Imperial press and farmer., 1902-01-04

Ia concerned the past i've years has dealt very kindly with our people. southern California increased in popu- latIun from 100000 to iSgO Co over Boo UUO iu 1886 Los Angeles city has increased in population from 5O.OOO in 1890 to iO3 OOO in is9i. more than doubled.
 ln actual wealth Southern California has kept pace with the increase of population although on account of the business depression of the country and the decrease in valuation all over the world. this increase in wealth is not so apparent With the extraor- dinary increase in population and wealth in Los Angeles city during the past seven years. nothing short of a financial depression all over the country could have prevented that city from experiencing speculative boom og great magnitude.
 1T Southern California In general and Los Angeles city in particular can make such a showing during a period Og financial depression. what will be the result when the clouds roll by and prosperous times are enjoyed again throughout the country re largc7
 lA lh A ulAANtI Nb AllAh' tlaN people believe that our country is now entering upon another period or prosperity. Each one has a remedy for hard times. And each one suckr firmly to the proposition that better times cannot come again until hts remedy has been applied These rem ,diss are mostly of a political nature. One man believes that high protvc- tive tariff Is all that Is necessary to restore pros pcrity to the country. ana another thinks the free coinage of sIl- yer and gold on a basis of i6 to l without making any suggestions to my other nation about the matter would bring good times. There Is no question but the Legislation on both these questions or either of them would an ct the main proposition. Wlse legislation will always assist tn bring Ing prosperity. and unwlse Legislation will always retard the coming of bet ter times, but no Legislation. no mat ter what 1t be. can prevent the incom- .ag tide any more than the little child on the sandy beach with It's little shovel can. by plling up a ridge Of sand. stay the incoming surf.
 The country Is today lis9Tl running Into a period of great business actiV- ity: u has but recently reached that point. In fact there ls a diTerenc. of opinion among business men today as to whether business Is i'm proving or not-the improvement Is ro gradual However. Dun & Co s Trade Review of June .. iS9T. says:
 The statement that, except for the porary depression in prices the volume of business transacted is now larger than it was in lS92-the year of the greatest perIty-has been questioned by some But a comparI- son Of prices this week in the leading branches of manufacture. not only confirms that view. but shows n re- markable similarity to the course Of prices in the early months of 1879. when the most wonderful advance In production and prices ever known ln this or any other country was close at hand The key of the situation is the exccssiv. production of some goods in advance Of an expected increase in demand. So. in 1879. consumption gradually gained. month by month. until suddenly st was found that the demand was great CT than the possible supply. All know how prices then advanced and the most marvellous progress in the history of any country resulted within two years. Reports from all parts of the country now show that retail dis tribution of products is unusually large and increasing"
 Thfs ia n remarkably clear state