Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-18
STORY OF 0LUcKY' BALDWIN

STORY OF LUCKY BALDWIN
In 1853. or more than a half century
ago, little party of cold seekers with
n measer outfit Of horses and wagons
started for California from the village
or Racine, WIS. In command Of this
adventurous expedition was a young
man who took with him his wife and
infant daughter. His name was e. J.
Baldwin and he made n wise choice In
shaking from his restless feet the dust
Of tanner civilization. He needed
larger theater Of action for his pent-up
and surging activities. While trailing
through the mountains Of Utah the
pioneers were attacked by indians, who
we're beaten of during a six-hour fight
IN which young Baldwin killed their
chief. After six months of hardship
the party reached Hangtown Oater
called Placerville) In California.
Here Baldwin tarried and began
placer mining. lie appears to have
been no more than an ordinary red
shirted argonaut meeting the ups and
downs of mining luck. until the dis
covery of the Comstock Lode at Vir-
glnla City. Thlther he drifted. and dis
covered that his natural bent was
gambling with the mines that other
men had opened. Amid 81 whlrlwind of
speculation, he fought his way with
such success that he loc.ned from the
smoke in a few months as Lucky"
Baldwin. the man who had cleaned up
seven and a half million dollars In the
gigantic deals in the stock of the Ophir
mines.
San Francisco was the Mecca Of those
lucky sons of fortune who were rearing
a great city by the Golden Gate. AS a
stock and mining speculator Lucky"
Baldwin shone resplendent. but he was
also loyal son of San Francisco. He
built hotels and theaters and business
blocks, even while he was amazing that
far from conservative community by
madly freakish xtravagances.
In very lucid interval he bought all
the Spanish grants he could find near
Los Angeles, and there spent a million
in making this ranch of his not only a
splendidly productive property, but also
one of the most beautiful estates ever
laid out in this or any other country.
1t was his hobby. his pet, and he
planted miles of avenues with noble
shade trees, and made wonderful tropi-
cal gardens, so that today his home is
surrounded by paradise of vernal
beauty.
The lord of Lucky Baldwin's ranch
can drive eighteen miles in a straight
line across his own acres. In such a
tour he will pass his own general mer-
chandise store. maintained for the con-
venience of his own people, the school
supported for their children, the black
smith shop, the church and the post
office. all belonging to the equipment of
the estate. He will pass through his
vast orange and fig and olive orchards,
his walnut groves and his vineyards
where the Mission grape is gathered
from the gnarled vines planted by the
padres. There are also 100 acres of
lemons, 100 acres of grapefruit, 10000
acres of vegetables and 10000 acres of
corn, hay and small grains. His 10000
sheep Craze on the brown hillsides, and
he could clothe his people with their
wool, if he wished. His wheat ranch
could feed them. his 5000 head of cattle
could provide beef and leather. In
other fields are 500 work mules and 500
draught horses.
These $4,000 acres are divided into
several ranches, each in charge of a
who in turn reports to
a general manager who is responsible
to the owner. 1t is paternal, feudal
system, highly specialized by means of
the American talent for systematic ad-
and organization.-Ralp
D. Paine in the outing Magazine.