Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-02
CATALINA ISLE
IS NOT SOLD
BANNINGS HAVE NOT PARTED
WITH THE TREASURE
Huntington viii Extend His Seventh
Street Line Through to Boyle
HeIahts--cemetsrle Soon
Will BE Reached

For many months the realty air has
been filled with rumors of all kinds
that big things are doing, are promised
and are about to be concluded. II
space were devoted to the talk" that
goes with the vain-glorious exploitation
plans Of much that is said in support
OF all of these "diddlngs' yon busy
good fellows who have scarce enough
time to eat would have to take special
vacation days to imbibe the details.
Just drop into the office where each
5x6 feet is filled with real estate
sign, two chairs, one man and a desk
by the rail. and you will hear the
chatter of big things that work and
rack the mighty brain. Indeed, the
rail is the best part Of some of the
offices, as the good-natured wooden af-
fair supports cocked-up weary feet, and
serves to separate the surging masses
from the gigantic and ponderous
classes, that are exacting in the brand
of toothpick they wear, but very ex-
elusive from whom they borrow the
two-bit piece for the long coveted
meal Talk, Windboy & Co. are capi-
talized at 81, 10000 but assets and abil-
ity would not realize one mill on the
dollar.
Among the big things that have been
chased around every block, and the
further the thing ran the bigger the
thing got, is the reported sale of Cata-
lima island by the Banning Brothers to
Henry f. Huntington. There may have
been a time when Henry f. Huntington
wished to possess the chunk of beauti-
full land in the sea, but can tell you
with full emphasis that Henry E.
Huntington does not own Catalina
island and l can also add that the
Banning interest will not part with the
jewel OH the bosom of old Ocean.
1 presume this story originated from
the fact that New York syndicate,
backed by some German and French
capital, did offer the Bannings, through
a well-known local broker, a fiat
$3000,000 in cash-gold coin, too-but
the tempting offer was declined. To
decline $4,000, 900 staggered the eastern
people, and the party who came here
to negotiate said this was a puzzle that
he could not unravel.
why said this eastern duck, 1--WE
thought the westerner would sell any
thing he had, as it cost him nothing
practically because the bloomin' coun-
try has grown up around him to make
him rich. You are an aggressive lot,
but to turn down $3,O0O,oOO gold for a
blasted island that you can't see and
that was acquired and not bought is
the puzzle I shall try to unravel after
1 get home"
Just why the Bannings will not sell
is plain. The island yields them $250,000
a year, by their boat line, their hotels,
their privileges and the general in
come. The buyer would have to hus-
tie like old Ned to find as easy a spot
to make such returns. Just think of
earning 1 per cent month, and that,
too, while riding on your own steamer.
dining at your own hotel and having
the dear people do all the work! Some
people are in for it, no matter where
they light.
/ understand the main reason for not
selling is that the little Banningses that
are coming UP are being trained in this
business and that they are to take the
places, as some one must, of the grand
army of the present hustlers, when the
last bugle call takes us hence. The
wiser ones hold fast to that which is
good, and the younger ones frequently
watch and pray that the old ones will
be sound. and if half soled, that the
stitching has been so darned we'll done
that the moth of time will not destroy
the original handiwork.
Whether Henry F. Huntington
wanted Catalina island or not makes
nc difference, for he has just gone
ahead in his plans to develop Los An
geles For a time it looked as If he
intended to devote all his energies to
the southeast and west sides OF the
town, but later developments show that
he has Boyle Heights in his fertile
mind. Somehow Huntington not alone
grasps the situation, but he grabs
them, and usually gets all that goes
with the package. / mean this in it's
broadcast sense and not specifically, as
Henry never got prize package in his
life.
The latest Huntington plan is the
development of one Of the largest street
car lines in Los Angeles. This line will
begin on Seventh and Broadway and
will strike the Los Angeles river, that
will be crossed by a steel bridge. One
half of the expense for the bridge will
be borne by Huntington, for the right
Of way. and a foot path and wagon
road will also be created for city traf-
fc. The road will turn eastward at
Boyle avenue and will connect with
the Cummings street line. and crossing
Euclid avenue. where the present ter