The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-11
THE RAIN CAME
AND WITH t
CONFIDENCE.
1t Was a Most Timely
Visitation.
BANKERS DISCUSS OUTLOOK
A YEAR OF GREAT PROSPER
ITY rs PROMISED.
Capital Will Come Out of It's Retreat
and the Varied Industries Will
Wax Strong and
Active.

"And the rain descended and the floods
came and the winds blew whereof there
was great joy throughout the erstwhile
dusty State of California. This is the song
that is sounding throughout the common
wealth in these times as a result of the
kindness of Rain King Harmon in send
ing the generous downpour that has Wis
tied the State from the Oregon line to
the boundaries of Mexico.
The general public cannot realize the
wonderful revulsion of feeling that
has taken place in financial circles
in this city and State in conse-
quence of the soaking dispensation.
The long face and the grumpy man
ner have given place to the broad-snlil-
ing, glad-to-see-you countenance, and
the man who can now show good reasons
why he should borrow money to conduct
a legitimate business on promising lines
can without much difficulty make connec-
ton with the yellow boys" to loan.
With reference to the storm and its mo-
mentous import to California the follow
ing interviews with the heads of several
leading financial institutions of San Fran
cisco will be read with particular interest:
Since the coming of this last storm the
business aspect has changed a thousand
per cent for the BETTER" said p. n. lil-
ienthal, manager of the Anglo-Californla
Bank. Everybody is feeling greatly re-
lieved at the outlook, particularly those
who have loans on country property.
do not know whether or no this storm has
reached the southern part of the State.
If it has it will work a transformation
not only in that section but in the re-
mainder of the State. However, it should
be stated that times have been anything
but bad in California during the past
The rPrA1IQrS
they have done a good business in the
last twelve months People have spent
money freely and the credit accounts acc,i ats
promptness. If we get a fair quantity of
rain during the remainder of the winter
and spring California should ENJOY
highly prosperous year. The situation at
tory -. -, -, nao,e,,,
change in the situation in this state,
said S. @. Murphy, president OF the FIRST
National Bank. Heretofore we nave been
sitting back as prudent men should and
awaiting developments. Now we are ready
to jump in and take hold of any PROPOSE
ton that is solvent and promising, ana
do business. There is plenty of capital
here looking for investment, and 1t only
needed confidence to put 1t in motion.
With the coming of this splendid rain that
confidence is restored. With spring rams
years Everybody who has interests IN
this great commonwealth has reason TO
be gratihed with the present situation.
1.-The merchants have done line bust
ness this year, Notwithstanding the prac-
teal loss of our wheat and trut crops.
This fact is due to the war and the klon-
dixie business. The PhlllppineS nave also
contributed to our welfare.
THE outlook is very satisfactory, SAID
l. w. Hellman, president OF the Nevada
Bank. II have just received adVices from
Los Angeles, stating that this big south
east storm has reached that section and
is giving it a good soaking. This means
everything to that region, which has SUI
fered seriously up to the present time for
want of rain. There is a surplus of money
in this State looking for investment, and
this new situation is calculated to bring
it out For some time capital has shown
q lack of interest in landed investments
and has been interested in bonds, which
have commanded hlgh hgure. WITH the
outlook SO promising as at present L
think it is only a question of time when
investors will go back to real estate.
With more rain later California Will en-
Joy one of its most prosperous years. 1t
should be remembered that 1898 was
very fair year for the merchants of this
cits. The War Department distributed
large amount of money here, and the
Klondike mining has done much to con-
tribute to our prosperity. This made up
in large degree for the partial loss Of
"Ten days or two weeks ago" said
Thomas Brown, cashier of the Bank of
California, 1.-The people of California were
wearing long faces -, and desPqnde de- t
accompanying troubles. To-day those
same faces wear a cheerful smile and our
people look hopefully forward confident
that the danger is safely passed. OF
course we cannot tell what may happen
later in the year, but at this time we have
every reason to be thankful. The break
ing of the drought by this great storm is
of untold value to California, and if the
usual winter and spring rains follow the
State should experience one of the most
prosperous years in it's history"
Andrea Sbarboro, president of the
Manufacturers and Producers AssoCia-
ton, takes bright view of the situation.
In the course of his remarks regarding
the effects of the rain he said:
"All ills do not come to injure. The
drought of 1897 and the scare of '9S will
stimulate capital to store up the album
dance of waters that flow from our noun
tain. streams so that they may be utilized
in time become to a certain extent indie
pendent of the tickle rain god by adopt
ing the methods that are in vogue in
Italy. There they have systems Of irri-
cation made possible by storing up the
waste waters. When that relief comes
to us, what a splendid commonwealth we
will have. AS to this rain, coming as it
did in the nick of time, it will very likely
furnish the State with an abundant crop
of everything; and as our distributing
markets are increasing, as our raisin-
growers and viticulturists have by CO.
operation in their respective industries
guaranteed fair prices for their products,
the last year of the century looks as if
1t would be the most prosperous Califor-
MIA has ever been blessed with