The herald., 1897-07-18
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OUR LOCAL POSSIBILITIES
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1t Is not new to say that Southern Cali
fornla is capable of sustaining large
population from the products of the sol
There are section some of whose
crops may be richer, but they are
fewer in varieties. Nowhere else are
produced SO many necessaries and
luxuries of life, nowhere that less
labor is required in the cultivation
and care of crops. There is also less in
terefnence with outdoor work from the
weather. Living is cheap because every
substantial article of food is produced
at the door Of the consumer.
Not very long ago the idea was preva
lent that only very small part of the
land was adapted to other than grain
crops on account of the scarcity of water
for irrigation. That idea has been dis
PEELED and it is now known that with de-
velopment and proper utilization, there
is water sufficient to irrigate acres i'm
mensely greater than was deemed pos
sible a few years ago by the most intel
ligent.
naturally suppose that it is expensive,
and less effective than moisture from
the clouds, but experience has demon
strated that it is cheaper and better.
More time Is lost in waiting for rain
where it is depended upon, and after it
aas fallen in waiting for the ground to
become sufficiently dry for cultivation.
than is expended in irrigating. Man can
not designate the time when rain shall
tall nor the quantity which shall be pre-
cipitated, but when irrigation is relied
upon, an intelligent observer can deter
mine with accuracy the time when and
the quantity of water that should be put
upon the land. IT is a known fact that
the strength of the land is sooner ex-
hausted in countries where rainfall Is
relied on than where irrigation is prac-
ticed
The people of Southern California
have learned the Importance Of the d.
versification of products and are apply
ing the theory with intelligence and in
dustry and consequently there is con-
slant enlargement of productions for
local consumption and for shipment to
distant localities. Agriculture and horti-
culture are so developed that in regard
10 them future success is assured. What
are most needed are larger markets and
better prices
In order to enable the country to sus-
!ain the densest production possible 1t Is
essential that there should be estab-
lished other than agricultural and hor-
ticultural industries. Many Of the prod
acts of Southern California will always
find markets in other communities. To
introduce new industries will increase
home consumption of the products Of the
soil, and avoid the necessity to pay out
money for what it is practicable to
locally produce. 1t is not expected that
manufacturing on a very large scale
will be profitable for the reason that the
population to be supplied for the present
is comparatively limited. 1t is possible,
however, and it would be profitable to
the country and to those engaged in
them to establish certain lines of man
ufacturing, and among them is tanning
leather, making boots and shoes, con-
verting wool into clothes and making
clothing. 1t seems that it must be less
expensive to bring in tan bark canaigre
or fannie acid than to ship hides away
and buy them back in leather.
Making boots and shoes and the man
ufacture of some classes of wooden goods
do not require experience, machinery or
many skilled mechanics. Electricity and
steam power can be cheaply supplied,
especially since the development of oil
production in so many places in South
ern California. The cheapness of living
here Is an offset to the economy there
is in large manufacturing establish
ments. Were these two industries es-
tablished to the extent of producing to
supply local consumption, the expendi-
ture Of many thousands of dollars away
from here would be avoided.
To provide for the entertainment of
tourists and sojourners is a wise policy,
but to afford profitable employment to
large number of artisans and laborers
wculd be an additional and material con-
tribution to the welfare and growth of
this city and adjacent country. Time as
1t proceeds will suggest other industries.
With our salubrious climate, prolific soil
and rarity of productions, the possibili-
ties of this section of the state seem to be
limitless. 1t should not be overlooked
that increase of population in the nation
is rapid, and that the inducements to i'm
migration hither will give us about a
full share of that increase. 1t is incum-
bent on our people to take time by the
forelock and provide for what is inev-
table.