
six. and his 800 pounds Of flesh more
likely to draw the presidential lightning
| than his alter ego. the fat man from
| Buffalo. I intimated that l wished to
get some pointers on politics from per-
son Of decided opinions, not afraid
to express them, and who was not pos
ing as a modern Ajax to draw rather
than to defy lightning.
Dana said: II don't know, then. that
can do you any good. I am Democrat
and have ambition. I may be candi-
| date myself"
These little sallies are about all re-
call now of the political phases of MY
visit with Mr.. Dana. He very soon as
sumed the roll Of interviewer himself
and proceeded in the most far-reaching
and inclsive way to draw out of me all
knew of Southern California. He learned
I had been here and had taught school
in 1868 to 1870; that I had returned in
1880 and had spent three years on
ranch learning to plow when ! vas
nearly 40; hauling my own grapes 10 the
Stern & Rose winery at San Gabriel and
picking and packing my own oranges
and walnutS.
Upon this information he proceeded TO
apply the intellectual pump in the most
approved fashion until he knew all I
could tell him, of how much it cost to
buy land, plant vines and orange trees.
how much to take care of them, when
they come in bearing, and what the prof
its of these various industries would be
when the vines or trees reached matur-
iy. The average and highest and lowest
temperature, the rainfall, the manner in
which it came, the chances of severe
frost. ard a thousand and one such ques-
tious were put. The answers were care
fully noted.
"I remember this as part Of the in
terview."
You are setting ur Southern Cali
fornia as g. health resort, are you not?"
Eyes, SIR"
"Is it not fact that the native popu-
lation here is very subject to consump-
ton, the very disease you claim this
climate is best for?"
"Yes and no. The more prosperous and
intelligent portion of the native Cali
fornians are remarkably free from con-
sumption. Those who dwell in well-built
houses, feed generously, clothe them
selves comfortably and are cleanly do
not contract consumption. The poor, the
ignorant, the improvld@nt, who inhabt
sunken adobes, eat less than sufficient
and wear scant clothing, naturally fall
a nrey to consumption. Were they to
live in the same manner and so defy the
laws of health in some other climate
they would perish in hundreds instead
of in tens"
Mr.. Dana listened with great atten-
ton, and when had finished he did me
the honor to say he had asked many
for an explanation Of fact which they
all confessed, but that mine was the
only oue he had been able to get which