The herald., 1897-05-10
ECONOMIC EVOLUTION

There is not as much thrift in new as
in old countries, for the reason that
there is not as much apparent need for
it. Sustenance is more easily acquired
where population is sparse, the soil is
virgin and natural resources are in the
first stage Of development, than where
from continued occupation and age
population has become dense, and the
strength of the soil so impaired as to
require the administering of restor-
atives.
Southern California has been inha-
bited by civilized people more than
century, but in numbers so few that
the spontaneous productions of nature
were nearly sufficient to supply their
wants. which were comparatively
simple, and there was not that neces-
sity which now exists for the practice
of industry, economy and thrift.
It is the same everywhere during
the oolonizing period that energies are
strictly devoted to acquiring wealth by
seizing upon those elements most ap-
parent, and which can be appropriated
with the least labor. and to acquire
fortunes reliance is placed on apprecia
tion of land values through increase of
population. For these reasons there is
a greater tendency to speculation in
new than in old countries, and the spirit
of speculation has been more highly
developed in Southern California than
in any other section of the nation in
any period of it's history The unsur-
passed fertility of the soil. the variety
and richness of productions and salub-
rity of climate all conspired to promote
the growth of the speculative spirit.
For a number of years after COM
tween this section and the east, the
people applied themselves more to sell
ling real estate and founding towns
than to development of resources. Gull
tivation of the soil was unskillful and
cursory and speculation diverted at
tention from the investigation of adapt
abilities of soil and climate to products
most profitable and to methods for as
suring the largest yield. To support
the country and gain wealth the people
applied themselves too exclusively to
making sales of lands and to prepara-
tions for the entertainment of tourists
and sojourners From these sources it
appeared that wealth could be most
easily and abundantly acquired, not
withstanding the people We're depleted
Of their money through purchasing else
where those necessarles of life which
could be so easily produced at home.
The new condition which has resulted
from rapid increase of population has
wrought a. marked change for the bet
ter. The possibility of making profits
from land sales has decreased and the
increase of local consumption has made
1t necessary to give more thought to
the a6aptabilitie of soil and climate
and to methods of cultivation. With
this there has been n noticeable growth
of industry and economy. The country
is now not only self-supporting but pro-
duces no inconsiderable surplus.
Progress, however, must not stop
here; it must go on. The increase of
population has been phenomenal and
indications are that it will continue to
be SC. The growth of this city in the
last seven years is little short of the
marvellous and that of the adjacent
country has been very nearly equal
There also has been q corresponding
increase of wealth and an enlarged field
for employment. Yet with better meth
eds and more thrift there would have
been a greater increase of wealth and
a larger number Of people could have
been employed. Already we are con-
fronted with the problem of providing
work for the idle, and to do so is taxing
charity to the utmost limit. Charity
is inadequate to the support of q large
number of people for a great length of
time. the effect of that solution of the
labor problem being to gradually and
inevitably impoverish the country.
The solution Of the problem is found
in efforts to provide more work which